ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Islam Architecture

( 7TH CENTURY TO PRESENT DAY )
GEOGRAPHICAL
·
The
Moslem faith flourished principally in the countries of Southern Asia and
Northern Africa
·
In
modern times the following countries were governed by Islamic rulers and
largely populated by Islamic people during the following periods indicated
Ø Africa North of Sahara ( 7th
century onwards )
o Morocco
o Algeria
o Tunisia
o Libya
o Egypt
Ø Sahara and Eastern Africa ( 9th
century onwards )
o Spanish Sahara
o Mauretania
o Mali
o Northern Nigeria
o Niger
o Chad
o Sudan
o Somalia
Ø Asia and Asia Minor ( 7th century onwards )
o Saudi Arabia and the States of
Arabian Peninsula
o Syria
o Israel
o Jordan
o Lebanon
o Iraq
o Iran
Ø Asiatic Turkey – 10th century onwards
Ø Afghanistan – 9th
century onwards
Ø South Russia – 7th to
9th century onwards
Ø Mongolia ( part of ) 11th
century onwards
Ø Philippines and Indonesia – 14th
century onwards
·
The
the spread of Islam has been frequently associated with military conquest, racial
movements and in some cases displacement of established populations.
GEOLOGICAL
·
The
countries to which Islam first expanded were already rich in building tradition
·
Important
techniques of exploitation of natural resources for building work and trade-in
building materials had long been established
·
Brick
making and pise’ walling was almost universal in the alluvial plains
·
In
stone bearing areas, the arts of selecting and working stones were strong
·
Building
stones occur in variety throughout the Islamic world
·
Knowledge
of the more sophisticated techniques applicable to the building was based on locally
produced materials
·
There
was a long tradition of ceramic production, use of gypsum plaster, glass
manufacture, and various forms of metalwork needed for building
·
The
prevalence of earthquake in near and middle eastern countries resulted in the
employment o some long-established structural technique
CLIMATIC
·
Much
of the territory historically dominated by Islam tends to be fertile by virtue
of irrigation rather than direct rainfall
·
Although
some of the most important areas fall within the Mediterranean climatic region,
the greater part o the Moslem world lies with I the grip of some form of
Continental climate, with extremes of temperature and modest rainfall
·
Excessive
sunshine has produced a tendency towards
wide eaves and sheltering arcades
·
Window
openings are minimized and rainwater disposal neglected
·
Cooling
effect of structures with very heavy walls and high rooms had been widely
exploited
·
Unprotected
circulation areas are common
SOCIAL
·
The
Arab groups were essentially tribal
·
Behavioural
patterns and cultural tribes of emergent Islamic societies were based on the
traditions of the desert
·
Public
life was reserved for men
·
Women
played a secondary role, assuming a
a major share of the domestic and sometimes of the agricultural burden
·
The
women’s place was the private part of the household – the Harem
·
In
public life she was protected by the anonymity of the veil
·
Men
performed the significant public duties
and controlled public affairs
·
Islamic
states made provision for the existence within them self contained
communities/groups of different religion
·
Government
was normally direct, by a despotic ruler or his deputy, and the law was based
on the teachings of the Prophet, interpreted by a theologically trained
judiciary
RELIGIOUS
·
Islam
is the last o the three great religions of the Middle East
·
Its
essence is contained in a simple sentence, which is both the profession of
faith and the credo of its adherents “ There is only one God and Mohammed is
his prophet “
·
Moslem
thought is codified in three works
1.
Koran is regarded as revelation through the medium of the prophet Mohammed
2.
Hadith is a collection of his saying or injunction
3.
Law which is extracted from the Prophet’s instruction, from tradition and
example
·
The
prophet’s successor were the “ Caliphs “
·
Islamic
world is divided in Sunni and Shia persuasions
Sunni
– in Turkey and Africa
Shia
– in Persia and Iraq
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
·
Islamic
architecture is not the product of anyone place or people
·
It
is the product of a major historic event – the rapid conquest of diverse
territories by people with no architectural tradition
·
It
is a combination of the religious philosophy of Mohammed and the legacy of
Hellenistic and Sassanian arts of buildings
·
Majority
o Islamic buildings are fundamentally related to a principal axis:
a.
