Module 06
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
JPT HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso
[email protected] ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY
• Refers to traditions for
construction established
by Muslim people from
7th century.
• Includes religious buildings intended for worship by
Muslims and secular buildings built in a predominantly
Islamic region.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY
• Stemmed from Christian, Persian and Indian.
• Forms and styles came largely from Byzantine
Empire.
• Elements of Persian architecture influenced structures
in India (i.e. Taj Mahal)
• Earliest examples use horseshoe-shaped arch
and geometric decorations.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
RELIGION Sujud or Sajdah - the act of low bowing to Allah facing the qiblah
(direction of Kaaba at Mecca), usually done in standard prayers (salah)
• Islam is a monotheistic
religion that became
popular in the Middle
East.
• Islamic nations did not separate church and state,
but instead saw the two as completely intertwined.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
• Focuses on the interior rather than the exterior of
the structure.
• Parallels the veil Muslim women
wear —- architecture from the
outside looks similar; personal
expression and signs of wealth Hijab - head covering worn in public by Muslim
are reserved for the family inside.
woman; worn to maintain privacy and modesty
from unrelated males
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
PATTERNS & ORNAMENTATION
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
PATTERNS & ORNAMENTATION
• Islamic design is aniconic in nature.
• Absence of human animal forms within art, as it is
prohibited to attempt to imitate the work of God.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
PATTERNS & ORNAMENTATION
• ARABESQUE
• GEOMETRIC
• CALLIGRAPHY
Form of biomorphic art that uses floral patterns
that add movement to the overall design
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
PATTERNS & ORNAMENTATION
• ARABESQUE
• GEOMETRIC
• CALLIGRAPHY
Makes use of repeared shapes
such as circles or squares.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
PATTERNS & ORNAMENTATION
• ARABESQUE
• GEOMETRIC
Represents a
• CALLIGRAPHY
decorative form of
writing that presents
the text in an artistic
manner.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MOSQUE
• Place where muslims gather and offer their prayers
• Where religious events, festivals and celebrations are
held (i.e. Ramadan)
• Acts a place for studying Quran and Islamic teachings
• Around the mosque are community schools and center.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MOSQUE TYPES
1.Masjid • General term for a mosque
2.Jami • Mosque used for daily prayer by
individuals or small groups
3.Idgah • Has a mihrab but no minbar (pulpit)
4.Madrasa
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MOSQUE TYPES
1.Masjid • Congregational or Friday mosque
2.Jami • Used mainly for weekly service
• Usually larger than a masjid
3.Idgah
• Provided with a minbar
4.Madrasa
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MOSQUE TYPES
1.Masjid • “Place of community prayer”
2.Jami • Great open praying area with
nothing but a qibla wall and a
3.Idgah
mihrab
4.Madrasa
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MOSQUE TYPES
1.Masjid • Teaching mosque
2.Jami
3.Idgah
4.Madrasa
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
ALCAZAR
• “Moorish” Alhambra, Spain
• A fortress complex similar to a
castle or palace where
government officials live and work
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
IWAN
• Also called Ivan
• Vaulted space that opens one
side to a courtyard
• Strongly associated with Persian
architecture and continued to
be used in monumental
architecture in Islam
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
FOUR-EYVAN
• Also called four-iwan
• Four vaulted halls
• Plan with large courtyard
connected to four vaults on
each wall
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MINARET
• “Beacon” (Arabic)
• Tower attached to the mosque
• Where the muezzin calls the
Muslim people to prayer (five
times a day)
Minaret of Abu Dulaf Mosque (Samarra, Iraq)
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MINBAR
• Also called “mimbar”
• Pulpit which the imam
delivers his sermon
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
MUQARNAS
• “Stalactite” decoration of
icicle-like elements
hanging from the ceiling
• semi-dome that connects
the walls with the roof
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
QIBLA
• Also Qiblah or Kiblah
• Wall in a mosque in which
the mihrab (niche or
decorative panel) is set,
oriented to Mecca
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
QIBLA
• Also Qiblah or Kiblah
• Wall in a mosque in which
the mihrab (niche or
decorative panel) is set,
oriented to Mecca
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES
SAHN
• Courtyard,
surrounded by a
riwaq (arcade) on all
sides
• Equivalent of
European Medieval
cloister
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
TERMINOLOGIES Early example of a squinch,
Sassanid Palace (Iran, 224 CE)
SQUINCHES • Supports under the dome
Squinch with three arches
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
PENDENTIVE SQUINCH
Used in the construction of domes to evenly distribute the immense
weight of the dome allowing it to sit atop the base with no beams or
structural supports obstructing the space below.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FAMOUS MOSQUES
BLUE MOSQUE
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque
• UNESCO WHS, 1985
• Istanbul, Turkey
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FAMOUS MOSQUES
SHEIKH ZAYED
GRAND MOSQUE
• Abu Dhabi, UAE (2007)
• 80 domes
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FAMOUS MOSQUES DOME OF THE ROCK
Dome of the Rock Masjid (Qubbat as-Sakhrah)
• Golden Dome
• Contains the oldest mihrab
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FAMOUS MOSQUES
PROPHET’S MOSQUE
• Al-Masjid An-Nabwi
• Built by Muhammad in Medina
• Second largest mosque and
second holiest site in Islam
• Green dome in the south-east
corner is where the tomb of
Muhammad is located.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FAMOUS MOSQUES
THE GREAT MOSQUE
• Al-Masjid Al-Haram
• Holiest & Largest Mosque
• Site of the Haj pilgrimage
• Houses the Ka’ba, small
cubical stone building in the
courtyard that contains a
sacred black stone and
objective of the Haj.
Ar. Frances Leana C. Generoso - JPT History of Architecture
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Islamic Architecture combines a variety of artistic traditions
from the reaches of Islam empires into structures designed
using characteristics common to Islamic culture in general.
• Focused on the interior, with elaborate decoration in
geometric forms.
• Physical characteristics include domes, arches, minarets,
muqarnas, vaulting and girih tiles.
