Artstor on JSTOR provides more than half a million images documenting architecture and the built environment across the world, including monuments, buildings, drawings, models, and plans. Its collections encompass ancient architecture all the way to present-day buildings by today’s most acclaimed architects.

Here are six examples that illustrate how the images in Artstor on JSTOR can be used to enhance the teaching and learning of architecture and architectural history, along with two case studies, one by a then-doctoral candidate at Stanford University and another by a fine art faculty member at Berkeley City College.

Rem Koolhaas and the Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture

Koolhaas’ iconoclasm was evident from the very beginning of his career: His final project at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London was a series of drawings, watercolors, and collages depicting a post-apocalyptic dystopia.

A conceptual aerial illustration depicting a massive, elevated architectural structure spanning a dense urban landscape. The structure features a grid-like layout with distinct zones, including pools, sports tracks, and recreational spaces. The elevated platform appears to be suspended by large angular supports, creating a futuristic and utopian atmosphere. The city below is rendered in intricate detail, contrasting with the geometric and orderly design of the platform above. The perspective emphasizes the monumental scale of the structure, suggesting themes of urban intervention and controlled environments.
Rem Koolhaas, Madelon Vriesendorp, Elia Zenghelis, Zoe Zenghelis. Exodus, or the Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture, 1972. The Museum of Modern Art, Architecture and Design Collection.
A mixed-media collage featuring an urban dystopian scene. The composition includes a stark black background with silhouettes of figures walking in sequence, resembling an evolutionary progression. In the foreground, a black-and-white image of a fenced area with a guard tower is superimposed, adding a sense of surveillance. Towering golden skyscrapers dominate the background, connected by angular white lines, creating a surreal and oppressive atmosphere. Above, a colorful, distorted pattern resembles a heatmap or abstract landscape, adding tension to the composition.
em Koolhaas, Madelon Vriesendorp, Elia Zenghelis, Zoe Zenghelis. Exodus, or the Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture, 1972. The Museum of Modern Art, Architecture and Design Collection.
A black-and-white collage featuring a grid of small photographs mounted on a dark background. The images depict various urban scenes, including people walking, sitting, and engaging in daily activities. The composition appears to explore themes of city life, movement, and public spaces.
Rem Koolhaas, Zoe Zenghelis, Elia Zenghelis, Madelon Vriesendorp, Exodus, or the Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture Prologue, 1972. The Museum of Modern Art, Architecture and Design Collection.

Contemporary architecture in the United Arab Emirates

A rallying economy led the United Arab Emirates cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai through a building boom that transformed sand dunes into futuristic cityscapes boasting projects that significantly expanded the vocabulary of contemporary architecture.

A view of Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, showing a bustling multi-lane highway surrounded by modern skyscrapers, including iconic buildings with unique architectural designs. The elevated Dubai Metro track runs parallel to the road, with a metro station visible in the foreground.
Sheik Zayed Road (view of the traffic and metro station exterior), Dubai. Image and original data provided by Art on File.
The Yas Hotel in Abu Dhabi at dusk, featuring its futuristic design with a grid-like LED-lit canopy that wraps around the structure. The adjacent Yas Marina Circuit racetrack is visible in the foreground, with vibrant blue and red markings.
Yas Hotel & Marina (Asymptote Architecture), Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Image and original data provided by Art on File.
The Capital Gate building in Abu Dhabi, known for its distinctive leaning design. The glass-covered structure tilts at an impressive angle, showcasing its unique engineering. A clear blue sky forms the backdrop, with a road and construction signage visible in the foreground.
Capital Gate (RMJM Architects), Abu Dhabi. Image and original data provided by Art on File.

Cross-cultural cross-sections: Student curators on architectural collections

To celebrate the completion of a collection of 20,000 architectural plans, sections, and related materials, Artstor spoke with some of the co-curators who helped compile a selection that reflects the most important modernist architectural works of the 20th and 21st centuries.

A drawing depicting a building with several people standing alongside it, showcasing urban life and architecture.
Charlotte Perriand, La Maison du jeune homme, Brussels, Belgium, 1935, © 2014 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris, Data source: Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Columbia University and Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
A black and white image of a building featuring prominent stairs leading to its entrance.
Tadao Ando, Hyogo Children’s Museum, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan, 1990, Data source: Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Columbia University and Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

On the beauty and variety of cave temples: an interview with David Efurd

Professor David Efurd talks to us about the variety and complexity of the rock-cut cave temples he photographed for a collection in Artstor on JSTOR of nearly 10,000 images of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain art and architecture.

Interior of Ajata Caves, featuring intricately carved columns lining both sides of a central hall. At the center is a large stupa with detailed carvings and a seated Buddha figure in front, symbolizing reverence and meditation. The arched ceiling has a ribbed design, and soft lighting highlights the intricate stone details, evoking a serene and spiritual atmosphere.
Ajanta Caves; Cave 26 late 5th century; Image: 2003; Maharashtra, India. Image and original data provided by David Efurd.
Intricate rock-cut carvings from the Bedsa Caves in Maharashtra, India, dating to the 1st century CE. The wall features a series of ornate chaitya windows, sculpted in repeating patterns, showcasing ancient architectural detailing. A decorative column with a lotus design and a partially visible sculpture of a seated figure are present in the upper corner, highlighting the artistic finesse of the era.
Bedsa Caves; Cave 7; 1st c. CE; Image: 2003; Maharashtra, India. Image and original data provided by David Efurd.
Ankai Tankai caves, an ancient rock-cut cave structure featuring a two-story façade with carved pillars and doorways, set into a stone hillside. The entrance is surrounded by intricate stone carvings, and a small staircase leads to the first level. Natural wear and greenery accentuate the historical ambiance of the site.
Ankai Tankai Caves; Cave 1; 12th century; Image: 2003; Maharashtra, India. Image and original data provided by David Efurd.