Principal axis “Kibla “ – the general concept was derived from the line
of balance and symmetry implicit in the concept of “perfect creation”
b.
Secondary axis – frequently extended into a formal landscape which is an integral
part o the design
·
It
employs a relatively limited repertoire of elements: arcades, dome spaces, courts
and very large portals, perhaps incorporating a great niche, the “ Iwan
“
·
Islamic
architecture is fundamentally centred upon God
·
Mosque,
tombs, and dwellings
are the chief buildings
·
The
dominant/chief building is the mosque
-
It
is always conceived around an axis directed towards Mecca and with the exception
of the first instances, this axis is terminated on the inner face of the mosque
by the mihrab – a niche where the leader of the congregation makes his
prayer
-
Were
of far greater architectural importance internally than externally
-
An the inward-looking building whose prime purpose is contemplation and prayer
-
Interior
of earliest mosques are characterized by
forest o columns which support arches under low flat roofs , while richly
decorated walls and domes are features of the later periods
-
It
is not however designed to be spiritually uplifting or to produce a sense of
exaltation, no positive object of attention or adoration is added
-
Prayer
space is almost unfurnished
-
It
is essentially democratic and may be served many functions other than prayer
-
Remains
the focus of Moslem life – something between a forum and a prayer house
-
The
first example was the courtyard of the Prophet”s house in Medina
Mosque
– a Muslim house of worship
Minaret
– a tall tower in, or continue to a mosque arched stairs leading up to one or
more balconies from which the faithful are called upon to pray
·
The
first minarets were the first extant towers of the “temenos” of Hellenistic the temple which became the Great Mosque of Damascus
-
Position
of the minarets varied widely, several clear tendencies are apparent: a single
minaret associated with the main entrance ( Mesopotamia and North Africa ); a
coupled minarets associated with the entrance gate (Seljuk and post-Seljuk
Persia ); a single minaret off – centre between courtyard and prayer chamber,
usually on the south side ( Turkey )
-
Mosque
with more than one such minaret were by almost universal tradition built by the
members of the ruling house
-
Four
is the normal maximum
-
A
mosque with six is exceptional
-
Ka’aba
at Mecca is unique with seven
·
The
courtyard which is so fundamental feature of the mosque is also in its several
variations, the principal element o other building types, the college ( Medrese
or Madrassah ), the hostel ( Han or Caranvaserai ) , the palace and the house
·
The
most important form of opening was the “pointed arch “
-
Originally
in Assyria was both used internally and externally
-
Principally
two or four centered
-
Generally
constructed as true arch
-
Corbelled
examples were common in India
·
Window
openings were frequently small and traditionally closed with wooden shutters,
iron bars, marble grilles or plaster lights set in glass
·
Roof
may either be flat, pitched or domical construction
-
Pitched
roofs in the Mediterranean countries were generally covered with Roman tiles, while
domes were sheathed with marble in India, ceramic tiles in Persia and Iraq and
lead in Asia Minor and Europe
-
Flat
roofs were rendered, paved, sealed with bitumen or compacted clay
·
Barrel
vaulting, or cross vaulting was extensively used for minor spans, particularly
caranvaserais, bazaars, military works and cisterns
·
Domes
were widely used throughout the Islamic world
-
Persian,
Mughal and Egyptian domes tended to be pointed in contrast to the
hemispherical Turkish version
·
Ancient
Greek and Roman columns were often re-used by Moslem and thus became
models for new work particularly Turkey
-
Fluted
columns were not employed
-
Tapering
circular shafts, with entasis were common, except in parts of Persia where
Sassanian influenced continued, and in India, where a square form occurs
derived from Jain model
·
A
wide variety of mouldings and friezes is found; Ottoman architecture in
particular is distinguished by a rich vocabulary of mouldings often used in
isolation from other forms of ornament
·
Moslem
architecture is also characterized by friezes and crestings, often associated
with the mouldings
·
Abstract
and geometric motifs were basic constituents of Islamic ornament
·
Decorations
of Moslem buildings were extensive and they made used of the following
techniques:
a.
carving in bas relief g.
ceramic facing
b.
stone inlay h.
ceramic mosaic
c.
stone mosaic i.
glass mosaic
d.
structural assembly of contrasting stones
j. painting
e.
patterned brickwork k.
