Samarkand, Uzbekistan - Samarkand is an ancient Silk Road city and the madrasas and mosaics of the monumental Registan square are among the world's most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture.
A contemporary update on an age-old past time. Left: French architecture firm Studio KO accented this spare, Luberon, France pool with a Boffi Bains sling chair. Photo by Dan Glasser. Right: The black-bottomed pool at architect Wallace CunninghamR