early islamic architecture an introduction. prepared by dr. hazem abu-orf, university of palestine...

Early Islamic Early Islamic ArchitectureArchitecture

An IntroductionAn Introduction

Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, UniPrepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine Internationalversity of Palestine International

Evolutionary Evolutionary AspectsAspects

‘‘Free city-states’ model flourished in ancient Arabian time Free city-states’ model flourished in ancient Arabian time based on maritime trade based on maritime trade

The sea rather than the desert was the axis around which The sea rather than the desert was the axis around which economic development revolved requiring astronomical and economic development revolved requiring astronomical and mathematical skills deemed essential for navigationmathematical skills deemed essential for navigation

Geometry governed ancient Arabian art and Architecture Geometry governed ancient Arabian art and Architecture much before the born of Islammuch before the born of Islam

Highly articulated Architecture & art was actually passed to Highly articulated Architecture & art was actually passed to the Romans and Greeks cutting the life line of ancient free the Romans and Greeks cutting the life line of ancient free city-states in the fourth/fifth century A.D, except Meccacity-states in the fourth/fifth century A.D, except Mecca

Mecca emerged ever since as a centre of international trade Mecca emerged ever since as a centre of international trade at a time when most ancient Arabian cities economically at a time when most ancient Arabian cities economically ceased to exist paving the path for Islamceased to exist paving the path for Islam


Mecca City PlanMecca City Plan

The plan represented a long evolution and displayed The plan represented a long evolution and displayed following elements:following elements:

A haramA haram, the source for an open city, the source for an open city Geometric patternGeometric pattern::

The whole is generated from a singleThe whole is generated from a single centre with a symbolic form;centre with a symbolic form;The surrounding agglomeration takes the shape of a revolvingThe surrounding agglomeration takes the shape of a revolving square square reflecting the centre; andreflecting the centre; andHexagonal arrangements describing Architecture forms & artHexagonal arrangements describing Architecture forms & art

OrientationOrientation, according to the cosmos: the spring equinox, according to the cosmos: the spring equinox A marketA market

The whole structure of life was cantered in the market placeThe whole structure of life was cantered in the market placeIt was located around the Ka’ba and very close to the Haram; andIt was located around the Ka’ba and very close to the Haram; andIts development was a prominent feature of pre-Islamic & Islamic Its development was a prominent feature of pre-Islamic & Islamic urban formurban form


Successive Phases Successive Phases of Mecca Plan adoptedof Mecca Plan adopted

The Square SystemThe Square SystemIt has a square asIt has a square as its central unit, with four surrounding its central unit, with four surrounding square units developing the system of Akhmas (fifths) square units developing the system of Akhmas (fifths) on which early Islamic encampments/cities were on which early Islamic encampments/cities were modelledmodelled

The system of Ashar (tenth) having two adjoining The system of Ashar (tenth) having two adjoining squares as its central unit surrounded by eight or moresquares as its central unit surrounded by eight or more

The method of planning is by having four arrows fired The method of planning is by having four arrows fired from the chosen centre in all four directions, beginning from the chosen centre in all four directions, beginning with quiblawith quibla

Then, the central square was allocated to the mosque Then, the central square was allocated to the mosque & the command headquarters& the command headquarters

The Quadruple orientation relating the concern of the square


The The hexagonal hexagonal SystemSystem

Known as the system of ‘Asba’ Known as the system of ‘Asba’ (seventh)(seventh)

It was based on the hexagon It was based on the hexagon replacing the square as its basic unitreplacing the square as its basic unit

The method of planning is to draw a The method of planning is to draw a central circle containing the mosque central circle containing the mosque and the palace surrounded by six and the palace surrounded by six concentric circles, followed by an concentric circles, followed by an outer ring of 12 circlesouter ring of 12 circles

The area in between was then divided The area in between was then divided to attain hexagonal formto attain hexagonal form

Planning of Asba

Hexagonal System


Urban Form Urban Form of Islamic of Islamic CityCity

An aggregation of enclosed cellular units, An aggregation of enclosed cellular units, taking the shape of private houses; taking the shape of private houses; mosques and markets, all built within a mosques and markets, all built within a coherent urban form;coherent urban form;

