6th

Grade

Acoustics in the Islamic Era

Architecture
Acoustics-V
Submitted to Dr. Sonia Taneja, Dr. Supriya Vyas

Adrija Sil 191110006

Ekra Anam 191110009
Vishad Harode 191110043
Tanishqa Maurya 191110239
Contents

01 Introduction

02 Acoustics of mosque

03 The Golconda Fort

04 Whispering Galleries-Gol Gumbaz

 01
Introduction
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both
secular and religious styles. The principal Islamic
architectural example is the mosque.
 Introduction-Mosque
The Islamic mosque has historically been both a place of prayer and a community meeting space.

Important features of mosque

Mosque Mihrab, a niche The mimber or The minaret,

requires a space in the wall on raised platform from which the
protected from the side facing for the delivery muezzin calls
sun and rain towards Mecca of sermons, and the faithful to
where the to which the a place for prayer five times
people could prayers were ablutions a day
pray together directed
 02
Acoustics of mosque:
all the acoustic-related architectural elements and pieces of furniture which had been used by the
religious personnel, as a special sonic station
 Sound Transmission Elements:
The minaret which has been proved by the study, through
much historical evidence, to be a functional acoustic element
that was designated specifically for the mu’adhdhinin to deliver
the adhan.
The research underscored a possible proportional relationship
between the number of the religious buildings' minarets and
the level of the sound audibility and its dissemination rate.
The electrified loudspeakers which
are mounted on the minarets of Faraj
ibnBarquq khanqah in the Northern
Cemetery

The core notion of the minbar was based on having an elevated

structure above ground level so as to ensure the imam's
audibility and visibility.
With regards to modern acoustics, the study underscored a
proportional relation between the height of the minbar and the
orator's audibility.
The marble minbar of Aqsunqur
mosque
 Sound Transmission Elements:
From the acoustic perspective the study demonstrated that the
dikka was a distinct utilitarian element that contributed to the
improvement of the soundscape of the spacious religious
buildings which housed it.
In terms of determining the acoustic effectiveness of the dikka,
the study has highlighted a proportional relationship between
the height of the dikka along with its area and the
The dikka of Sultan Hasan madrasa
mu’adhdhinin sound audibility and its dynamic diffusion.

From the acoustic perspective, windows in the religious

buildings have been regarded as sound conductors between the
different interior parts of the premises, especially between the
qibla area and the mausoleum, and/or between the building's
interior and the surrounding neighborhood and streets.
The windows withwooden shuttersin
the facadeof Sultan al-ZahirBarquq
madrasa
 Sound Diffusion and Amplification Elements:

• The first element in this group is

the mihrab mujawwaf which
acted as a soundresonator due
to its concavity.
• It has also been shown that the
two main factors that control the
rate of sound amplification
within the niche mihrab are the
level of the mihrab's interior
concavity and the physical
properties of the cladding
material which determine the
proportion of its acoustic MIHRAB AND MINBAR LOACTION
reflectivity.
 Sound Diffusion and Amplification Elements:

• The second element is the dome. From the sonic

perspective, the study identified a common feature
between the dome and the niche-mihrab, that is to say,
concavity which is a determining factor in the sound
amplification and dissemination processes.
• Due to the concave forms of the domes, the incident
sound energy does not go out without reflecting several
times in the dome. Because of this the reflected sound
energy from the dome reaches back to the room with a
time delay.
• In the same context, the building material of the dome
partially contributes as well to the level of the sound
amplification and diffusion according to its reflection
tendency.
Reflection of sound waves inside a dome
 Sound Diffusion and Amplification Elements:

• The third and last element in this group is the

muqarnas. The study demonstrated the
acoustic role of the muqarnas with regards to
its tendency to diffusethe sound waves which
interact with its units.
• Additionally, in many cases, the muqarnas
acted as useful acoustic baffles that decreased
the rate of the unfavorable sound echoes.
Thus, the muqarnas also contributed to
improving sound intelligibility within the
premises.

Diffusion of sound waves in maqarnas

 03
FORTS
The Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
 Introduction:
• Golconda Fort is a unique acoustic
marvel of the world, located near
Hyderabad.

• 500 yrs. ago when there were no

electric devices and equipment, then this
fort was built with a such acoustic
system.

• The sound alarm system can be used to

alert up to 3 sq.km. of area surrounding
the fort without wireless communication
 Acoustic Science of Golconda Fort:
• Principle:
The architects had brilliantly used the
echoes and amplification of sound.

• Materials:
The fort was made up of Earthen utensil
matter, along with other materials.

Earthen utensils are known for their

sound reflection properties, so it shows
the brilliant architecture that was used in Amplification of Sound in a space by
the fort. multiple echoes formation
 Acoustic Science of Golconda Fort:
• The roof of Bala Hissar (Main
entrance to the fort) was a diamond
shaped structure and the geometry
of wall are specially designed and
vibration of sound caused through
these diamond shape.

