Islamic Architecture: 303-Architecture and Town Planning

303-Architecture and Town Planning
Islamic Architecture
Overview
• What is Islamic Architecture?
• Basic Principles of Islamic Architecture
• Types of Islamic Architecture
• Elements of Islamic Architecture
• Styles of Islamic Architecture
• Islamic decorative elements
Islamic Architecture
Definition
Islamic architecture can be defined as a building
traditions of Muslim populations of the Middle East
and any country where Islam has been dominant from
the 7th century onwards.
Encompasses both secular & religious buildings from
the beginning of Islam to present day, influencing the
design & construction of structures within the sphere
of Islamic Culture
Common Interpretations of Islamic
Architecture
• The concept of Allah's infinite power is evoked by
designs with repeating themes.
• Human and animal forms are rarely depicted in
decorative art as Allah's work is matchless.
• Calligraphy is used to enhance the interior of a
building by providing quotations from the Qur'an.
• Islamic architecture focuses on the beauty of the
interior rather than exterior spaces.
• Use of impressive forms such as large domes,
towering minarets, and large courtyards are intended
to convey power
Basic Principals of Islamic Architecture
• Concept of Space
Sacred
• Concept of Man on Earth
Life Cycle of a Grave
• Geometric Drivers
Patterns in Nature Sufi Elements
on Design
• Environmental Constraints
Form addresses climate Forms
follow Function or visa versa?
Types of Islamic Buildings
• Mosque – Muslim center @ place for worship
• Madrasah – public school
• Hammam - A structural design for a hot bathhouse
• Caravanserai - A roadside inn for travellers
• Casbah/Citadel - a fortress
• Mausoleum - a tomb or a monument
Mosque Typology
Mosque Architecture Features
Great Mosque of Damascus
Damascus, Syria
• The interior walls of Great

Mosque of Damascus have
stone mosaics that depict
crowns, fantastic plants,
realistic trees, and even
empty towns.
• This is thought to represent
Paradise for the faithful
Muslim.
• Both the Dome of the Rock
in Jerusalem and The Great
Mosque of Damascus used
the Syrian cut-stone
technique of building and
popularized the use of the
dome.
The Great Mosque of Samarra
Samarra, Iraq
In 750 the Abbasid Dynasty

moved the capital east to
Baghdad, and from 836 to
892 the Abbasid rulers
resided at Samarra. The
Great Mosque of
Samarra is an important
example of the Iraqi style,
noted for its massive size
and huge minaret.
Mosque of Sultan Hassan (Cairo, Egypt)
Sulayman Mosque Complex
Istanbul, Turkey
• In Turkey the mosque form was also derived from Persia, as was most
Turkish art.
• One of the most famous Turkish architects was Sinan, chief architect in the
Ottoman court from 1539 until his death in 1588. He constructed or
designed most of Sulaymani's buildings, the most noted of which is his
Sulayman Mosque (c.1557) in Istanbul.
Mosque of Cordova (Andalusia, Spain)
Characteristics:
• Giant arches and its forest of over 856 (of an original
1,293) columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite.
These were taken from the Roman temple which had
previously occupied the site and other destroyed
Roman buildings.
• The Torre del Alminar, the minaret once used to
summon the faithful to prayer, has a Baroque tower.
• The Great Mosque of Cordova was begun in 785 and
is famous for its rows of double-tiered arches.
The Taj Mahal (Agra, India)
• Taj Mahal was built in 22 years (1631-1653) with the
orders of Shah Jahan and it was dedicated to Mumtaz
Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum)
• 20,000 workers labored and 32 crore rupees were spent
during the construction of the monument
• The Architect of Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri
• Taj Mahal means the’ Palace of the Crown’ because; Taj
means “Crown” and Mahal means “palace”.
• The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on many design
traditions, particularly Persian, Hindu and earlier Mughal
architecture.
Characteristics
• While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar
component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.
• refined elegance is a visible contrast both to the Hindu architecture of pre-
Islamic India, with its thick walls, corbeled arches, and heavy lintels, and to
the Indo-Islamic styles, in which Hindu elements are combined with a
collection of motifs from Persian and Turkish sources
• The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in
which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the
main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a
symmetry of architectural elements.
• The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway,
an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right).
The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna
behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the
center.
Elements of Islamic Architecture
Islamic architecture are identified with the following
design elements, which were inherited from the first
mosque built by Muhammad in Medina, as well as
features adapted from churches and other religious
places.
• Minarets or towers
• Mihrab or niche on an inside wall indicating
the direction of Mecca
• Domes/Arches
– Use of geometric shapes and repetitive
art (arabesque)
– Use of decorative Arabic calligraphy
– Ablution fountains
• Courtyard – Sehan
• Garden - Water Char Bagh
• Bara Dari
• Awan
Dome of the Rock
Al Kuds (Jerusalem)
• The earliest architectural

