Editing Kabul (section)

===Architecture===
{{see also|Architecture of Afghanistan}}
[[File:Shah Do Shamshira aerial.png|thumb|Italian baroque style of Shah Do Shamshira]]

Kabul's various architectural designs reflected the various links it has had with empires and civilisations, particularly being on the ancient trade route connecting India and China with Persia and the West.<ref name="Architectural">{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351210427|title=An evaluation of architectural monuments in Afghanistan as in the capital city, Kabul|date=|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831215445/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351210427_An_evaluation_of_architectural_monuments_in_Afghanistan_as_in_the_capital_city_Kabul|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Buddhist [[Chakari, Afghanistan|Chakari minaret]] was likely built in the [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] era and had traces of [[Greco-Bactrian]] and [[Gandhara Art]]. It had Buddhist [[swastika]] and both [[Mahayana]] and [[Theravada]] qualities. Following the Islamic conquest, a new age of architectural realms appeared in the Kabul region. The [[Gardens of Babur]] was perhaps the best preserved example of Islamic and [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] architecture. Emperor [[Babur]] had also built seven other big gardens in Kabul at the time. The present Gardens of Babur also reflect Afghanistan's traditional architecture by the wooden carving, pressed stucco, decorative stone masonry and other features. Another fine example of the Babur era is the [[Id Gah Mosque]], using stones from the [[Punjab]] and [[Sindh]] and designed by Persians.<ref name="Architectural" />

[[File:The Mausoleum of Timur Shah, Kabul, 1879.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tomb of Timur Shah Durrani]] (early 19th century rebuilt)]]

[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]]'s rise as the Afghan ruler brought changes to Kabul and the nation, with a more inward-looking and self-protecting society reflecting the architecture that were no different between the rich and poor peoples. mausoleum of [[Timur Shah Durrani]], the Afghan ruler until his death in 1793, was another example of Islamic design, built in an octagonal structure. It followed [[Central Asian]] traditions of decorative brick masonries along with a colorless appearance.<ref name="Architectural" /> After the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]], the country's emir [[Abdur Rahman Khan]] brought European styles for the first time. The [[Bagh-e Bala Palace]] was designed in a mixed Mughal and British Indian style, the first significant change from traditional Afghan and Islamic styles. However, palaces were still built with Central Asian Islamic design at heart. Numerous lavish buildings were created during this time, combined with large gardens. The Dilkusha Palace within the [[Arg (Kabul)|Arg]] was the first created by a British architect.<ref name="Architectural" /> Its accompanying [[clock tower]], {{Circa|1911}}, was also a British creation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://president.gov.af/da/?page_id=7974&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_CSd7GgyLGlddS4GBluZjdT2fBgdRKTgObtPbA_qeyNg-1630516942-0-gqNtZGzNAeWjcnBszQel|title=Arg clock tower|website=president.gov.af|access-date=1 September 2021|archive-date=1 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901172453/https://president.gov.af/da/?page_id=7974&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_CSd7GgyLGlddS4GBluZjdT2fBgdRKTgObtPbA_qeyNg-1630516942-0-gqNtZGzNAeWjcnBszQel|url-status=live}}</ref>

Houses in Kabul during this time were generally made up of walled compounds, built around courtyards and having narrow passageways to places.<ref name="ReutersHomes">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-cities-homes-idUSL8N2IJ3CF|title=Push to modernise takes toll on Kabul's historical homes|newspaper=Reuters|date=10 December 2020|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=2 September 2021|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902003948/https://www.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-cities-homes-idUSL8N2IJ3CF|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1920s, new styles were strongly influenced by European architectural styles due to king [[Amanullah Khan]]'s visits to Europe, particularly Berlin and Paris. [[Darul Aman Palace]] was the best known example of modern Western design. The [[Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque]] was built in an unusual style for a mosque in Western and Italian style [[baroque]]. The [[Taq-e Zafar]] in [[Paghman]] and other landmarks there were also based on European designs.<ref name="Architectural" /> Houses also became more open, without having many of the walls.<ref name="ReutersHomes" /> Later in the century, several [[Soviet]] inspired designs made its way into Kabul. Most notable of these were the various ''[[microraion]]''s built in the city in the 1960s and afterwards. A different flavor of modern style was seen on the [[Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul]] and [[Kabul Serena Hotel|Serena Hotel]].<ref name="Architectural" />

In the 21st century, modern designs based on glass facades became popular. Examples of this modern Western style were the [[Kabul City Center]] and [[Golbahar Center]]. The [[National Assembly (Afghanistan)|National Assembly]] building opened in 2015 had elements of modern Islamic [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] architecture, considered to have the largest dome in Asia. The Indian architecture could also be influenced by the fact it was built by the government of India, but its carving and large porch represent Afghan traditional architectural forms.<ref name="Architectural" /> The new [[Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan)|Ministry of Defense]] building followed traditional, Islamic and Western designs inspired by [[the Pentagon]]. Another mix of these designs appeared on the [[Paghman Hill Castle]] completed in 2014.<ref name="Architectural" /> Increasing numbers of high rises have been built in this period, with the Kabul Markaz tower in 2020 becoming the city's first to break the {{convert|100|m|ft}} tall barrier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1438696/kabul-markaz-residential-tower-1-kabul-afghanistan|title=Kabul Markaz Residential Tower 1, Kabul &#124; 1438696|publisher=Emporis|date=|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831182138/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1438696/kabul-markaz-residential-tower-1-kabul-afghanistan|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The construction boom with modern [[High-rise building|high-rises]] throughout the 2010s had led to a major change in the city's skyline.<ref name="ReutersHomes" />

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
Kabul street scene, 1974.jpg|Traditional hill dwellings
Kabul Old "MicroRayon" (5451145168).jpg|"Old Mikroyan", 1960s built
66-183 Kabul Khyber Restaurant Afghanistan 1966.jpg|Ministry of Finance and Khyber Restaurant (1966)
Вадим Чуприна-Кабул VADIM CHUPRINA © Kabul 08.jpg|Pamir Cinema building (Agricultural Development Bank)
Pashtany Bank and Kabul Tower.jpg|[[Pashtany Bank]] and the brutalist [[Kabul Tower]]
Newly renovated - panoramio.jpg|Andarabi Road dwellings on the riverbank
Afghanese architecture, 2000s-built flats in Kabul.jpg|Apartments built in the 2000s with contemporary Afghan style
</gallery>