Haneen Arshad | Hagia Sophia

I'm Haneen, an architectural conservationist and artist based in Mississauga pursuing my passion for heritage architecture. Through my detailed architectural drawings, which I create with graphite pencil and paint markers, I aim to capture and share the beauty and significance historical landmarks with you.

My art is more than just drawings - it's my way of celebrating and preserving these cultural treasures, hoping to inspire others to appreciate the importance of architectural preservation. With my background in both art and architecture, I bring a unique perspective to each piece I create. I love combining detailed architectural drawings with abstract elements to capture not just the physical structure, but the spirit and story of each historic building I draw.

This graphite pencil series explores the rich architectural heritage of domes found across the Muslim world. Domes are powerful symbols of the divine, often crowning mosques and sacred spaces, yet their details are rarely studied closely due to their elevated position above the viewer. With this work, I aim to shift that perspectivem bringing the intricate patterns, textures, and cultural signatures of domes into intimate focus. Drawing from diverse regions—Ottoman, Mughal, Persian, and North African—I highlight the beauty and individuality of each structure while underscoring the shared visual language of Islamic architecture. Using graphite allows me to capture both precision and depth, emphasizing the craftsmanship often lost in distant admiration. This piece invites viewers to engage with these architectural marvels in a way they may see the domes up close up, creating awe for the detail, geometry, and devotion that shape them.