Buildings are not considered as detached Buildings are not considered as detached objects, but rather as living architectural objects, but rather as living architectural shells, shaped according to the actual shells, shaped according to the actual needs and responding to enclosed needs and responding to enclosed activities;activities;

Mosques are the reference point in the Mosques are the reference point in the urban fabric: street layout seems to radiate urban fabric: street layout seems to radiate & merge from one mosque to the next;& merge from one mosque to the next;

The division of land was not based on a The division of land was not based on a definite methoddefinite method, , with less connection to a with less connection to a geometric discipline. Rather, the size & geometric discipline. Rather, the size & alignments of lots was due to the alignments of lots was due to the continuous subdividing of land resulting in continuous subdividing of land resulting in compact & uncontrolled urban fabric;compact & uncontrolled urban fabric;


Clusters & Central Clusters & Central CourtyardCourtyard

The cluster approach includes an integral & The cluster approach includes an integral & autonomous entity, known as a central courtyard;autonomous entity, known as a central courtyard;

Elevations are turned inwards facing each other;Elevations are turned inwards facing each other; Repetition of similar patterns of enclosure, and Repetition of similar patterns of enclosure, and

inclusion of plot size throughout hierarchal levels inclusion of plot size throughout hierarchal levels leading to a complete structural integration;leading to a complete structural integration;

The outer walls are blind making street fronts of a The outer walls are blind making street fronts of a secondary importance, responding to local climate secondary importance, responding to local climate and to the Islamic life of privacy while building and to the Islamic life of privacy while building exuding users with a sense of place, identity, exuding users with a sense of place, identity, security and individual freedom;security and individual freedom;


More on Courtyard More on Courtyard FeaturesFeatures

Street and alleyways are swallowed by the Street and alleyways are swallowed by the residential clusters, being transformed into a residential clusters, being transformed into a series of internal corridorsseries of internal corridors;;

The inside plan of the building frequently used the The inside plan of the building frequently used the court form. Surrounding the court were covered court form. Surrounding the court were covered colonnades and the rooms were arranged to open colonnades and the rooms were arranged to open onto balconies overlooking the Court;onto balconies overlooking the Court;

Such arrangement allowed cool air to flow Such arrangement allowed cool air to flow through the building into every room in the through the building into every room in the evening. In the daytime, when outside windows evening. In the daytime, when outside windows were closed, the coolness was maintained inside were closed, the coolness was maintained inside the rooms by heavy wallsthe rooms by heavy walls absorbabsorbinging any heat any heat; ; andand

The courtyard is the controlled source of light, The courtyard is the controlled source of light, providprovidinging shade and allow shade and allowinging a portion of that a portion of that light to be used all day for indoor living purposes. light to be used all day for indoor living purposes. Thus, the open courtyard was in effect the inner Thus, the open courtyard was in effect the inner living spaceliving space


Public Spaces of Islamic Public Spaces of Islamic CityCity

Islamic cities were built on a pedestrian scale.Islamic cities were built on a pedestrian scale. Public spaces were allocated to, and often Public spaces were allocated to, and often

integrated with, specific architectural units: integrated with, specific architectural units: such as mosques, schools, & etc.such as mosques, schools, & etc.

StreetsStreets were subsidiary to the urban structure were subsidiary to the urban structure and were often transformed into narrow and were often transformed into narrow internal corridors (alleys).internal corridors (alleys).

Priority was given to the clear definition of Priority was given to the clear definition of well-marked space compartments, far from well-marked space compartments, far from private and public uses. private and public uses.

As the ramified street network were absorbed As the ramified street network were absorbed by the corresponding architectural units, the by the corresponding architectural units, the main thoroughfares were integrated into the main thoroughfares were integrated into the marketmarket..

Secondary lanes into the residential quarters, Secondary lanes into the residential quarters, and the dead-end alleys into the clusters of and the dead-end alleys into the clusters of private houses to which they gave access. private houses to which they gave access.