timber inlay
f.
carved stucco l.
pietra dura
·
Motifs
were derived from calligraphy, floral abstraction, geometric interlacement
·
The
most recurrent and characteristic precise architectural features of Islamic
architecture are as follows:
a.
arcading ( arcade ) in both timber and masonry
b.
pointed arch
c.
true dome
d.
columns, similar in proportion to Greco-Roman models and their derivatives
e.
squinches
f.
stalactite corbelling
g.
pendentives
·
The
most significant structural and decorative techniques used by the Moslems are:
a.
banded or striated masonry
b.
decorative bonding for brickwork
c.
interlocked and inlaid stone masonry
d.
metal or timber ties to arches
e.
bas relief carving in stone, timber or plaster
g.
ceramic cladding and facing
h.
interlocking paneled geometric timber construction
i.
screens or pierce grilles in marble, metal or timber for window openings
j.
internal window lights in stained glass set in plaster
k.
colonettes, particularly at quoins
l.
stalactite decorations
·
An
important structural or ornamental device, the “stalactite” is peculiar to
countries dominated by Islam
·
The
pointed arch, sometimes stilted, was used from earliest stages in Moslem development,
producing a series of forms: two centered, four centered, horseshoe, cusped,
foliated and ogee
EXAMPLES
A.
THE ARAB PENINSULA, SYRIA and MESOPOTAMIA
1.
KUBBET- ES- SAKHRA ( DOME OF THE ROCK ), JERUSALEM
·
Is
probably the most fundamentally important Islamic structure
·
Sometimes
described as a mosque but is should be properly thought of as a shrine
·
Occupies
a spot on the temple platform sacred to Jews, Christians and Moslems; for there
stood successively the Altar of David, the Temple of Solomon, Temple erected by
the Jews after their exile, Temple of Herod ( destroyed A.D. 70 ), and
Hadrian’s Temple of Jupiter
·
It
consist of a great central dome covering the summit of Mt. Moriah, whence the
prophet is believed to have made his night ride to heaven
·
Its
double timber dome is carried on great masonry arcade, which is surrounded by
arcaded aisles on octagonal plan
·
The
interior is richly finished in quartered marbles and glass mosaic
·
The
exterior wall surface, now sheathed in sixth century Turkish tiles, was
originally faced with glass mosaic
·
The
dome , although subsequently reconstructed, has always consisted of an
approximately concentric cross braced inner and outer timber framework
·
In
concept, the building is similar to the Byzantine Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
which it was design to emulate
·
In
structural technique, it closely follows Syrian precedent, and in it is a
continuation of the tradition of Hellenized Syria
·
Built
by the Ummayad Caliph Abd Al Malik, although in its feature the building seems
entirely Syrio – Byzantine
2.
MOSQUE OF AL-AQSA, JERUSALEM
·
The
most ancient mosque in Jerusalem
·
Built
to commemorate the supposed miraculous transport of the prophet Mohammed in
Mecca in a single night to the great Temple platform in Jerusalem sacred alike
to Jews, Christians and Moslems
·
Stands
adjacent to the Dome of the Rock and align upon it.
