Baha’i World Centre International Archives Building – Baha’i Gardens, Haifa, Israel

The International Archives holds many of the most sacred items within the Baha’i Faith, but most importantly is built for the viewing of the paintings and drawings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb – the founders of the Faith – along with a single photograph of Bahá'u'lláh. Although some of these items are available on the internet today, most Baha’is prefer to see these items only in a reverent atmosphere, during the pilgrimage. Shoghi Effendi chose the Parthenon as the basis for the design, possibly due to the apparent enduring beauty even after thousands of years. The capitals of the fifty columns were Ionic rather than the Doric Order.