LECTURE-2
LEARNING LEVEL-1
Part-I
AN OVERVIEW
Focused study of history of Islamic Architecture while exploring factors
affecting it and the study of key features of Islamic architecture.
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE – 700AD & ONWARDS
Capt Farah
History
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 Buildings
The principal Islamic buildings
types are: the Mosque, the Tomb,
the Palace and the Fort. From
these four types, the vocabulary of
Islamic Architecture is derived and
used for buildings of less
importance such as public baths,
fountains and domestic
BEGINNINGS
632-661 AD
• Islam was born in 7th century AD.
• Arabic people were mostly nomadic
and rarely used to live in mud
houses.
• There are few buildings dating from
era of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) .
• The home of the Prophet
Muhammad is considered the first Diagram re-construction of house of the
place to be used for Muslim Prophet (SAW) Medina-Saudi Arabia
worship.
• A large Courtyard .
• The first proper separate mosque • Hypostyle (roof supported by columns),
built was in first year of hijrah. It is surrounded by long rooms supported by
called the Masjid-e-Quba and it is columned arches.
• Building material was palm tree leaves,
entirely re- constructed.
stems and mud mortar
HYPOSTYLE PLANS
• Greek word meaning “under columns”
• Having a roof supported by Pillars, typically in several rows.
• Not specific to Islam but used extensively in a mosque’s prayer
hall which had to be a large room
HYPOSTYLE
Hypostyle Hall
(Mosque Cordoba)
Contemporary Hypostyle Hall
• One example of a proper
separate area for worship is the
Jawatha mosque مسجد جواثا )) in
Saudi Arabia.
• This is the earliest mosque of the
world which has retained its
original form, although very little
of the structure remains intact
today.
• It was built in the 7th year of
hijrah near Dammam city.
• The material for construction
was mud-brick and arched
openings were used in design. The Jawatha mosque-Saudi Arabia
KEY ELEMENTS OF ISLAMIC STYLE
Islamic architecture may be 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 synagogues.
1. Minarets or towers
2. Mehrab or niche on an inside wall indicating
the direction of Mecca
3. Arch (horseshoe, point & scalloped)
4. Domes and cupolas
5. Use of geometric shapes and repetitive art
(Arabesque)
6. Use of decorative Arabic calligraphy
7. Ablution fountains & Bright colors
8. A Four-Iwan plan to create Balance and
symmetry
9. Courtyard or Sahn
10.Formal Landscape (Beauty of veil)
FOUR-IWAN HALL
FOUR-IWAN HALL
Great Mosque of Isfahan
ISLAMIC DECORATVE ELEMENTS
GEOGRAPHY OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
The spread of Islam has been frequently associated with
- Military conquest,
- Racial movements and in some cases with the
- Consequent displacement of established populations.
The most important of these movements were the Arab
expansion northwards and westwards out of the Arabian
Peninsula, and the drive of the Turkish and Mongol groups
south, south-east and south-west of the Central Asia.
THE CALIPHATES
EMERGING ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
632AD ONWARDS
• The Islamic architectural styles are
exclusively named after the
reigning caliphates of the
respective eras.
• For example Umayyad, Abbasid
Fatimid and ottoman architectural
styles are named after and
followed in the Umayyad, Abbasid,
Fatimid and Ottoman dynasties
respectively.
• These design styles are a mix of the
regions which were conquered by
the Muslims along with the original
simple style of the native Saudi
Arabian architecture.
THANKYOU!
