Islamic Architecture

Characteristics

• Iconoclast art: it is forbidden to depict their God’s image

• Stylised: it is ant naturalistic and full of geometry • Mutability: show that things are ephemeral,

using poor materials and repetitions to create light effects

• Decorative:– Geometric (lace)– Arabesc (flowers and calligraphy)

Architecture: Characteristics

• It is a synthesis of:– Byzantium– Copte– Christian

• Buildings are not high, horizontality is underlined• The main building is the mosque• Materials are poor in general: brick, tiles, wax• Shapes tend to be cubic• Hemispheric domes• High towers (minaret)

Architecture: Characteristics

• Supports:– Column and pillar– Slim and stylised

Covers: great variety:– Flat covers– Vaults and domes:

• Groin vaults• Pierced• Crafte

Mosque

• It is the centre of social life• It consists of a squared area covered by a

dome• It is organised around a courtyard• In one side there is a tower to call for the

pray: minaret • The main wall is directed to Mecca • Its origin is the Mahomet’s house in

Medina

Mosque

• Structure:• Courtyard or Shan, uncovered • Qibla: wall directed to Mecca• Mirhab: niche open in the quibla and holiest

place of the mosque• Maqsura: area in front of the Mirhab reserved for

the caliph• Mimbar or pulpit • Haram or pray rooms• Minaret: tower to call for the pray

Sahn Qibla

Mihrab

Maqsura

Minbar

Haram

Minaret

Mosque

• Typology:– With hypostyle room

– With central plan covered with

a dome

– With iwans or building on the sides

(Iran)

Islamic Art in Spain

Cordoba’s mosque is the most important work of the Califal style.

Its construction began in 8th century and it was enlarge until 833.

Islamic Art in Spain

Cordoba’s mosque structure

Mihrab

QiblaSabil or fountain

Sahu or courtyard

Minaret

Islamic Art in Spain

• The internal space gives a uniformity impression due to the identical naves.

• It is a non-differenced

space where

horizontality is

dominant.

Islamic Art in Spain

• Columns have shaft without lines

• Capitals are corinthian but very simplified

• Over them appears the cimacio to make them higher

• Arches combine two colours

• There are horse-shoe arches in the first line and high semicircular arches on the second line.

Islamic Art in Spain

Two coloured voissoirs

Semicircular arches on the second line

Horse-shoe arches over the columns, both of them sustained by the supports

Two supports one over the other with a pilar elevated

Islamic Art in Spain

• The most luxurious part is the mihrab

• The interior is covered in wax

• Every type of decoration is used.

Islamic Art in Spain

• The maqsura is an space in front of the mihrab that was reserved for the caliph

• It was covered by four nerved domes, the same as in the mihrab.

• It was limited by polylobulate arches, aligned in two one over the other.

• Over there they are horse-shoe arches with small decorative columns.

Islamic Art in Spain

• Nazari columns are made in white marble

• They are crowned by different kind of capitals

• They are characterised by being delicate and fragile.

Islamic Art in Spain

• around and full of divine light

• It suggest the shape Some stances are covered by muqarna domes (The Two Sisters’ room)

• This vault symbolises the cosmos, moving of a star.

Islamic Art in Spain

• In ceilings flat cover dominates

• Some rooms are covered by fully decorated domes

• In the rest of the cases wood dominate.