• When someone claps at the Bala

Hissar, the sound hits the arches
and it propagates to the last point,
which was used to alert from the
enemies or to convey any news
using claps.
Diamond-shaped structure of roof of Bala Hissar
 Acoustic Science of Golconda Fort:
• The arches aligned with veranda gradually become
big to small in size.
• Due to this architecture the sound produced under
the dome of veranda is first compressed and
amplifies such that it is audible upto 1 km away.

Arch size gradually decreasing upwards

• The acoustic science behind the fort is the

result of inclination of doors and buildings.
• The building blocks are inclined to each
other at angles that they do not hinder
sound propagation.
Inclination of buildings for acoustic enhancement
 Acoustic Science of Golconda Fort:
• A wall is brilliantly arranged between Bala Hissar (main entrance to the fort)
and Baradari (located at the top of Citadel)
• It redirects sound in such a way that is propagates between Bala Hissar and
Baradari without losing its intensity.

Setting of a Wall between Bala Hissar and Baradari Arch size gradually decreasing upwards
 Acoustic Science of Golconda Fort:
Acoustic System in Judgement Hall:

• Judgement hall was known for solving cases and issues like "Danka
System" in the Mughal dynasty.

• Here the "Clap System" of announcing verdicts was prevalent.

• Judgement hall was designed in such a way that any clap or sound
including whispers could be heard in king's bedroom.

• If any enemy, intruder would pull up his armor then its metal
screeching sound could be heard in king's bedroom, by which the
king became alert.
 04
WHISPERING GALLERIES
The Gol Gumbaj, Bijapur
 Introduction:
• This grand mausoleum, the final resting place of
Mohammed Adil Shah, is a fine example of Deccan Indo-
Islamic Architecture.

• With one of the largest domes in the world, The name Gol
Gumbaz has been derived from the words Gol Gumbadh
or Gol Gummata, which means a circular-shaped dome.

• An interesting feature of Gol Gumbaz is that a

whispering gallery runs around the dome’s inner
periphery.

• Inside the whispering gallery, you can hear even the

softest of sounds from the other side of the monument.
This phenomenon is attributed to the impressive
acoustical architecture of the structure.
The Whispering Gallery
 Inside the Whispering Gallery:
• On entering the building one is struck with the loud
echoes that fill the place in answer to his footfall.

• These sounds are much intensified on entering the

Whispering Gallery.

• One pair of feet is

enough to awaken the
numerous echoes;
strange eerie sounds,
mocking whisper-like Key Plan
sounds, and uncanny
noises emanating from • Loud laughter is answered by
the walls around. intense amplification. The
slightest whisper is heard
from side to side.
The Whispering Gallery
 Acoustic Science of Gol Gumbaj:
124 ft.
• Any sound made here gets echoed at
least seven times or more.

• A single loud clap is echoed over ten

times distinctly.

• The diameter of whispering gallery is

124 feet.

• The echo was a purely natural result

of the size of the dome.
The Dome of Gol Gumbaj

(It requires rather more than 65 feet between a

person and the reflecting surface so that the sound
on return may reach his ear immediately upon the Section
dying out of the original sound and so create the
impression of a second sound — an echo.)
 Acoustic Science of Gol Gumbaj:
Listener

• The sound created at one point of

the gallery can be hear at another
point with exactly same intensity.

Speaker

Hearing inside the Whispering Gallery

• This phenomenon is possible because of curvilinear propagation of

sound, this means sound travels in the gallery in a curved path.

• The wall of the Gumbaz is smooth and round by which, when sound
propagates it travels glued to the wall

Curvilinear Propagation of Sound • By this process the intensity of sound gets reflected before it falls
inside the Gallery down, so the intensity continues from one point to another.
Acoustic Science of Gol Gumbaj:
The Whispering Gallery

• The sound generated in the

whispering gallery can’t be
hear in any other part of the
dome.

• Hence, this gallery was

specially used for meeting
with foreign delegates of
sultan.

• Therefore he could be able Because of the circular reflection

pattern of sound inside the dome,
to hear every word of them,
the sound does not leave the
along with their whispers. gallery, hence it was safe for the
Sultan’s delegations.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
● https://acoustics.org/pressroom/httpdocs/137th/karabiber.html

● https://www.mdpi.com/2624-599X/1/3/28/htm

● https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/65137

● https://acoustics.org/pressroom/httpdocs/137th/karabiber.html

● https://thecustodiansin.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/architecture-acoustics-of-the-gol-
gumbaz/

● https://www.theinfinitestudies.com/2020/05/acoustic-wonders-of-india-part-1.html

● https://www.theinfinitestudies.com/2020/08/acoustic-wonders-of-india-part-2.html
THANK-YOU