Architecture of Moslems

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Architectureof Moslems includes a wide range of styles from dawnof Islamto present day, influencing the design and buildings and structures inIslamic culture architectural types include the masjid, thepalaceand the fort vocabulary of moslem architecture is derived from these types and used for buildings of lesser importance such as public baths,fountains and domestic architecture. -

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recognizable Moselm architectural styleemerged after the prophets time inspired by Islam and addition of localized adaptations of Persian, Byzantine, and VisigothsstylesTheDome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhrah)(691) is one of the most important buildings in all of Moslem architecture, marked by a strong Byzantine influencemosaic against a gold background, and a central plan with a great epigraphicfriezeIt featured interior vaulted spaces, a circular dome, and the use of stylized repeating decorativearabesquepatterns -

motifsof Islamic architecture have always been ordered repetition, radiating structures, and rhythmic, metric patterns In this respect,fractal geometryhas been a key utility especially for mosques and palaces. Other significant features employed as motifs include columns, piers and arches, organized and interwoven with alternating sequences of niches and colonnettesThe role of domes in Islamic architecture has been considerable and its usage spans centuries, first appearing in 691 inDome of the Rock, and recurring even up until the 17th century with theTaj Mahal. As late as the 19th century, Islamic domes had been incorporated into Western architecture

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Prophet mosque and his house, and extensionsAlfustat by Amr bin Alas ( ) rectangle, 29 mby 17 m, palm treetrunks, stones and mud bricks, covered by a roof of wood and palm leaves. four columns used to point out qibla. no adornments, nominaretsMinarets added by ( )in 679 and double its sizeIn 711 a concave prayer niche was added In 827, it had seven new aisles built, parallel to qibla wall, Each aisle had an arcade of columns, with the last column in each row attached to the wall by means of a woodenarchitrave carved with a friezeIn 9th century, a new area was added by increasing dimensions to 120m x 112m

Umayyad Empire (661-750), in the Umayyad era many new elements were included to Moslem architecture: Minarates, Arabisque, Mosaic, Luxury palaces

691

691

Ummayid Palaces inJordanandSyria served as living quarters, reception halls, and baths for rulers and were decorated to promote an image of royal luxury building remnant of a larger complex that included a castle, a royal retreat. frescoeson ceilings inside, which depict hunting,, an accurate representation of thezodiac

711

Religious and civic architecture were developed under theUmayyads, the "Arab plan", with court andcoveredprayer hall, truly became a functional type with the construction of the Umayyad Mosque, (completed in 715 by caliph Al-Walid )

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Great Mosque of Kairouan in tunis built in 670 AD considered as the ancestor of all mosques in maghreb and most significant examples of early great mosques constituted of a massive square minaret, a large courtyard surrounded by porticos and a huge hypostyle prayer hall covered on its axis by two cupolas

Hypostyle prayer hall of theGreat Mosque of Kairouan, in Tunisia

Ceiling in Alhambra, Interior of Masjid in Cordoba, Sintra Castle,Portugal, Mosque at Crdoba 785 AD noted for its striking interior arches, the magnificent Alhambra palace ofGranada with its open and breezy interior spaces adorned in red, blue, goldwalls decorated with foliagemotifs,andarabesquedesign work, with walls covered in glazedtile

After Moslem entered Spain in 711 AD the horseshoe arch form was adopted from visigoth architecture with accentuated curvature

Abbasid dynasty(750- 1258) moved capital toBaghdad, and then toSamarra. TheGreat Mosque of Samarra,Iraq built in 847 AD, combined thehypostyle architecture of rows of columns supporting a flat base above which a huge spiralingminaretwas constructed. Minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra

Other major mosques built in the Abbasid Dynasty include theMosque of Ibn Tulunin Cairo 876 AD The mosque is constructed around a courtyard, with one covered hall on each of the four sides, the largest being on the side of theqiblaThe original mosque had its ablution fountain in the area between the inner and outer walls