monument of Islam that
retains most of its original
form is the Dome of the
Rock in Jerusalem,
constructed in 691-92.
• It has mosaics depicting
scrolling vines and flowers,
jewels, and crowns in
greens, blues, and gold.
Styles of Islamic Architecture
• Persian Moorish
• Turkistan (Timurid)
• Ottoman Turkish
• Fatimid
• Mamluk
• Indo-Islamic (Mughal)
• Sino-Islamic
• Afro-Islamic
Persian - Isfahan
• Early Islamic architects
borrowed and adopted
the traditions and ways
of the fallen Persian
empire
• Islamic architecture
borrows heavily from
Persian architecture.
• Characteristics: Tapered
brick pillars Large arcades
Moorish - Alhambra
Great Mosque, Cordoba (785
AD)
• Peak of design: Alhambra,
Granada (Palace/Fortress)
• Lasting impact on modern
Spanish architecture.
• Characteristics:
Foliage Motifs
Arches Glazed Tile work
Central Fountain
Turkistan - Samarkand
• Erected by Timur
• Samarkand, Herat, Meshed,
Kazakhstan
• Derived from Persian
influence
• Gave rise to Mughal design
• Characteristics:
– Symmetry
– Double Domes
– Brilliant colors on the outside
Ottoman - Istanbul
• Byzantine, Persian and
Syrian influence
• Vast inner spaces covered
by seemingly weightless but
massive domes
• Vaults, domes, semi-domes,
columns
• Great architect – Sinan
• Note worthy architecture
Suleiman Mosque
Fatimid & Mamluk- Cairo
• FATAMID High influence
- Turkistan
Al-Azhar Mosque - 1st example
Famous buildings
• Al Azhar University
• Al Hakim Mosque
• Al Jame-al-Aqmer
• MAMLUK
Patterns of arts
Art & Architecture at peak
Indo – Islamic (Mughal)
• Fusion: Persian, Arabic, Hindu
• Use marble &
precious/semiprecious stone
• Showed power & influence
over region
• Famous buildings:
– Shalimar Gardens
– Delhi Fort
– Badshahi Masjid
– Taj Mahal
Sino - Islamic
1 st Mosque in China: Grand
Mosque of Xi’an
• Follow traditional Chinese
form Buildings highly
symmetrical but gardens
highly asymmetrical
• Predominantly wooden
construction – but some
use of red or gray blocks
Afro Islamic
• Famous Structures in Africa:
Grand Mosque of Djenne’
Cairo Citadel Sankore
Mosque in Timbutku
• Style highly influenced by
Muslim traders to the region
Modern Islamic Architecture
• Burj Al-Arab Dubai, UAE
• Petronas Towers, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
• The Burj Dubai, UAE
Burj Al-Arab
Petronas Towers
The Burj Dubai
Islamic Decorative Elements
Assignment # 2
• Select any Islamic building other than
mosques and Mausoleums (tomb). Describe
the following things
– Basic concept of Architecture
– Architectural features
– Architectural style
– Architectural elements
– Islamic Decorative elements
– Calligraphy styles
Assignment # 3
Public Speaking Practice
• To prepare a speech
• Topic can be related to the subject or it can be any
topic in general interest
• The strong and weak points will be noted at the end of
speech of the speaker
• The nominal roll will be handed over to the DDAdmin
and Coordinator.
Note: 6 students will present in each class according to
their Regn Nos. Reading from a paper will not be allowed
during the speech.

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303-Architecture and Town Planning

• The interior walls of Great

In 750 the Abbasid Dynasty

• The earliest architectural

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