ISLAMIC ARCHITECHTURE

SRIJA DAS
2022
INTRODUCTION
Islamic art is not art of a specific religion, time, place, or of a single
medium. Instead it spans some 1400 years, covers many lands and
populations, and includes a range of artistic fields including
architecture, calligraphy, painting, glass, ceramics, and textiles,
among others.
Islamic religious art differs from Christian religious art in that it is
non- figural because many Muslims believe that the depiction of the
human form is idolatry and thereby a sin against God, forbidden in
the Qur’an. Calligraphy and architectural elements are given
important religious significance in Islamic art.
Islamic art developed from many sources: Roman, early Christian
art, and Byzantine styles; Sassanian art of pre-Islamic Persia;
Central Asian styles brought by various nomadic incursions, and
Chinese influences appear on Islamic painting, pottery, and textiles.
Islamic Architecture
⚫Islamic architecture encompasses a
wide range of both secular and
religious styles. The principal Islamic
architectural example is the mosque. A
specifically recognizable Islamic
architectural style emerged soon after
Muhammad’s time that incorporated
Roman building traditions with the
addition of localized adaptations of the
 The Dome of the Rock
⚫One of the earliest Islamic buildings in Jerusalem, the
Dome of the Rock is literally built around a rock which
is considered sacred to all three monotheistic religions.

⚫The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a Muslim

shrine. Like the Ka’ba in Mecca, it is built over a sacred
stone.
⚫The structure was built by Umayyad Caliph Abd al-
Malik and was finished in 691-92 CE. The octagonal
plan of the structure is similar to a Byzantine church.
⚫ The exterior was redone in tilework, but the interior is all
original – at least after the rebuilding of the dome in 1022-23.
The dome, which is approximately 20 meters (66 feet) in diameter and is
mounted on an elevated drum, rises above a circle of 16 piers and columns.
⚫The outer walls also form an octagon, with each of the
eight sides being approximately 18 metres (60 feet)
wide and 11 meters (36 feet) high.
⚫The dome is topped by a full moon decoration which
evokes the familiar crescent moon symbol of Islam. It
is aligned so that if you could look through it, you
would be looking straight towards Mecca.
⚫The beautiful multicolored Turkish tiles that adorn
the shrine’s exterior are faithful copies of the Persian
tiles that Suleiman the Magnificent added in 1545 to
replace the damaged originals. The lower half of the
exterior is white marble.
⚫The interior of the great golden dome, features
elaborate floral decorations in red and gold, as well as
various inscriptions. The main inscription in the cupola
commemorates Saladin, who sponsored extenstive
restoration work on the building.
⚫The carved ceilings on either side of the inner octagon
were not part of the original design; they first appeared
in the 14th century and have been restored since then.
The Mamluk star is the dominant motif.
⚫The columns supporting the inner octagon and the
center circle are of different sizes; they were recycled
from previous structures. The crosses on some show
them to have been taken from churches.
Interior
Mosaic
Key Characteristics
⚫Early Islamic architecture was influenced by existing
styles such as Roman, Byzantine, and Persian
architecture. 
⚫Towering spires with interior staircases and small
windows, minarets are striking to look at and serve an
integral function, calling Muslims to prayer five times
a day.
⚫Domes - Islamic architecture features domes placed on
structures called pendentives that make it possible to fit
a round dome on a rectangular or square room.
Pendentives are often decorated with mosaic tiling
⚫Muqarnas Vaulting - Resembling a honeycomb or stalactite
pattern, elaborate muqarnas vaulting adds a textural and
monochromatic touch to the ceilings of often intricately and
colorfully tiled interiors
⚫Arches - Horseshoe (or keyhole); pointed (precursor to 
Gothic); scalloped multifoil; and ogee-style arches.
⚫Ornamental Details -  Islamic decoration often includes
multi-colored mosaic tiling featuring repeated patterns and
non-figurative geometric or vegetal motifs and patterns such
as the arabesque. It also typically includes the use of Arabic
calligraphy scripts, such as passages from the Qur'an.
⚫Outdoor Elements - Islamic architecture often features
gardens; walled interior courtyards; open hypostyle
halls held up by columns; and vaulting.
 Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan

⚫A well-known example of a modernized version of

Islamic style is this award-winning 2013 cultural
center designed by the Iraqi-British 
architect Zaha Hadid, who died in 2016. The building
reinterprets the characteristic flow of architectural
elements found in traditional Islamic design,
resonating with centuries of tradition while appearing
resolutely contemporary.