Town Planning Lecture related to Islamic Architecture.pptx

Lecture

1. History of Islamic Architecture Lecture # 5

2. Islamic Art Architecture reveals a great deal about a culture, and also about periods in history. To appreciate Islamic architecture, it is important to understand that Islam forbids the depiction of animals and humans because early Muslim leaders wanted to prevent animal worship. As a result, Islamic artists used intricate calligraphy (usually of passages from the Quran ), geometric and abstract designs, and floral patterns to decorate their works. In Muslim architectural design, the phrase “ architecture of the veil ” means that the private courtyards at the center of houses and mosques are kept secret . They cannot be seen from the street, and the exterior (or façade ) of the building does not reveal the structure’s size, shape, or function. The concept of “ weightlessness ” is also important in Islamic religious architecture. Walls with openings in them and very high ceilings are used to make a building seem “lighter” than it actually is.

3. Principal Arts Arts of the Object Ceramics Metalwork Glass Woodwork Textiles Architecture Tombs Mosques The Arts of the Book Calligraphy Illustration

4. Main Styles of Islamic Art Geometric Calligraphic Organic/Figural Medallions

5. Geometric Based on mathematical shapes

6. Calligraphic Uses Arabic script as the focal point of a design Marble foundation stone from Egypt

7. Organic/Figural Identified by: Curving lines Humans or animal Flowers or vines

8. Medallion Central image that is more important than other elements of the design

9. Which Style? Calligraphic

10. History of Islamic Architecture Muslims borrowed extensively from neighboring civilization because there was no native architectural style in Prophet Muhammad’s (P.B.U.H) homeland. Hagia Sophia – converted to a mosque after the Muslim conquest of Constantinople

11. History of Islamic architecture Istanbul’s Blue Mosque is clearly based on the Hagia Sophia.

12. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul Stained glass creates a magical lighting effect. However, unlike European stained glass, there are no images of people, due to Mohammad’s (P.B.U.H) prohibition against them.

13. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul It is the magnificent dome and adjoining half-domes that impress most. Built a thousand years after the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque displays more grace than its predecessor.

14. The Great Mosque at Samarra, Iraq Regional variations in Islamic architecture reflect local traditions, where they exist. The Great Mosque at Samarra has a minaret in the style of a Babylonian Ziggurat.

15. The Blue Mosque - Isfahan Iranian mosques frequently used the same blue tiles as was popular in Ottoman Turkey. However, their Iwan (great Hall) form and characteristic monumental entrances are purely Persian in design.

16. Mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah - Isfahan

17. Mogul Architecture The Muslim conquerors of India developed an architecture of particular grace and grandeur. Persian domes and great gates appeared throughout northern India.

18. Mogul Architecture Sometimes Islamic and Hindu features were fused – as in Akbar’s palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri. In the pavilion to the right one sees the traditional trabeated Hindu features, merged with Persian domes.

19. The Mesquita -- Cordoba In Spain, some of the most exuberant Moslem architecture evolved. A prime example of this “Moorish” architecture is the Mesquite (mosque) in Cordoba.

20. The Mesquita - Cordoba The horseshoe-shaped double arch atop its forest of columns is easily identified. The double arch helped to increase the vertical height of the ceiling.

21. The Mesquita - Cordoba                                                                

22. The Mesquita - Cordoba Close examination of the pillar capitals reveal that they are recycled from earlier buildings – both Roman and Germanic.

23. The Mesquita - Cordoba Another prominent feature is the incredibly intricate arching found in the Mihrab – here called the Capilla de Villaviciosa.

24. The Mesquita - Cordoba The vaulting is also wondrously complex, showing the Arab love of geometry

25. The Mesquita - Cordoba Perhaps the strangest feature of the Mesquita today is the Christian church carved out of the middle of the original mosque. Yet another example of cultural recycling – but strangely out of keeping with the rest of the building.

26. The Alhambra - Grenada For a time Grenada was the Moorish capital of Spain. The Alhambra palace complex contains some of the most beautiful Islamic architecture in the world.

27. The Alhambra - Grenada The Court of Lions, with its slim columns and carved lace-like wall surfaces are unique.

28. The Alhambra - Grenada

29. The Alhambra - Grenada The carved stucco of the ceiling in the Hall of the Two Sisters is unparalleled in beauty and geometrical complexity.

30. The Alhambra - Grenada Of particular note is the use of water as an architectural feature. The Patio de los Aranyanes shows the value of water to a culture with desert roots.

31. The Generalife - Grenada The fountains and abundant water features serve to reduce the temperature of the palace gardens.

32. Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali One of the strangest Islamic structures in the world is the mud mosque at Djenne .

33. Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali Here the palm wood beams extend out in order to support scaffolding for the workers who must annually plaster its surface.

34. Architecture of Public buildings The most common types of Islamic public buildings Mosques Madresahs Mausoleums

35. MOSQUES Considered the most important building Serve as a gathering place for prayer, teaching, and a town hall Its form has been very consistent through time and place The earliest mosques were built to represent the prophet Mohammad’s house A courtyard and covered area for prayer All mosques were axial and oriented towards Mecca Mecca is Islam’s most holy site

36. General features of mosques The Mihrab, indicates the Qibla, the direction of Mecca, which the faithful must face when praying.

37. Features of Mosques There is also a minbar , from which sermons are delivered.

38. Features of Mosques And a minaret, or tower, from which the Muezzin call the faithful to prayer. Originally this call was made from the main roof of the mosque. Minarets developed from Christian bell towers. Later they influenced Christian designs.

39. Features of Mosques Within the courtyard is usually an ablution fountain – where the worshipper symbolically washes before prayer.

40. Three Styles of Mosques

41. 1. Hypostyle Mosque Prayer hall is formed of rows of columns Usually multiple columns vertically Dominant style in the early period Hypostyle Hall of the Mosque of the Umayyad, Damascus

42. 2. Central-Dome Mosque Prayer hall's space is dominated by a central dome surrounded by smaller and lower semi-domes. The Selimiye Mosque in Edirne

43. 3. Iwan Mosque Prayer hall is an iwan, or up to four iwans, surrounding a courtyard. Most popular type in the medieval period Two of the Four Iwan of the Friday Mosque in Isfahan

44. Ka'ba in Mecca Masjid al-Haram Center of worship and pilgrimage The qibla towards which worshippers face when praying.

45. Madresahs Theological colleges and schools of religion Usually attached directly to mosques Typical structure Four vaulted halls surrounding a center courtyard The largest side hall is known as the qibla The four halls are usually surrounded Apartments Schoolrooms Exterior decoration usually only surrounds openings and marks the roofline Unlike other public buildings where decoration starts at the foundation and ends at the roof

46. Madresahs

47. Mausoleums Memorials to holy men and rulers Usually centrally planed and domed The most famous Islamic mausoleum is the Taj Mahal