Islamic architecture

Smokestacks and Spires A Brief Examination of Gothic Architecture and its Revival The late European medieval period saw the development of what we refer to today as Gothic architecture. Through new technological and design innovations, Europeans built awe-inspiring buildings to house their most precious institutions: royal palaces, castles and cathedrals--many of which remain largely untouched by time’s flow centuries later. Drawing from ancient Roman technological advances, the Gothic tradition made heavy use of architectural features such as arches, vaults and buttresses to create buildings that were not only structurally sound, but beautiful as well. Many centuries later, these buildings became nostalgic symbols of a simpler and better time. Craftspeople…

The Great Mosque of Cordoba brought the influence of Islamic and Byzantine architecture to Spain, and led to the creation of the mudejar-style of architecture that is now a trademark of the Spanish Empire. As the cultural capital under the Muslim Umayyad dynasty, Cordoba grew as a city rich in art and architecture, eventually becoming a cultural mecca for Islam. As Glaire Anderson, historian of Islamic art and architecture, states, “the Great Mosque was the centerpiece of Cordoba, one of the…

Locally known as “Mezquita-Catedral”, The Great Mosque of Cordoba is a perfect example of early Islamic art. Originally, there was a temple that was dedicated to a Roman god Janus where the Mosque stands today. After being invaded by Visigoths in 572, the temple was converted to a church. The church was constructed on the “San Vicente” Basilic. The construction and architecture of the Mosque of Cordoba is the longest standing example of Islamic artwork and Cordoba’s Christian identity…

Intro: The history or Islamic ornamental design is a very rich and complex one. Islamic art, specifically ornamental art found on Islamic architecture, is symbolic of not only the aesthetic trends of Islamic culture but is reflective of the Quran and its poetic descriptions and symbolic stories. When specifically looking at buildings like the Alhambra, one can see that the Nasrid artists embellished the building in three specific ways: the carving of stylized foliage; the use of tiles to form…

The Dome of the Rock is a 7th century building located in the walled Old City of Jerusalem in the center of the Temple Mount. It is the first domed shrine to be built and is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. It is the oldest Islamic building to have survived intact in its original form. The building is not only sacred but is also recognised for its beauty. It is gorgeously decorated both inside and outside (Grabar, 2006). The realm of Islam had spread widely with the Islamic conquest of…

Before the boom of the Islamic Empire, the Greek was already living there. Since the Greek were the first architect, most of the design of buildings looks similar to earlier buildings in West Asia through the late Roman Empire. As the Arabs was in the process of replaces Christian churches with Islamic mosques, they were able to experiment with different architectural forums and new Islamic styles. One of the earliest Islamic mosques is the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Afterward, many…

The Dome of the Rock is a Byzantine design inspired building, completed in 691 CE that has stood for over 1300 years. The monument is the first piece of Islamic architecture funded by a Muslim ruler that was created as a work of art. It is an Islamic shrine located on a sacred stone called the Temple Mount, a large outcrop of bedrock in the Old City of Jerusalem. It has been venerated as a holy site for over a thousand years and considered one of the most important religious sites in the world…

conquered the former Byzantine capital Constantinople, art and architecture experienced significant changes. However many people still wonder What rulers of the Ottoman Empire were interested in developing the art and architecture of the empire and what were their approaches to it? Many rulers were interested in developing art and architecture under their rule, such as Mehmed I who was “one of the greatest Renaissance patrons of his time” (THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART). He ordered two…

Islam spread throughout North Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia rapidly after it was founded. Due to Islam discouraging the use of figurative images in religious contexts, pushing Islamic artists to create and develop a rich decoration style of non-figural images, consisting of such ornament that make a hallmark of Islamic work. Islamic decoration includes complex geometric patterns, calligraphy and scrolling vines better known as arabesques. Islam has affected Islamic architecture…

One of the most famous of these is the Great Mosque at Djenneé.” (1) The international reputation of Djenné’s architecture is founded on the image of its mud mosques and houses that stand as testimony to their skillful masons. A mason is a profession passed down from one generation of a family to the next; creating a continuous relationship between the masons and the houses, they build (and maintain). (5) The architecture of Djenné’s town has changed over the years. “During the nineteenth…