Bab al-Futuh gate built by Fatimid vazirBadr al-JamalitheFatimidsfollowedTulunid techniques and used similar materials, but also developed those of their own. InCairo al-Azhar mosque founded along with the city (969973), which, together with its adjacent institution of higher learning al-Azhar UniversityMosque of al-Hakim be Amr Allah (9961013)monumental gates for Cairo'scity walls commissioned by the powerfulFatimid emirBadr al-Jamali(10731094).

built by Saladin (1171-1193) as part of fortiifcations of cairo. looking much like castles built in Syriapieces of the giza pyramids, ruined mosques, and other salvaged stone were used in its construction. It includes two walled enclosures with the military tothe northeast and the residential quarters to the southwest.

two periods1250 to 1382 and is known as the Bahri Mamluk period because the dominant Mamluks were based on Roda island in the Nile delta. second period from 1382 to 1517 is known as the Burji Mamluk periodMamluks power through superior military organization 1260 Sultan Baybars halt advance of the Mongols at the battle of 'Ayn Jalut in Palestine. under Sultan Qalaoun and his son Khalil in 1291 captured the cities of Acre, Tyre, Sidon, Beirut and Tripoli ending the Crusader presence in the LevantMamluk architecture reflects the confidence of military success and is most distinctive Islamic building styleDevelopment Ayyubids style

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a four-iwan plan mosque. kiosk plan mosque consisting of a domed space with three open sides and wall containing a mihrab on the qibla sidesimple design and harmonious proportion

Hagia Sophiainfluenced moslem architecture after Ottomans captured istanbul from theByzantines and converted the basilicato amosque(now a museum), incorporatedByzantine architecturalelementsHagia Sophia served as a model for many other mosques such as theSuleimania Mosque, and Rstem Pasha MosqueFamous architect Sinan

1575

interior view of main dome ofSelimiye Mosque, Edirne Turkey

Si-yo-se-pol,Isfahan,Iran

1629

Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan

1618

Shah Mosque interior, Isfahan

Taj Mahal, Agra, India one of the most recognisable buildings in the worldmain characteristic features of Mughal architecture are the bulbous domes, the slender minarets with cupolas at the four corners, large halls, massive vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation

Badshahi Masjid built in 1674 Lahore , epitomizes beauty and grandeur ofMughal era

Friday Mosque of HeratinAfghanistan

Mosque inThailand shows influence of Chinese architecture.

Elements of Moslem Architecture

Finaa: courtyard sometimes surrounded by a RewaqRewaq:domed or roofed arcaded path around a finaa or sahnBustan : fruit gardens.Kantra: row of supportuing columns (arcade/colonnade) Iwan: carving into mass of a buildings facade associated with main entrances or prominent building elevationsRoshan/mashrabiyya: wooden bay windows that allows air into the building and ensure privacyMalqaf/badkeer/Jela: element that draws air into buiding interiorsMuqarnas: type ofcorbelthat take the form of small pointed niches, stacked in tiers which project beyond lower tiers, made of brick, stone, or wood, and typically applied todomes,pendentives, cornices,squinchesand undersides of arches andvaultsSabil: drinking water feature or fountain incorporated in a building facadeTakhtaboosh: a space annexed to court for male visitors

Glossary

- Domes

- Courtyard

Fountain in the Courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque, Cairo - Ablution Kiosk

Egypt, Cairo, Fountain in the Court of the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, 1880 Ablution

Minaret

-Niche

- Iwan

Fountain

Cairo: Citadel :detail of a water fountain in the Mosque of Mohammed AliFountain in GayAnderson Museum - Cairo Fountain

Arches Cordoba Mosque

Columns

Arches

Parapet crenellation

squinch AlhambraPalace,Granada,SpainIsfahan Royal Mosque entrance

Squinches

Squinches

Cantilever ()

Courtyards & Finaa

Al Suhaymi House

Al Suhaymi House

Interlaced wooden screen

Wind Catcher

Wind Catcher

Wind Catcher

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