ISLAMIC

ARCHITECTU
RE MEMBERS:
CIEGO, JOSEPHENE
DEMIT, NICOLE
DELATOR, CHARLES NOEL
 Table of Contents
01 Overview
Influences, Defintion

02 History
background

03 Architectural Characteristics
Features of islamic architecture

04 Iconic buildings
Example of structures
 01
OVERVIEW
NICOLE DEMIT
 OVERVIEW
• Islam, major world religion promulgated by the
Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century
CE
• The Arabic term islām, literally “surrender,”
illuminates the fundamental religious idea of
Islam—that the believer (called a Muslim, from
the active particle of islām) accepts surrender
to the will of Allah (in Arabic, Allāh: God)
 OVERVIEW

• Allah is viewed as the sole God—creator,

sustainer, and restorer of the world. The will of
Allah, to which human beings must submit, is
made known through the sacred scriptures, the
Qurʾān (often spelled Koran in English), which
Allah revealed to his messenger, Muhammad.
 What are the Islamic countries?

Retaining its emphasis on an uncompromising

monotheism and a strict adherence to certain
essential religious practices, the religion taught
by Muhammad to a small group of followers
spread rapidly through the Middle East to Africa,
Europe, the Indian subcontinent, the Malay
Peninsula, and China.
What are the Islamic countries?
Country Distribution Total
Indonesia 87.2 % 238,713,000
Pakistan 95.0 % 219,832,000
India 13.0 % 182,983,000
Bangladesh 89.5 % 151,574,000
Nigeria 50.0 % 106,701,000
Egypt 90.0 % 98,336,000
Iran 96.5 % 84,846,000
Turkey 99.0 % 83,928,000
Algeria 99.0 % 43,736,000
Iraq
 Architectural influences

Islamic architectural design has been influenced

by several factors. Some of these factors include
the climate (environmental factors), the culture
and religion of the people and the building
materials that are available (Ghobadian, 1998).
 Architectural influences

Some of the areas in the Islamic countries are

plateau plains with a dry climate. Iran, for
example, has such a climate. Areas such as
Dasht-e-Kvir receive very little rain annually. In
addition, the temperatures are always at an all-
time high during the hot season. This is
accompanied by extreme radiation of sunlight.
 Architectural influences
• As an Islamic region one of their most
important influences are their religion, their
remarkable structures are mostly sacral
architecture
• The buildings’ walls are merged such that it is
not possible to define the border. This merging
and combining of houses cause each of the
building’s outer surfaces to be led. This
phenomenon helps the buildings conserve
energy for longer periods.
 At the same time, however,
the architectural layout
ensures that the desirable
winds and a reasonable
amount of solar radiation are
used as desired. The urban
areas are designed in such a
way that the buildings are
compressed and combined.
 Architectural influences

• The courtyards of the buildings usually have

an environmental function (Memariyan, 1994).
They are usually designed in such a way that
they are long and narrow. This helps to cast a
large shadow on the area to provide enough
shade during the summer season.
 Architectural influences
• There is usually a belowground courtyard with
different vegetation and a pond. This usually
provides a place for inhabitants. This area also
helps increase the relative humidity of the
area. Using this mechanism, provides a type of
cooling system for the houses. The openings
and entrances act as connecting spaces that
help circulate the cool air. This acts as an air
conditioner.
 Architectural influences

• The types of roofs used in the area also serve

the purpose of regulating the climatic
conditions (Tavassoli, 1974). In the hot and dry
areas of the Islamic regions, the roofs of
several structures are designed with a dome
shape. This shape has a thermo-physical
aspect.
 Architectural influences
• The dome shape provides an unbalanced
surface area for the sun’s rays. The incident
angle of the sun’s rays is reflected away from
the surface. However, other buildings possess
flat roofs. When this is done, there is the use of
bricks. They receive most of the sun’s
radiation. This helps to change the intensity of
solar radiation and incident angle.
 Architectural influences

• The walls of these areas are also designed to

serve the purpose of mitigating the climatic
conditions. They are usually very thick and this
helps to transfer the heat across the walls
through radiation. This helps regulate the
temperatures appropriately during the day
and night.
The windows in such areas
are also designed in a
specific manner. They are
usually placed at the top,
close to the ceilings. These
windows help in internal
ventilation.
 Architectural influences

