AN INTRODUCTION TO

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE MODULE I

CLASS1

7/27/2018 MESCOA 1
ABOUT ISLAM..
Islam is believed to be world’s second largest religion, second to Christianity. It has
more than 1.3 billion followers making up about a 5th of global population.
Message of Islam is “One god” who is referred to as “Allah”
Arabic is the language in which the Quran according to Islam a divine revelation was
disclosed to Prophet Mohamed
WHAT IS ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE?
Islamic architecture can be define as a building traditions of Muslim populations of
the Middle East and any countries where Islam has been dominant from the 7th
century on.
MAJOR BUILDING TYPES

Sheik Zayid Mosque,Abudhabi Abbasid Caliph Al-Naser Ledinillah Palace in

Baghdad

Masjids/Mosques Tombs Palaces

BUILDING TYPES
Mosque – place for worship
•Madrasah– public school
•Hammam- A structural design for a hot bath house
•Caravanserai-A road side inn for travellers
•Casbah/Citadel-a fortress
•Mausoleum-a tomb or a monument
ELEMENTS OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
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.

Minarets or towers
Mihrab or niche on an inside wall indicating the direction of Mecca
Domes
Use of geometric shapes and repetitive art (arabesque)
Use of decorative Arabic calligraphy
Ablution fountains
 ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
1.minarets
Used to call Muslims to prayer
Word originates from the term for “an object that
gives light”
First mosques did not have minarets.
Can vary drastically depending on local cultural
influences
 2.THE DOME
The dome symbolizes the arch of heaven and it is invariably used in mosques and
tombs
Not a unique feature of Muslim architecture as the Greeks and Romans perfected the
dome
Sometimes the domes are pointed at the top.
 3.SAHN-THE LARGE COURTYARD
The most fundamental necessity of congregational mosque architecture is that it be able to hold the
entire male population of a city or town. To that end congregational mosques must have a large prayer
hall. In many mosques this is adjoined to an open courtyard, called a sahn. Within the courtyard one
often finds a fountain, its waters both a welcome respite in hot lands, and important for the ablutions
(ritual cleansing) done before prayer.
4.MIHRAB
Is a niche built into the wall of the Mosque which is usually accompanied by a pulpit
The Mihrab indicates the Qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca) which is the
direction Muslims face when they pray
 5.ARCHES
1.The pointed Arch:-
An arch with pointed crown
First used by Byzantines and became the characteristic arch of Islamic
Architecture
Later it becomes a center of Gothic Medieval Architecture
2. Horse Shoe Arch
Also called as Moorish Arch
3.Scalloped arch
6. ISLAMIC DECORATIVE ELEMENTS

1. Calligraphy
2. Islimi
3. Geometry
GEOMETRIC PATTERN
These patterns exemplify the Islamic interest in repetition,
balance, symmetry and continuous generation of pattern.
The integration of geometry with such optical effects as the
balancing of positive and negative areas, a skill ful use of color
and tone values.
 ARABESQUE (ISLIMI)

Arabesque designs are biomorphic, floral patterns

representing the underlying order and unity of nature
with a great deal of accuracy. flowers and trees might be
used as the motifs for the decoration of textiles, objects
and buildings.
Major feature of Islamic Architecture due to fact that they
do not depict living things in their art.
CALLIGRAPHY
Like other Islamic decoration, calligraphy is closely
linked to geometry. The proportions of the letters
are all governed by mathematics.
Quranic Inscriptions are most often used as a
frame along and around main elements of a
building like portals and cornices.
OTHER ELEMENTS

Ablution fountains Use of Bright Colours Symmetric Design

Terminologies
IWAN
a vaulted space used as an entrance, or, if closed at one end, a hall facing a court in
a madrasa or mosque
A TYPICAL MOSQUE
MOSQUE TYPOLOGY
THANK YOU