HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3

TUESDAY & THURSDAY l 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

FEBRUARY

16, 2023

SUBMITTED BY:
ANSHERINA V. DELA ROSA

SUBMITTED TO:
ARCH. AIRAND CABANERO NAZARENO, UAP.
 ISLAMIC

Islam, Major world religion founded by Muhammad in Arabia in

the early 7th century CE. The Arabic word islam means
“surrender”—specifically, surrender to the will of the one God,
called Allah in Arabic. Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion,
and its adherents, called Muslims, regard the Prophet
Muhammad as the last and most perfect of God’s messengers,
who include Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others. The
sacred scripture of Islam is the Qurʾān, which contains God’s
revelations to Muhammad. The sayings and deeds of the
Prophet recounted in the sunna are also an important source
of belief and practice in Islam.
 The religious obligations of all Muslims are summed up
in the Five Pillars of Islam, which include belief in God
and his Prophet and obligations of prayer, charity,
pilgrimage, and fasting. The fundamental concept of
Islam is the Sharīʿāh—its law, which embraces the total
way of life commanded by God. Observant Muslims pray
five times a day and join in community worship on
Fridays at the mosque, where worship is led by an imam.
Every believer is required to make a pilgrimage to
Mecca, the holiest city, at least once in a lifetime,
barring poverty or physical incapacity. The month of
Ramadan is set aside for fasting. Alcohol and pork are
always forbidden, as are gambling, usury, fraud, slander,
and the making of images. In addition to Eid al-Fitr,
which celebrates the breaking of the fast of Ramadan,
Muslims celebrate Muhammad’s birthday and his
ascension into heaven. Eid al-Adha inaugurates the
season of pilgrimage to Mecca.

Divisions occurred early in Islam, brought about by

disputes over the succession to the Caliphate. The
majority of Muslims belong to the Sunni branch. The
Shīʿites broke away in the 7th century and later gave rise
to other sects, including the Ismāʿīlīs. Another
significant element in Islam is the mysticism known as
Sufism. From the 19th century the concept of the
Islamic community inspired Muslims to cast off Western
colonial rule, and in the late 20th century
fundamentalist movements threatened or toppled a
number of secular Middle Eastern governments. In the
early 21st century, there were more than 1.2 billion
Muslims in the world.
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Islamic architecture is a centuries-old

category of architecture that is rooted
in the principles of Islam. The striking
sculptural forms and often dazzling
ornamental detail that characterize
Islamic buildings include some of the
most awe-inspiring built structures on
Earth.
 HISTORY OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Islamic architecture refers to a style of

architecture that 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.

But Islamic architecture encompasses both

secular and religious buildings. It includes
everything from large-scale mosques, fortresses,
palaces, tombs, schools, and other public
buildings to smaller-scale fountains, public baths,
and domestic structures.

 HISTORY OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Existing styles including Roman, Byzantine, and Persian

architecture influenced early Islamic architecture. As Islamic
architecture spread from the Middle East throughout the world,
specifically to Asia, Chinese and Mughal architecture influenced
it as well.
North African Muslims who conquered
the Iberian Peninsula and many
surrounding Western Mediterranean
islands brought Islamic-influenced
architecture to parts of Europe. Many
prominent examples of this style are in
Spain. In the mid-19th century, a
revival movement included the work
of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who
was highly influenced by Islamic style
in Spain.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

MINARATES

Minarets are towering spires with interior

staircases and small windows. They are
striking to look at and serve an integral
function, calling Muslims to prayer five times a
day.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

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.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

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.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

ARCHS
Horseshoe (or keyhole), pointed (a precursor to Gothic),
scalloped (or multifoil), and ogee (multicurved) arches are
common in Islamic architecture.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

ORNAMENTAL DETAILS
Islamic decoration often includes multicolored mosaic tile featuring repeated patterns and
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.
Another striking feature is mashrabiya, or wood lattice work, that is used on windows for
privacy and climate control. It's also sometimes used in a modern context as a purely
decorative element or option for dividing interior spaces.
Other decorative elements of Islamic design include wall paintings, stucco sculpture and
wall panels, and decorative woodwork.

