Icon is in the middle of the historic town centre, next to a 400-year-old Mughal monument. It houses a supermarket and other retail activities and is designed to function in a desert climate by the use of pierced concrete blocks, jalis, and double screens. The centre square contains a three-storey atrium with a monumental staircase and a skylight above. The outer skin consisting of jalis shields the interior from harsh sunlight, allowing cooling breezes at low levels and, by using double-screen, venting hot air through a stack effect from the upper floors. The garden has become the focal point of the historic town centre and is accessible to everyone at all times, free of cost.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
