Throne District
Dominated by the ziggurat of the Mayoral Palace, the white brick, marble, and architectural flourishes, the Throne District is the most prosperous and gleaming centre of power within Port Hren, one of the three port cities within the nation of Hœm.
Within the central hall of the Mayoral Palace is the Chamber of the Moons wherein the reigning mayor hold court wherein the literal throne of Port Hren is located. Port Hren is a city which elects its Throne (who then holds the rank/title of mayor). Although ostensibly the potential mayor could be any citizen, but invariably the past mayors in living memory, have all been drawn from scions of the various noble houses. The current Mayor is Gainrahet of House Rahet, who was preceded by Tchez of House Tchezzur after a lengthy rule and a sudden, unexpected death. (In the alternate timeline, the current mayor is Lord Tanryk of House Raen.)
Central in the Throne District is the artificial port of the Grand Canal which serves as a spot for festivals and civic rites. The coronation of Port Hren's mayors have all been held on a peer that juts out into the water.
Near the Grand Canal's port, on the western side of the district, is the Grand Market where the richest of goods are vended, traded, and imports from Mbaran traders are unloaded. Public houses of repute and fame are found, particularly in the north western highlands. Greenspaces are also found in some number throughout the district.
Over all the district is bright, well-appointed, and its buildings are made of white stones and where the wood supports are exposed they are painted white. Trees line the route to the Mayoral Palace. Banners in the colours of the moons in fine textiles and silks are adorn the trees and link them together. There is a stark beauty to the district, with the layers of white on white and then the garrish flourishes of market stall tarpalins, banners, signage, and the clothing of the wealthy people.
Government
Elected mayor, who then governs as the Throne of Port Hren in the Hœmmik senate (the proverbial "Thirty Thrones").
Previous mayor: Tchez of House Tchezzur
Current mayor: Gainrahet of House Rahet
Industry & Trade
The largest and valuable goods are off loaded in the Grand Canal port in the centre of the Throne District and then traded in the Grand Market of Port Hren.
Architecture
The architecture of the Throne District is primarily Yssian with Ptarshakkian influences. The stonework, brick, and cobbles are made of white and off-white stones. Other structural features made of wood or other materials are painted white. No new construction is allowed if not made from white stone, or intended to be painted white.
Alternative Name(s)
The White District
Type
District
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
The text implies several details that sound very interesting and it would be very easy to expand on. I assume that the title "Throne" is a relic of a time, when the city had a monarch as a ruler. Is that correct? If so it would be interesting to know, what parts of the throne district are from that time or if it has been completely rebuilt after the city got rid of its monarch.
Thank-you so much for this measured and thoughtful comment. "Throne" in this usage is deliberately vague because—as you astutely noted—harkens back to a previous era. The city is part of a loose federation of city-states (the country of Hœm) all of which have their own unique governance. The leader of each city occupies its throne, and is referred to as one of the Thirty Thrones. In this city, Port Hren, the ruler is titled mayor internally; externally, in the senate of Hœm, she* is the Throne of Port Hren. Her counterparts in the other 29 city-states are also thrones, but have different titles in their own cities. (*The current "mayoral throne" is occupied by a young woman from a prominent house.)