SAMARQAND TV SERIES | ART DIRECTOR ︎
During Ramadan 2016, AbuDhabiTV aired the 30 episode drama series, Samarqand.
Originally slated for 2017, the schedule was pushed forward forcing pre-production, filming and final post of all episodes within a three month span.
Working within this arduous schedule, I brought on board fellow art director Helen Han to help design the urban plan for the 11th century cities of Samarkand, Isfahan and the Hashasin fortress of Alamut, the assassins sect made famous in the game series Assassin's Creed.
Shown first is the urban design of Samarkand (Afrasiab), circa 1050. The city was razed by Genghis Khan in 1220, leaving an empty space, almost 2km square, that exists within the city to this day. Mixing historical accuracy with artistic license, the design strives to capture the wondrous oasis and advanced culture that travelers of yesteryear described, all painted in bold white, brown/golden and green hues. The hero palace was designed and extended from the front facade of a building selected by production on Samaliyah Island in Abu Dhabi. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (based on a preliminary model by Lisa Marie Erickson) was a later design transplanted to the highest plateau where traditionally a fortified government and prison building would be located.
During Ramadan 2016, AbuDhabiTV aired the 30 episode drama series, Samarqand.
Originally slated for 2017, the schedule was pushed forward forcing pre-production, filming and final post of all episodes within a three month span.
Working within this arduous schedule, I brought on board fellow art director Helen Han to help design the urban plan for the 11th century cities of Samarkand, Isfahan and the Hashasin fortress of Alamut, the assassins sect made famous in the game series Assassin's Creed.
Shown first is the urban design of Samarkand (Afrasiab), circa 1050. The city was razed by Genghis Khan in 1220, leaving an empty space, almost 2km square, that exists within the city to this day. Mixing historical accuracy with artistic license, the design strives to capture the wondrous oasis and advanced culture that travelers of yesteryear described, all painted in bold white, brown/golden and green hues. The hero palace was designed and extended from the front facade of a building selected by production on Samaliyah Island in Abu Dhabi. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (based on a preliminary model by Lisa Marie Erickson) was a later design transplanted to the highest plateau where traditionally a fortified government and prison building would be located.