• The suitable materials to be used in the

construction of the buildings in such regions
are mud, mortar and wood, among others.
 Architectural influences

• The suitable materials to be used in the

construction of the buildings in such regions
are mud, mortar and wood, among others.
 02
HISTORY
CHARLES NOEL DELATOR
 HISTORY
• The religion of Islam began in Arabia

• 610 AD, Muhammad from Mecca saw visions of an angel

• Message from Allah to stop worshipping false idols and to accept the will of
god “Islam

• Islamic architecture was created as a physical manifestation of the principles

of Islam by the Mohammedan (people of Islamic faith) in the 7th century. Its
traditions continue to the present day. The building that is most frequently
associated with Islamic architecture is the mosque, or Muslim place of
worship.
HISTORY
 HISTORY
• The birth of the architecture of
Islam symbolically may be
traced to the construction by the
Prophet Muhammad of his house
and mosque in Medina in 622,
which is the year of the Hijra, or
the Prophet's pilgrimage from
Mecca to Medina, the founding
of the first Islamic state, and the
beginning of the Islamic
calendar.
 How did the religion of Islam influenced the
style and development of Islamic architecture?

Islam introduced the dome, the true arch, geometric motifs,

mosaics, and minarets. Despite their fundamental conceptual
differences, Indian and Islamic architecture achieved a harmonious
fusion that established a modern Indian architectural type, which would
later captivate Europeans.
 HISTORY
• Climates and building materials of different regions
also influenced Islamic architecture.

• In India, the primary building material was always

stone, particularly red sandstone and white marble.
Brick was the primary building material in some
eastern Islamic regions. Because little timber was
available for scaffolding, ingenious techniques of
vaulting in brick were developed in these regions.
Mud brick, with or without paint, was cheap and
remarkably serviceable in regions with little rain.
 HISTORY
• In every society, architecture in some way reflects the ideals,
practices and beliefs of the people who live, work and worship in the
buildings of their cities or towns.

• Islamic architecture is influenced by the Quran and the cultures of

Arabia and the Mid-East from which it originated. Both secular and
religious Islamic architecture reinforces concepts of unity,
impermanence and beauty.
 03
ARCHITECTURA
L CHARACTER
JOSEPHENE CIEGO
 Characteristics of Islamic Art
• The art of the Islamic world is dominated by geometry and other
abstractions rather than figures. With the rejection of figurative art
came a creative indulgence in non-representative design elements.
• This often takes the form not only of complex configurations of
geometric shapes but also patterns inspired by calligraphy, an
artform based around the use of stylized letters.
• Beyond abstract shapes and letters, Islamic art also includes
patterns drawn from nature such as foliate and vegetal (leaves and
plants respectively) designs. Because plants are not conscious
beings, Islamic scholars have usually agreed that depicting them in
art is not forbidden. As such, many buildings, textiles, and other
kinds of art in the Islamic world are decorated with the imagery of
plants.
 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 (SAW) in
Medina, as well as features adapted from churches and synagogues.
1. Minarets or towers
2. Mihrab or niche on an inside wall indicating the direction of Mecca
3. Arches
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
 ELEMENTS
• Center fountains used for
ablutions (once used as a wudu
area for Muslims)
• The use of Islamic geometric
patterns and foliage based
arabesque.
• The use of decorative Islamic
calligraphy instead of pictures
which were haram (forbidden) in
mosque architecture. Note that n
secular architecture, human and
animals representation was
indeed present.
 MINARETS
• Minarets or towers,
these were originally
used as torch-lit
watchtowers, as seen in
the Great Mosque of
Damascus; hence the
derivation of the word
from the Arabic nur,
meaning “light”.
 FOUR IWAN PLAN

• The 11th century shows the emergence of new form: the

four-iwan mosque.
• An iwan is a vaulted space that opens on one side to a
courtyard.
• The iwan developed in pre-Islamic Iran where it was used
in monumental and imperial architecture.
• Strongly associated with Persian architecture, the iwan
continued to be used in monumental architecture in the
Islamic era.
Four Iwan Plan
 MIHRAB

