Islamic Architecture

Comparative
Civilizations 12
K.J. Benoy
 Mosques
• The Most notable
type of building is
the mosque.
• Originally this
was only a large
open area where
the faithful would
gather.
• The original
mosque was
probably the
courtyard of
Mohammad’s
house in Medina.
Mosques

• The courtyard – descendant of the basilica’s

atrium and the Egyptian temple court,
remains a feature of most mosques today
Mosques
– Within the
courtyard is
usually an
ablution
fountain –
where the
worshipper
symbolically
washes
before
prayer.
Mosques
• Certain
characteristics are
present in most
mosques.
– The Mihrab, or
niche, indicates
the Qibla, the
direction of
Mecca, which the
faithful must face
when praying.
Mosques

– There is also a
minbar, or pulpit,
from which
sermons are
delivered.
Mosques
– And a minaret, or
tower, from which
the Muezzin call
the faithful to
prayer.
– Originally this call
was made from
the main roof of
the mosque.
– Minarets
developed from
Christian bell
towers. Later they
influenced
Christian designs.
Mosques
– The social
obligations within
the religion later
led to the addition
of madrassa
(schools, colleges
or universities)
attached.
– Occasionally
there were and
are also hospitals.
Mosques
• Moslems
borrowed
extensively from
neighbouring
civilization
because there
was no native Hagia Sophia – converted to a
architectural style mosque after the Moslem
conquest of Constantinople
in Mohammad’s
homeland.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul

• Istanbul’s Blue
Mosque is
clearly based
on the Hagia
Sophia.
• Mehmet Aga’s
17th century
structure rises
77 feet to the
top of its
central dome.
 The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• It is
actually
built facing
Justinian’s
Church, on
the site of
the old
Imperial
Palace.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul

Central dome of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque - Istanbul

Note the massive pendentive and windowed drum.

The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• The Blue Mosque
is more properly
known as the
Sultan Ahmed
Mosque.
• Its more common
western name
comes from the
wide use of blue
Iznik tiles.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul

• This mosque is particularly notable for its six

minarets.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
 The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• Stained glass
creates a
magical
lighting effect.
• However,
unlike
European
stained glass,
there are no
images of
people, due to
Mohammad’s
prohibition
against them.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• It is the
magnificent dome
and adjoining half-
domes that
impress most.
• Built a thousand
years after the
Hagia Sophia, the
Blue Mosque
displays more
grace than its
predecessor.
The Great Mosque at Samarra, Iraq

• Regional
variations in
Islamic
architecture reflect
local traditions,
where they exist.
– The Great Mosque
at Samarra has a
minaret in the
style of a
Babylonian
Ziggurat.
The Grand Mosque - Mecca

• Mecca’s Grand Mosque houses Islam’s most holy

site – the Kaaba, which all moslems face to pray.
• It features the Kaaba in its massive courtyard.
The Grand Mosque - Mecca

This simple cube-shaped The Black stone at one of

building predates Islam, but its corners is, contrary to
is a site of pilgrimage for Koranic teaching,
millions of moslems. venerated by many
Moslems.
The Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem
• This is one of
Islam’s
earliest
mosques.
• It is built on a
site holy to
Jews,
Christians and
Moslems.
• Note the
Byzantine
inspired
Central Plan.
The Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem

Interior of the Dome of the Rock – where Abraham

intended to sacrifice Isaac and where, for a time,
Mohammad directed Moslems to face when praying –
until Mecca became a Moslem city.
The Blue Mosque - Isfahan
• Iranian mosques
frequently used the
same blue tiles as
was popular in
Ottoman Turkey.
• However, their Iwan
(great Hall) form and
characteristic
monumental
entrances are purely
Persian in design.
Mosque of Sheik Lotfallah-
Isfahan

• Note the ornate and characteristically Persian

dome.
• Note also the tendence toward horror vacui.
Mogul Architecture
• The Moslem
conquerors of
India
developed an
architecture of
particular
grace and
grandeur.
• Persian domes
and great
gates
appeared
throughout
northern India.
Mogul Architecture
• Sometimes Islamic
and Hindu features
were fused – as in
Akbar’s palace
complex at
Fatehpur Sikri.
• In the pavilion to
the right one sees
the traditional
trabeated Hindu
features, merged
with Persian
domes.
The Taj Mahal
• The most
famous Mogul
building of all
is neither a
palace or a
mosque.
• Rather, it is a
mausoleum to
house the
favourite wife
of a mogul
emperor.
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal
• Modelled on a
mosque, the
building is sited in
a garden.
• The glistening
white marble
appears almost
weightless,
despite the
volume of
masonry.
The Taj Mahal
• Unlike its Persian
predecessors, there
is no sense of horror
vacui.
• Rather, the inlaid
stone work has a
restrained feel of
balance and
harmony. Floral
decoration, and,
especially passages
from the Koran in
magnificent
calligraphy, decorate
its marble surfaces.
The Mesquita -- Cordoba
• In Spain, some of
the most
exuberant Moslem
architecture
evolved.
• A prime example
of this “Moorish”
architecture is
theMesquite
(mosque) in
Cordoba.
The Mesquita - Cordoba
• The horseshoe-
shaped double
arch atop its forest
of columns is
easily identified.
• The double arch
helped to increase
the vertical height
of the ceiling.
The Mesquita - Cordoba
The Mesquita - Cordoba
• Close
examination of
the pillar
capitals reveal
that they are
recycled from
earlier
buildings –
both Roman
and Germanic.
The Mesquita - Cordoba

• Another prominent
feature is the
incredibly intricate
arching found in
the Mihrab – here
called the Capilla
de Villaviciosa.
The Mesquita - Cordoba

• The vaulting is also wondrously complex,

showing the Arab love of geometry
The Mesquita - Cordoba
• Perhaps the
strangest feature of
the Mesquita today is
th Christian church
carved out of the
middle of the original
mosque.
• Yet another example
of cultural recycling –
but strangely out of
keeping with the rest
of the building.
The Alhambra - Grenada
• For a time
Grenada was the
Moorish capital of
Spain.
• The Alhambra
palace complex
contains some of
the most beautiful
Islamic
architecture in the
world.
The Alhambra - Grenada

• The Court of Lions, with its slim columns and

carved lace-like wall surfaces are unique.
The Alhambra - Grenada
The Alhambra - Grenada
• The carved
stucco of the
ceiling in the
Hall of the Two
Sisters is
unparalleled in
beauty and
geometrical
complexity.
The Alhambra - Grenada
• Of particular note
is the use of water
as an architectural
feature.
• The Patio de los
Aranyanes shows
the value of water
to a culture with
desert roots.
 The Generalife - Grenada

• The fountains
and abundant
water
features
serve to
reduce the
temperature
of the palace
gardens.
Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali

• One of the strangest Islamic structures in

the world is the mud mosque at Djenne.
Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali
• Here the palm
wood beams
extend out in
order to
support
scaffolding for
the workers
who must
annually
plaster its
surface.
Islamic Architecture Today
• Traditional
features remain
apparent, but are
interpreted in
novel ways.
• New building
materials and
techniques create
new and
interesting
possibilities.
Shah Faisal Mosque,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Islamic Architecture Today

Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, in Brunei.

Fini