·
Here
probably stood a basilican church of Justinian, with nave and aisles to which
double aisles were afterwards added, and this was probably converted into a mosque,
enlarged and beautified by Caliph Abd-Al- Malik
·
Subsequent
reconstruction in 780 and 1035 have produced a multi aisled prayer space, in
which the central aisle is flanked by Corinthian colonnades of Roman
proportions, carrying an arcaded wall complete with triforium and clearstory,
and terminated by a dome over what, in so church like a structure, it is
tempting to call a sanctuary
3. THE GREAT MOSQUE, DAMASCUS
·
Stands
on the site of the Roman temple converted into a church by Theodosius, and
rebuilt in AD 75 into a mosque by Moslems
·
Is
the earliest mosque to survive intact
·
The
original temple of Damascus stood in a walled temenos ( sacred enclosure )
·
At
each corner of its rectangular plan there stood a square tower
·
In
the Christian era a church was built within the enclosure, occupying a small
part at the center
·
After
the Arab conquest another part of the enclosure was simultaneously used as a
mosque
·
In
705 the Caliph Al Walid, needing a mosque adequate for the large congregation
of his capital, took over the entire temenos
·
A
dome on a high drum was built over the middle of the central aisle
·
This
is the first o many examples of the use of superimposed arcades to give a
greater height to mosque interior
·
Despite
the clearly Romano-Byzantine techniques of construction and decoration, the
building is obviously designed for Moslem purpose and has a strong Islamic
quality
4. THE MOSQUE OF THE PROPHET’S HOUSE, MEDINA
·
The
house of Mohammed was enlarged and rebuilt as a full congregational mosque in
707-709 by Greeks and Egyptian craftsmen augmenting local labor
·
The
introduction of one of the first two mihrabs has given rise to the suggestion
that mihrab may have a Coptic origin
·
It
contains the simple tomb of the prophet
5. THE GREAT MOSQUE OF MALWIYA, SAMARRA
·
Now
disaffected, was the largest mosque ever built
·
It
was the work of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil who also built the nearby mosque of Abu
Dulaf
·
It
consist of an immense walled courtyard on a ratio of three to two, 155m x 238 m
overall surrounded by four aisles, except on the south where their number was
increased to nine
·
The
internal structure of mud brick piers and pole joisted roof has long been
disappeared but the massive brick outer walls remain, buttressed at intervals
of 15.2 m by half round towers
·
The
dramatic and evocative feature of this building is the enormous helicoidal
minaret at the northern end, isolated from the mosque , but on the main axis
·
The
notion of winding ramp encircling a diminishing tower derives originally from
the ziggurats of Mesopotamia
6.
THE QUBBAT AS – SULAIBIYA, SAMARRA
·
Was
constructed over the grave of the Caliph Al-Muntasir
·
This
is the first known mausoleum of Islamic
history
·
Was
constructed on the orders of the Caliph’s Greek mother on a low hill on the
west bank of the Euphrates and aligned upon the Great Mosque
·
The
grave was set beneath the plastered block structure, whose style set an
important precedent for the octagonal tomb structures first popular in Central
Asia and spreading thence to India and Turkey
7. CITY OF BAGHDAD
·
Constructed
in 762 onwards a few miles up the Tigris from the decaying Sassanian capital
Ctesiphon by the triumphant Caliph Al-Mansur as the capital of the Islamic
world
·
Circular
in plan, moated and walled, with four great entrances on principal axes
·
Its
diameter was nearly 2,743 m and a surrounding great wall was almost 18.3 m high
·
The
palace at the center was built on intersecting cross axes radiating from the
four gates at the cardinal points
·
The
whole of the center of the city was given over to the palace, which
accommodated the administrative buildings and was crowned by a high green dome to symbolize the capital
·
The
residential quarters formed a ring immediately inside the great wall
·
Nothing
now survives of the round city, and its character must be deduced from
fragmentary descriptions and comparative work at Samarra
·
B. EGYPT AND NORTH AFRICA TO TUNISIA
1.
THE MOSQUE O AL –ASHAR, CAIRO
·
Is
the earliest surviving Fatimid structure
·
Converted
into a university in AD 988,has an enormous mosque court enclosed by arcades,
beyond which is the nine aisled sanctuary with a hundred antique columns,
forming one of the most interesting buildings in Cairo
·
A
direct sequel to the mosque of Ibn Tulun
2. THE MOSQUE OF SULTAN BAYBARS, CAIRO
·
Was
the first mosque built by a Mamluk Sultan
·
It
was of interesting type, with great iwans fronting its courtyard
·
Has
only one minaret
3. MADRASSAH OF SULTAN SALIH, CAIRO
·
Is
the earliest surviving example and typical collegiate mosque-the madrassah
·
Has
an indirect entrance to central courtyard on to which face four iwans
4. THE MOSQUE OF ‘AMR, CAIRO
·
The
most ancient mosque in Egypt
·
Is
said to contain some of the earliest pointed arches in that country
·
The
open court about 250 ft square with central fountain or ablutions has a single
arcade on the entrance front and triple arcades on either side
C. SPAIN AND WESTERN NORTH AFRICA
1. GREAT MOSQUE, KAIROUAN, TUNISIA
·
Founded
in 7th century
·
Important
for its minaret, the earliest complete surviving example of a structure built for
its purpose
·
The
architectural origin of its minarets can be traced to the square shafted
tapering stone church towers o Syria and the preceding Roman towers of the
region
·
The
mosque itself has a near rectangular courtyard, flanked by multi-columned arcades
carrying flat roof
·
Its
incorrect southward orientation reveals its Syrian origin
2. THE ALHAMBRA, GRANADA
·
A fortified palace with a complex of buildings
set in gardens
·
Probably
the most famous of all Saracenic structure
·
Gorgeous
pleasure palace, in the new Caliphate of the West, of the Caliph Abd al Walid,
who built mosques at Jerusalem and Damascus
·
Intended
to impress the imagination of the conquered country as well as to minister to
his enjoyment of the passing hour
·
The
principal part of the palace consist of two large rectangular courts , one
reserved for the use of the sovereign (b) and his entourage and the other for
public ceremonial (a)
a.