• Mihrab or prayer niche on an

inside wall indicating the
direction to Mecca.
• The drawing along gives us an
idea about the plan, elevation,
and sections of a typical Mihrab
in Islamic Architecture.
 ARCHES

• Arches are the structure

that spans a space while
supporting weight.
• The most important form
of opening was the pointed
arch which were principally
two or four centered. Diagram showing an
example of a two-
centered arch
Diagram showing a four-centered
arch
 COURTYARDS (sahn)
• Is a fundamental feature
and can be seen as
different variations.
• According to their function,
the courtyards were
cloistered and arcaded and
the sides were punctuated
with gateways, prayer
chambers or arched
porches (iwans).
 DOMES AND CUPOLA
• Domes were widely used
throughout the Islamic
world.
• Islamic architecture
features domes placed
on structures called
pendentives that make it
possible to fit a round
dome on a rectangular
or square room.
 MATERIALS
• The countries into which Islam first expanded were
already rich in building traditions and the important
techniques of exploitation of natural resources for
building works and trade in building materials had long
been stablished.
• Brick making and walling was almost universal in the
alluvial plains; MARBLE was generically available as an
article of trade.
• Building to the stone occur in variety.
• There was along tradition of CERAMIC production, use of
GYMPSUM PLASTER GLASS manufacture and the various
forms of METALWORKS for building.
 Islamic Architecture
• Islamic architecture includes two important types of buildings. The
first is a structure of worship, called a mosque. Typically, mosques
had large central domes and entrances of semi-circular arches.
• They also included minarets, which were high narrow towers with
stairs that led to a balcony from which prayer was called five times
a day.
• Another important building in Islam is the madrasah, which was a
combination religious and law school. Madrasah architecture
changed through time and varied with geographic location, but
often they were four-sided structures with a large central court.
Agha Bozorg Mosque, built in the late 28th
century
 Dome of the Rock

• Holds both Jewish and Islamic

importance; home to the
Foundation Stone
• early example of Islamic
Architecture
• Dome has an octagonal
base
 Architectural Character of Mosques
Masjid (Mosque)
• The prophet Muhammad
called on people to honor
Allah in prayer - mosques
were built wherever Islam
had spread
• Principal place of worship
every Friday
• “house of prayer”
 Architectural Character of Mosques

Mihrab – decorative feature or

niche in the mosque in the
mosque that indicates the
qibla, direction Muslims face
while praying; a prayer niche
Qibla – axis that points to
Mecca
 Architectural Character of Mosques

Minbar – pulpit where the Imam

(prayer leader) stands to
deliver semons
 Architectural Character of Mosques

Minaret – spire or tower with

an enclosed staircase; where
the muezzin call worshippers
to prayer.
 Introduction
Venus has a beautiful name and is the
second planet from the Sun. It’s terribly hot
—even hotter than Mercury—and its
atmosphere is extremely poisonous
 04
ICONIC
BUILDINGS
 Taj Mahal
• The Taj Mahal is a perfect symmetrical
planned building, with an emphasis of
bilateral symmetry along a central axis
on which the main features are placed.

• The building material used is brick-in-

lime mortar veneered with red
sandstone and marble and inlay work of
precious/semi precious stones.
 Dome of the rock
• Dome of the Rock is one of the most
iconic Islamic buildings in the world. Its 
amazing dome stands out because it was
constructed on top of Temple Mount in
the Old City of Jerusalem. This site is
referred to by Muslims as “Al-Aqsa
Compound” and is situated just south of
the Muslim Quarter.
 Blue mosque
• The Blue Mosque is the common
name of an Islamic building that is
officially known as the “Sultan
Ahmed Mosque.”

•  It’s a remarkable feat of Islamic

architecture because it features 5 main
domes, 8 secondary domes, and 6
minarets, a combination that isn’t
found anywhere else in the world.
 GREAT MOSQUE
OF MECCA
• The Great Mosque of Mecca is officially
known as “Masjid al-Haram” and is
located in the city of Mecca in the Mecca
Province of Saudi Arabia. This mosque
was constructed around the Kabaa, a
building that is considered to be the most
sacred place in Islam as it’s referred to as
“The House of God.”
Bye!