CHICAGO.-The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) is introducing An Islamic-Style Architecture Bus Tour on Sundays: April 15, April 29 and May 6, at 1:30 p.m. The three-hour tour cost ranges from $30--$37 and departs from the CAF, 224 S. Michigan Avenue. The bus tour includes an optional tour of the Smart Museum's Cosmophilia Exhibition.

The themes of the tour are architectural form, style and ornamentation, with comparisons of the role of ornamentation in Islamic Architecture with the role of ornamentation in American Architecture. Tips on how to distinguish the two styles will be offered because there are many similarities.

“This architectural bus tour complements the city-wide scholarly and cosmopolitan explorations of Islamic Art and Culture in the Art Institute's Silk Road, the Smart Museum's Cosmophilia, and the Oriental Institutes Medieval Persian City of Rayy,” said Frances Laidlaw.

The bus tour includes the Oriental Institute, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel and two 19th-century homes with Islamic-inspired décor. It will continue with a visit to five 20th century homes: the first being the Elijah Mohammed House, and the next four being Nation of Islam homes, and then the Masjid Al-Faatir, a mosque located at the corner of 47th and Woodlawn. Additional stops will be made to view Mosque Maryam, the New Regal Theater, the Dr. John L. Conner Fellowship Hall.

A tour of the Smart Museum's Cosmophilia (means love of ornament) Exhibition displaying treasures of Islamic Art from the David Collection, Copenhagen is optional. The ornamentation that was apparent on the bus tour is also found on priceless treasures in the exhibition.

A follow-up, second tour of Chicago's Downtown and Hyde Park including the Oriental Institute's Rayy Exhibit will be offered in June and July. Details are available at architecture.org.