Famous Examples of
Islamic Architecture

The Dome of the Rock

in Jerusalem, Israel
Dating from the 7th century, this
famous public shrine is the
world’s oldest standing Islamic
monument. The Dome of the
Rock was the first Islamic
building to feature a Byzantine-
style dome. The gold-plated wood
dome is situated on an octagonal
base. And the building itself is
decorated with floral and
geometric mosaics.
Famous Examples of
Islamic Architecture

The Taj Mahal in

Agra, India
One of the New Seven Wonders

of the World, the Taj Mahal is

cited as the most famous
example of Islamic architecture.
Combining elements of Persian,
Indian, and Islamic architecture,
this sprawling 17th-century
mausoleum complex has become
one of the world’s most popular
tourist attractions. It is instantly
recognizable thanks to its
imposing central white marble
tomb. Closer inspection reveals
intricate details, such as precious
inlaid stones and Arabic
calligraphy.
Famous Examples of
Islamic Architecture

The Alhambra in
Granada, Spain
The Alhambra is a 14th-century

palace and fortress built on a

plateau overlooking Granada,

Spain. While the complex has lost
some of its original structures
over the past 700 years, what
remains is a stunning example of
Islamic architectural ornament.
There are carved wood and
stucco, colorful tiling,
calligraphy, and muqarnas that
decorate the Court of Lions.
Famous Examples of
Islamic Architecture

The Alhambra in
Granada, Spain
The Alhambra is a 14th-century

palace and fortress built on a

plateau overlooking Granada,

Spain. While the complex has lost
some of its original structures
over the past 700 years, what
remains is a stunning example of
Islamic architectural ornament.
There are carved wood and
stucco, colorful tiling,
calligraphy, and muqarnas that
decorate the Court of Lions.
Sacred Architecture: Mosques

Islamic temples are called mosques, or

masjid in Arabic, and are used as
gathering places of prayer, education,
and reflection. A common feature of
the mosque is an open courtyard,
sahn, meant for holding a big
population, and a big fountain used for
ritual cleansing. One of the most
recognizable aspects of mosque
architecture is the minaret, a tower
from which the call to prayer is
announced and a visual reminder of
the presence of Islam. Most mosques
have one or more domes, called qubba
in Arabic. They were adapted from
Byzantine architecture and were a
symbolic representation of the vault of
heaven.
Sacred Architecture: Mosques

Inside the mosque, the essential element

is the mihrab, a niche in the wall that
indicates the direction to Mecca, towards
which all Muslims pray. In Arabic, the
direction towards Mecca is called qibla.
Consequently, the mihrab is placed in a
qibla wall, which is the most ornately
decorated area of a mosque.

Soon, different types of mosques emerged.

The oldest style, inspired by the house of
Muhammad, was the hypostyle mosque,
exemplified best in the Great Mosque of
Kairouan. It is a large, rectangular mosque
with a great hall supported by columns and
a large inner sahn. The forest of columns
that characterizes the interior defined the
hypostyle type.
Sacred Architecture: Mosques

The 11th century saw the emergence

of the four-iwan mosque. An iwan is a
vaulted space that opens on one side
to a courtyard. In the Great Mosque of
Isfahan, each courtyard wall is
punctuated with a monumental
vaulted hall, or iwan. Despite still
being popular in the 21st century, the
four-iwan type was rarely used in the
Ottoman Empire. After the Fall of
Constantinople in 1453, the Hagia
Sophia became a model for centrally-
planned mosques. Even though these
three types are the most common,
there are many diverse regional
styles, especially in China, Africa, and
Indonesia.
 Madrasa

The madrasa is a building that

functions as a teaching
institution primarily for Islamic
sciences. It is assumed that the
Seljuk Turks built the earliest
madrasas in eleventh-century
Iran. The design was derived
either from contemporary house
plans or Buddhist teaching
structures, known as viharas,
which survived in Afghanistan
and Central Asia.

The oldest extant madrasa is the Gumushtutigin Madrassa in Bosra,

constructed in 1136. This is a small structure with a domed courtyard
and two lateral iwans. However, the majority of early madrasas are
found in Anatolia, where two main types occur based either on an open
or a closed courtyard building. The domed madrasas are usually
smaller buildings, while those with an open courtyard are generally
larger and have central iwans surrounded by arcades.

 Madrasa

The first Egyptian madrasas date from after 1160, when Sunni
Orthodoxy returned to the country. The significance of the Egyptian
madrasas is the four-iwan plan, where each iwan represented one of
the four orthodox schools of law. This design later spread to other
countries and can be seen in the Mustansriya Madrassa in Baghdad.
Another significant development that took place in Egypt is the
madrasa becoming the dominant architectural form, with mosques
adopting their four-iwan plan. In a later period, madrasas even provided
sleeping and working accommodations for students.