Public Spaces Public Spaces of Islamic Cityof Islamic City

The space sequence corresponded to a well-established The space sequence corresponded to a well-established hierarchy and was punctuated by gates and thresholds. The hierarchy and was punctuated by gates and thresholds. The circulation system therefore helped implement increasing circulation system therefore helped implement increasing degrees of privacy, ensuring every section of the network degrees of privacy, ensuring every section of the network matchmatching ing the character of space it servedthe character of space it served;;

The space layouts are focused on a multi-functional core The space layouts are focused on a multi-functional core structure enveloping the surrounding central mosque by structure enveloping the surrounding central mosque by different layers of interconnected marketsdifferent layers of interconnected markets; and; and

These are interspersed with a number of Arabic paths, schools These are interspersed with a number of Arabic paths, schools and caravanserais supporting the system for the mosque and and caravanserais supporting the system for the mosque and the the marketmarket..


Islamic ArchitectureIslamic Architecture Islamic architecture used mIslamic architecture used materials of aterials of stones stones

of various kinds andof various kinds and, , particularly, sun-dried or particularly, sun-dried or baked brick to create tranquillity & unity.baked brick to create tranquillity & unity.

Architectural forms were evolved using Architectural forms were evolved using bearing walls with domes as the most bearing walls with domes as the most common forms. common forms.

Domes were the natural roof forms to span Domes were the natural roof forms to span larger covered spaceslarger covered spaces. F. For colonnades with or colonnades with flat roofs, wooden logs or cut-timber beams flat roofs, wooden logs or cut-timber beams were used.were used.

Islamic art was able to gain a new dimension Islamic art was able to gain a new dimension through its marriage with architectural through its marriage with architectural structures giving specific sense of space structures giving specific sense of space generated by the dominant courtyard generated by the dominant courtyard typology.typology.


DDecoration of Islamic ecoration of Islamic ArchitectureArchitecture

Such architecture was supported by means of artistic Such architecture was supported by means of artistic expression: i.e. calligraphy, geometric patterns, and expression: i.e. calligraphy, geometric patterns, and arabesque, that all were surface-related and suitable to fully arabesque, that all were surface-related and suitable to fully merge with the planes of walls and/or ceilings.merge with the planes of walls and/or ceilings.

Arabesque and geometrical patterns were often juxtaposed Arabesque and geometrical patterns were often juxtaposed with calligraphy to from frames and panels of continuous with calligraphy to from frames and panels of continuous decoration. While Islamic art favoured plane surfaces for its use decoration. While Islamic art favoured plane surfaces for its use of geometrical patterns and arabesquesof geometrical patterns and arabesques. I. It also developed a t also developed a three-dimensional geometric pattern that is considered as an three-dimensional geometric pattern that is considered as an important vehicle of artistic expression. important vehicle of artistic expression.

The key component of this three-dimensional adornment is the The key component of this three-dimensional adornment is the muqarnas. Their use was by no means restricted to the muqarnas. Their use was by no means restricted to the supporting corners of vaulted structures but became a supporting corners of vaulted structures but became a ubiquitous decorative element, filling the interior of domes, the ubiquitous decorative element, filling the interior of domes, the cavities of niches and the projecting edges of cornicescavities of niches and the projecting edges of cornices..


Summary:Summary: Architecture of IslamicArchitecture of Islamic CitiesCitiesIslamic city is characterized by:Islamic city is characterized by:

willingness to adapt to local materials and local image;willingness to adapt to local materials and local image; symmetry in the plan and elevation; the organic growth as symmetry in the plan and elevation; the organic growth as

an aggregation of private houses, mosques and markets, all an aggregation of private houses, mosques and markets, all collected within a coherent urban fabric; collected within a coherent urban fabric;

the sequence hierarchy of space from the public, semi-the sequence hierarchy of space from the public, semi-private and private spaces to maximize family privacy; built private and private spaces to maximize family privacy; built on a pedestrian scale provided an extremely dense on a pedestrian scale provided an extremely dense townscape; and townscape; and

calligraphy, geometric patterns and the arabesque are calligraphy, geometric patterns and the arabesque are considered as the key elements for visual interest and considered as the key elements for visual interest and richness.richness.

early islamic architecture an introduction. prepared by dr. hazem abu-orf, university of palestine...

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