Court of the Lions
-
Is 35.00 m x 20.00 m
-
Is
surrounded by arcades, in which very slender columns with high dosseret blocks
carry a perforated arcade structure of stucco, incredibly pierced and
interlaced to give it a filigree like delicacy
-
At
the eastern end of the court is the Hall of Justice, while the other halls
terminate the cross axes
-
The
domed structure covering each of these chambers is elaborated with a remarkable
complexity of o stalactite detail, executed with perfect discipline
b. Court of the Myrtles
- is 42.00 m x 23.00 m
- has on its northern termination to its
axis the massive tower of Komares, containing the Hall of
Ambassadors , an almost
symmetrical cubic chamber crowned by a polygonal dome
·
Perhaps
the most extraordinary achievement of Islamic architecture is possessed of an
almost ethereal quality which spring from its decorative complexity
3. THE GREAT MOSQUE, CORDOBA
·
Was
begun in 785 by Apd ar – Rahman I
·
The
first stage of the mosque displays a positive and vigorous quality that sets
the pattern for three major additions
done by Apd ar Rahman II in 848, Al – Hakam in 961and 968, and by Al –
Mansur in 987
·
Designed
to be inferior in size only to the Malwiya and Abu Dulaf Mosques in Samarra
·
The
minaret added by Apd ar – Rahman II was of the square towered Syrian type
·
The
arcades set parallel to the main axis, are carried on a great variety of
classical columns
·
Their
height being inadequate for the mosque interior , its Syrian builders adopted
the device previously used in Great Mosque at Damascus of setting double arcade
on columns
·
Under
Al – Hakam, mosaic workers were even brought from Constantinople by arrangement
with the Byzantine emperor
·
Though
now a cathedral, it remains relatively
unaltered, and stands as one of the supreme achievements of Islamic
architecture
D. PERSIA (IRAN) AND TURKESTAN
1. TARIK-HAN MOSQUE, DAMGHAN
·
Is
the oldest surviving Moslem building in Persia
·
Its
plan is essentially “Arabian” and comprises a colonnaded courtyard with a multi
columned prayer hall at one end and a detached minaret
·
The
chief feature of this building are the massive circular piers 1.80 m in
diameter and 3.60 m in height from
which spring equally ponderous parabolic
arches carrying shallow domes.
2. THE TOMB OF ISMAIL THE SAMANID BUKHARA
·
A relatively small domed mausoleum constructed
in highly decorative brickwork
·
The
building is an almost perfect cube, on which superimposed a hemispherical
masonry dome
·
The
main body of the structure is built in brick, the entire external surface
carrying a series o complex patterns of basket weave type, formed by elaborate
brick bonding
·
The
interior is as elaborate as the exterior, the entire finished surface being in
brickwork
·
The
building exemplified a highly developed architectural form and is the precursor
in character and structural content of a series of important Moslem tombs
3. MASJID-i-JAMI, ISFAHAN
·
Is
perhaps the most sumptuous and monumental of Persian Seljuk buildings
·
It
is an accretion of several periods , but the eleventh (11th) century
Seljuk work is clearly distinguished and reaches its peak of achievement in the
dome of Malik Shah, a great chamber which fronts the mihrab
·
Its
structure is essentially brick and comprises a high pointed dome on an
octagonal drum, incorporating squinches set on cubic chamber
·
The
plan of the mosque itself reflects Sassanian tradition and is an important
departure from the previously universal Arabian type
·
It
is built almost entirely of bricks, and provides a brilliant demonstration of
Seljuk mastery of the building of two and four centered arches, squinches,
domes, ribbed and groined vaults and structural stalactites ( muqarnas )
4. GUR-I-MIR, SAMARKAND
·
Is
Tamerlaine’s family mausoleum
·
Apart
from its size and brilliant ceramic cladding, is remarkable or an elongated
circular drum, which carries a stilted bulbous ribbed dome, a structure whose
extraordinary proportions may reflect the ruler’s personal idiosyncrasies
·
The
plan form of this mosque, with minaret at each corner of its rectangular
courtyard, was an important precedent for subsequent Mughal building in India
5.
