Lecture 8:EARLY ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

INTRODUCTION

Presented By
Ar.Anju
HOA
BMSA
Contents
• Introduction

• Islamic Origins

• Typologies

• Islamic Styles

• Architectural features

• Examples
Evolution of different architectural styles in middle age
DEFINITION
Islamic architecture can be define as
of the Middle East and any countries
where Islam has been dominant from
the 7thcenturyon.

TYPES OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

•Mosque– Muslim center @ place for worship

•Madrasah–public school
•Hammam-A structural design for a hot bath
house
•Caravan serai-A road side inn for travellers
•Casbah/Citadel-a fortress
•Mausoleum-a tomb or a monument.
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

Islamic architecture gains its origins when

the Muslims began to build in conquered
lands
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
LIGHT
Light can add a dynamic quality to
architecture, extending patterns, forms and
designs into the dimensions of time. The
combination of light and shade creates strong
contrasts of planes and gives texture to
sculpted stone, as well as brick surfaces.
WATER
In hot Islamic climates, the water from
courtyard pools and fountains cools as
it decorates. Water can not only reflect
architecture and multiply the
decorative themes, it can also serve as
a means of emphasizing the visual axes.
SOCIO, CULTURAL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Prophet Mohamed
Annual Pilgrimage
Orientation of prayer
Arabic language
Growth of Islam
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.
 Courtyard
ELEMENTS
Courtyard – Sehan
Garden
Water Char Bagh
Technology
Dome Arch
Bara Dari
Iwan
Mashrabia
Chadar
 Bara Dari
ELEMENTS
Bara Dari
Awan
Mashabia

Mashabia
MOSQUE TYPOLOGIES
MOSQUE ARCHITECtURAL FEATURES
MOSQUE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
MOSQUE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
MOSQUE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
OTTOMAN CAPTURED CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1453

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
GROWTH OF ISLAM
Islamic architecture gains its origins when the Muslims
began to build in conquered lands
Byzantium
Greece
Egypt
Middle East

Styles Empires

Persian (Modern Iran) Abbasid

Moorish Umayyad
Turkistan (Timurid) Ottoman
Ottoman Turkish Mughal Empires
Fatimid
Mamluk
Indo-Islamic (Mughal)
Sino-Islamic
Afro-Islamic
 Suleiman Mosque
Ottoman Style
Influenced by Byzantine church (Hagia Sophia)
26m

52m
Colored glass and white calligraphy on blue ceramic
 The minarets

The courtyard
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 Sulayman I's buildings, the most noted of which is his Sulayman Mosque
(c.1557) in Istanbul.
DOME OF THE ROCK AL KUDS (JERUSALEM)
 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.
DOME OF THE ROCK AL KUDS (JERUSALEM)
DOME OF THE ROCK AL KUDS (JERUSALEM)
Thank you