 Islamic Pilgrimage Places: Kaaba

One of the five pillars of Islam is the

Hajj, the most well-known pilgrimage in
Islam. It is considered a duty for all
Muslims who are in good health and can
afford the journey to Mecca. Taking
place during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah,
it consists of many rituals which had a
hand in shaping the architecture of
some of Islam’s most sacred spaces.
The main goal of the Hajj and the holiest
shrine in Islam is the Kaaba, meaning
“cube” in Arabic: a square building
draped in a silk and cotton veil. Pilgrims
gather in the courtyard of the Masjid al-
Haram around the Kaaba. Then they
undertake the ritual of tawaf, circulating
around the Kaaba, during which they
hope to kiss and touch the Black Stone
embedded in the eastern corner of the
building. Even though the Kaaba existed
in pre-Islamic times, Muslims believe
that Abraham and Ismail constructed it.
 Islamic Pilgrimage Places: Kaaba

According to tradition, it was

originally a simple roofless
rectangular structure. A door was
raised above ground level to
protect the shrine from intruders
and flood waters. The embedded
Black Stone is believed to have
been given to Abraham by the
archangel Gabriel. Throughout
history, Kaaba’s surroundings were
expanded in order to accommodate
the growing number of pilgrims.
Soon, colonnades were built
around the open plaza where the
Kaaba stands, and other important
monuments were incorporated into
the sanctuary. In the seventh
century, the Kaaba was covered
with kiswa, a black cloth replaced
annually during the Hajj..
 Secular Islamic Architecture

Unlike religious architecture, the

religion of Islam brought no new
developments in secular
architecture. On the contrary, the
political and social shifts defined
the progress of Islamic
architecture. Three factors would
significantly contribute to new
secular architecture in the lands
conquered by the early Islamic
Caliphates. New palace architecture
would rise in Syria and Iraq thanks
to the accumulated wealth,
workers, and intellectuals. Great
importance was given to urban life
and trade, so new cities were
founded across the Islamic world,
from Morocco to China. Finally, the
territories from the Mediterranean
in the west and India to the east
were united under one culture.
 Secular Islamic Architecture

Khirbat al-Mafjar, or Hisham’s

Palace, is a prime example of this
type of Islamic architecture. It
consisted of a square building with
an elaborate entrance, an enclosed
courtyard, and a number of rooms
or halls arranged on two floors.
Few of those rooms seem to have
any identifiable function. However,
at Khirbat al-Mafjar, a private
oratory, a large meeting hall, and
an anteroom leading to an
underground pool have been
identified. The main throne room
was on the second floor above the
entrance. Its plan is not known but
probably resembled the preserved
throne rooms or reception halls at
QaṣrʿAmrah and Mshattā, which
consisted of a three-aisled hall
ending in an apse in the manner of
an ancient Roman basilica.
 Secular Islamic Architecture

There are various references in the Qur’an about the Islamic funerary
rituals, the most important being described in the story of Qabil and Habil
(Cain and Abel). Including many rituals, according to shari’ah, Muslims
are bound to bury their dead underground. Even though there are some
contingencies between different schools of thought in Islam about tomb-
building and grave visiting, these primordial traditions continued in
Islam.

The building of burials involved architectural demonstrations that

evolved a variety of structures, designs, decorations, and a range of arts
and crafts applications. Based on significance and ritual practices,
people increasingly constructed tomb structures. Islamic funerary
architecture provides us with a variety of mausolea. The mausoleum of
Imam al-Shafi’i, the funerary complex of a Mameluke Sultan Qaytbay in
Cairo, and Fatimah al-Ma’sumah Shrine in Qom in Iran all showcase the
typical diversity of Islamic art.

One of the most important places for all Muslims is the tomb of the
Prophet Muhammad in Medina. Today, it is located in the Al-Masjid an-
Nabawi, or the Prophets Mosque, which used to be Muhammad’s house.
Sultan Qalawoon al-Saalihi was the first to build a wooden dome over the
chamber in 1279-1280 AD.

 Influences of Islamic Architecture in

Europe

From the earliest points in history, the Mediterranean was the point where
different cultures communicated. The most obvious place of Islamic-
European interaction and exchange was Moorish Spain, ruled by a
remnant of the Umayyad Caliphate. Originally from Damascus in Syria,
the Umayyad engineers brought architectural elements to Spain in the 8th
century and reused them in their own buildings, such as the Great
Mosque of Cordoba. From Spain, the skills and styles passed to the rest
of Europe. Some of the main elements of Gothic architecture, such as the
pointed and trefoil arch and ribbed vaulting, come from the influence of
Islamic architecture. Both the pointed and trefoil arch can be traced back
to the earliest Islamic buildings, such as The Dome of the Rock.

In 12th-century Sicily, a multicultural society existed that mixed Greek,

Latin, Arabic, and Jewish cultures and peoples under the rule of Norman
kings. The most important Norman buildings have shown multicultural
characteristics, with elements of Islamic architecture besides other
architectural and artistic elements. The church Cappella Palatina in
Palermo was decorated with golden Byzantine mosaics in the typical
Christian manner, but the ceiling of the nave had been done in muqarnas
vaulting, painted with the scenes of feasts, musicians, dancers, and the
figure of the ruling king, probably Roger II, as the Islamic caliph.