MADRASSAH MADIR-i-SHAH, ISFAHAN
·
Is
the greatest of the eighteenth century mosque of Persia
·
It
is built around two courtyards and continued the traditional plan with a
principal iwan leading into a domed prayer chamber
·
It
is distinguished by its extreme regularity in planning, while reflecting in
character and detail work of a full century earlier
E. TURKEY
1. FATIH MOSQUE, ISTANBUL
·
The
original “ Conqueror’s Mosque” , was begun within ten years of the conquest of
Constantinople and was replaced by a building of different design in the
eighteenth century
·
It
consisted of an entrance courtyard and a rectangular prayer space covered by a
major dome buttressed by a half dome over the mihrab
·
Was
contained within a compound surrounded by a series of colleges, forming the
largest early civic group in Ottoman architecture
2. CHINLI KIOSK, ISTANBUL
·
Unusual
and lovely building on a plan much influenced by Persian architecture
·
A
cruciform central space is surmounted by a dome and surrounded by other domed
chambers and verandahs
·
The
entrance face is formed by a long arcaded verandah of great elegance, almost
unique in Persian character
3. MOSQUE OF SULTAN BAYAZIT, EDIRNE
·
Is
the earliest complete work that fully illustrates the pure Ottoman style
·
A
building which is remarkable for its
completeness and purity
·
Behind
the rectangular colonnaded ablution courts stands a simple cubic prayer chamber
surmounted by a hemispherical dome
4. MOSQUE OF BAYAZIT, ISTANBUL
·
Is
the earliest surviving Imperial mosque in the Ottoman capital
·
The
prayer hall contains four great piers which carry the major dome buttressed by
two opposed domes on the long axis
·
It
was the first substantial Ottoman building to reproduce the structural form of
Hagia Sophia
·
The
side aisles are covered by secondary domes rather than by vaulted galleries,
and are closely integrated with the main prayer space
·
It
possesses the earliest surviving fully developed Ottoman minarets,
multi-faceted stalactite-balconied, pencil slim and topped with tall leaded
steeples
5. SHEHZADE MOSQUE
·
Built
for Sultan Suleyman by the architect Koca Sinan
·
Exhibits
perfectly the classical relationship between the component parts of the Ottoman
mosque
·
Is
particularly remarkable for the symmetry of the prayer chamber, in which half
domes buttress the central dome on all four sides and four subsidiary domes
complete the covered area
·
Is
also notable for a high degree of ornamentation for its period, expressed in
stalactite headed doorways of incredible precision and complexity, multi
colored stone inlay in the elaborate crestings and unique bas relief carvings
on the minaret
6. SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE, ISTANBUL
·
Or
the Mosque of Suleyman I “ The Magnificent”
·
Was
designed by Architect Koca Sinan
·
The
main structure resembles Hagia Sophia, but is of smaller in dimension, the dome
having a diameter of 26.00 m and a height of 51.80 m
·
It
is the center of a civic complex – around the compound containing the mosque
itself are grouped baths, schools, several colleges, a hospital, group of
shops, public restaurants, various living quarters and houses for officials and
holders of civic and religious offices
·
In
structural form it echoes the nearby Bayazit Mosque and Hagia Sophia
·
Ceramic
tiles made in Iznik (Nicea) , reached a second phase of extensive use in
Ottoman architecture by middle of the sixteenth century
o Used modestly but with careful
precision in the mosque itself, they are included abundantly and brilliantly in
the octagonal tomb of the Sultan and his wife Roxelana, in the cemetery immediately
behind the prayer chamber
Subscribe Our Newsletter