Destruction in Palmyra, Syria

In 2015, the militant group ISIS destroyed the ancient Temple of Baalshamin in Palmyra, Syria, one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. Ruins may be destroyed, but history cannot be erased; scholars from around the world have created extensive documentation of the sites of Palmyra that are available in Artstor on JSTOR.

Exterior view of the ancient Roman theatre in Palmyra, Syria, seen from the south. The structure features columns and partially intact stone walls, showcasing classical Roman architectural elements. The ruins sit under a clear blue sky, with figures visible atop the remains, emphasizing the grandeur and historical significance of the site.
Palmyra; theatre exterior from south. Date of photograph: 1977. Image and original data provided by Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom.
View of the Tetrapylon in Palmyra, Syria, an ancient Roman monument featuring four groups of tall columns topped with ornate capitals and lintels. The structure stands amid a vast expanse of ruins, with additional colonnades and remnants of buildings visible in the background. The scene is illuminated by natural light under a clear blue sky, emphasizing the grandeur of the archaeological site.
Palmyra; Tetrapylon exterior, procession relief. Date of photograph: 1977. Image and original data provided by Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom.

Sending stone soaring to the heavens: the photography of Via Lucis

Artstor on JSTOR invited photographer Dennis Aubrey to share a history of an ongoing collaboration to document and explore the great Romanesque and Gothic churches of France and Spain.

View of a Romanesque abbey church featuring a chevet with rounded apses and a prominent crossing tower, dating to approximately 1032-1072. The stone structure is surrounded by lush greenery and a tranquil pond, with a wooden bridge adorned with flowers in the foreground. The scene is set against a backdrop of a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, emphasizing the historic and serene setting.
Eglise Abbatiale Saint Vigor; Chevet and crossing tower, ca. 1032-1072. Cerisy-la-Forêt, Manche, Franc. Photographer © Dennis Aubrey, Via Lucis Photography.
Close-up of an intricately carved capital from the Basilique Sainte Madeleine, depicting detailed figures in a narrative scene. The figures include soldiers, a central robed individual, and others engaged in expressive postures, surrounded by stylized foliage and architectural elements. The carving showcases the craftsmanship and storytelling typical of early Romanesque art from the 11th century.
Basilique Sainte Madeleine; Capital – The Duel, early 11th century. Vézelay, Yonne, France Photographer © Dennis Aubrey, Via Lucis Photography.
Close-up of a richly adorned statue of the Black Madonna and Child from the 11th century, featuring dark-toned faces and hands with golden robes and crowns. The Madonna holds a golden orb, symbolizing authority and divinity, while the Child also holds a spherical object. Intricate patterns and details on their garments highlight the craftsmanship, set against a softly lit ecclesiastical backdrop.
Eglise Saint Pierre; Notre-Dame-de-la-Volta, 11th century. Prades, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. Photographer © Dennis Aubrey, Via Lucis Photography.

Case studies

The Great Mosque of Djenné and West African architecture

Professor Michelle Apotsos, Associate Professor of Art, Williams College
Using images from Artstor, Apotsos presents a case study of the Djenné mosque in Mali, West Africa as an example of an architectural tradition that utilizes distinctive structures, materials, and iconographies to resonate with its cultural context.

View of the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, a traditional Moroccan earthen clay architecture structure with high towers and intricate geometric patterns. The warm-toned walls contrast with the bright blue sky, while palm trees add a natural element to the scene. The structure's defensive design and decorative details highlight its historical and cultural significance.
Barbara Anello, Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco. Image and original data provided by Barbara Anello. Photographs © Barbara J. Anello.
Close-up view of the Great Mosque of Djenné, showcasing its distinctive adobe architecture with large conical towers and protruding wooden beams known as torons. The earthy texture of the mud-brick structure contrasts against the deep blue sky, highlighting the unique design of this iconic Malian landmark, reconstructed in 1906.
James Conlon, The Great Mosque of Djenne, South façade, exterior. Image: 2008, Djenne, Mali.

Online teaching and architectural solutions to climate problems in the Islamic world

Professor Colette Apelian, Fine Art faculty, Berkeley City College
As the Islamic art historian in her art department, Apelian explains how North African to South Asian art and architecture are relevant to design students less familiar with pre-modern and non-western material cultures.

View of a pavilion in the Alhambra Palace, featuring elegant Moorish arches with intricate latticework and a central tower, reflected beautifully in a tranquil rectangular pool. The surrounding greenery, including palm trees and hedges, enhances the serene atmosphere, while the backdrop showcases the hilly landscape of Granada, Spain. The structure highlights the exquisite Islamic architecture of the 14th century.
Alhambra Palace (Partal Gardens), Granada, Spain, Main construction 14th century. Image and original data provided by Shmuel Magal, Sites and Photos.
Close-up of Alawi Abu Bakr al-Kaf, an intricately carved lattice screen, featuring geometric and organic patterns with oval and pointed openings. The cream-colored plasterwork highlights the craftsmanship and traditional design, with a clear blue sky and blurred architectural structures visible through the openings in the background.
Alawi Abu Bakr al-Kaf, Dar al-Salam, Exterior, Image: 2005. Tarim, the Hadramaut Valley, Yemen. James Conlon: Mali and Yemen Sites and Architecture.

Discover more architectural images and primary sources on JSTOR to enhance your courses. Have examples of activities or syllabi that use images from Artstor on JSTOR? Let’s collaborate and share your educational resources on the JSTOR blog platform.