ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE Module I

Ar. Salabha T G
Asst.Professor
IES College of Architecture
 Islamic architecture
Introduction
▪entire range of architecture that has evolved from Islam as a social, cultural, political and
religious phenomenon.
▪developed soon after the time of the prophet Mohammed, developing from Roman,
Egyptian,Byzantine and Persian /Sassanid models.
▪encompasses religious buildings as well as secular ones, historic as well as modern expressions,
and the production of all places that have come under the varying levels of Islamic influence from
the foundation of Islam to the present day.
SPREAD OF ISLAM
▪ The first followers of
the Holy prophet
–Arabs, had no artistic
or traditional styles

▪ As Islam spread, its

art forms developed
and were modified by
different climatic
conditions and
materials that were
available in the lands

▪ Islam spread, adapting

indigenous art styles.
Islamic architecture

Elements of Islamic style

▪Large domes ▪A mihrab inside mosque to

▪Minarets indicate the direction of

▪ Large courtyard often merged with a central praying hall Mecca

▪ Use of geometric shape and repetitive art (arabesque) ▪Use of bright colour

▪ Extensive use of decorative Arabic calligraphy ▪ Focus on interior of space

▪Use of symmetry and ablution fountain rather than exterior

 Islamic architecture
Interpretation of Islamic style
▪The concept of Allah’s infinite power is evoked by design with repetitive theme which suggests
infinity
▪ Figurative forms are rarely depicted in decorative art as Allah’s work is matchless.
▪Foliage is a frequent motif but typically stylized or simplified
▪ The use of calligraphy is actually means of education and reminder as they are taken from the
verses of al-Quran
▪called the ‘architecture of the veil’ because the beauty lies in the inner spaces which are not
visible from the outside
▪ Use of impressive forms such as large domes, towering minarets and large courtyard has both
symbolic meaning and scientific purposes
 Islamic architecture Introduction

Influences in Islamic Architecture

Basically, these are the famous styles that has influence the Islamic architecture
 Moorish architecture
 Timurid architecture
 Ottoman architecture
 Mughal architecture
 Islamic architecture I

FUNCTIONAL TYPOLOGY OF ISLAMIC STRUCTURES

1. Structures for prayer: 4. Residential -palaces
• neighborhood mosque (masjid). 5. Way side resting inns -Place of
• congregational mosque (jami or masjid jami). rest on way side for travelers-
• prayer enclosure (musalla or namaz-gah). Caravan serai
• Minaret ( Tower to call for prayer) 6. Commercial
2. Structures for religious education •The Bazaar-The places for
• religious college (madrasa). selling and buying goods
3. Memorial structures:
• tomb memorial
• mausoleum with charitable functions attached.
• funerary garden or enclosure
 Islamic architecture- EVOLUTION OF MOSQUES
Morphological categories of the Mosque.
The mosque plan was developed through a process of change and modification resulting in the
emergence of four main forms reflecting the main periods of Islamic attainment.

The key building

type of the faith
-developed from
the scheme of an
Arab house, with
a pillared
verandah around
an open courtyard.
 HISTORIC DEVELOPMENI
1.Umayyad (661-750)- new elements were included to the Islamic architecture: Minarates,
Arabisque, Mosaic, Luxury palaces.
2. Abbasids (750-1258 A D)- Shift of Capital from Damascus to Bhagdad
3.Fatimid
4.Seljuk -"Iranian plan" of mosque construction
5.Zinced
6.Ayyubid
7. Mamluk (1215-1517)
8.Ottoman-mastered the technique of OttomansThe building vast inner spaces confined by
seemingly weightless yet massive domes
Religious and civic architecture were developed under the Umayyads, when new concepts and
new plans were put into practice. Thus, the “Arab plan,” with court and hypostyle prayer hall,
truly became a functional type with the construction of the Umayyad Mosque, or the Great
Mosque of Damascus (completed in 715 by caliph AlWalid I).
 Islamic architecture- EVOLUTION OF MOSQUES Cordoba Mosque

MORPHOLOGICAL CATEGORIES OF THE MOSQUE.

1. HYPOSTYLE MOSQUE
•Earliest and most spread ,
•Hypostyle hall consisting of a main hall composed of a number
of parallel aisles defined by arcades of columns
•The row of pillars and its extension in all directions emphasizes
the limitlessness of the space-a symbol of infinity of the divine.
•The area near the mihrab is defined by special treatment
emphasizing its sanctity. –dome & wide nave
Mosque of
•Further demarcation of the area is defined by some stucco,
Damascus
floral, geometric and calligraphic decoration with intended
meditation messages.
•Starting from Medina it entered North Africa,Sicily and Persia
and countries of South Asia.
 Islamic architecture- EVOLUTION OF MOSQUES

2- IWAN MOSQUE
•Under the patronage of the Suljuq princes, Iran
(Persia) developed a new style of mosque known as
Iwan mosque.
•There was a Sahn or courtyard and on four sides has
iwans ( cloisters).
• a high vaulted hall was built to function as a great
entrance leading to the sanctuary, or to the sahn.
• roof of the iwan is vaulted and commonly covered
with “ muqarnas”.
•The first establishment of this style is in about 890.
Ex : Masjid –I –Jami , Isafahan, the first four Iwan
Mosque.
 Islamic architecture- EVOLUTION OF MOSQUES

3 – DOMED MOSQUE
▪Under the Ottomans the mosque evolved from the traditionally horizontal space to a vertical
structure rising into the sky through its domed roof , which was arranged in a number of small
domes rising progressively like steps towards the main dome of the central nave.
▪ the infinity is expressed through verticality
▪the dome became the dominating skyline of the mosques probably influenced by HAggia Sofia.
▪Further this mosque stressed the main dome and confirmed the symbol of one God
4 – MOGHUL MOSQUES
Moghul mosques are a successful combination of all the above styles, consisted of a Hypostyle
hall for rituals , covered with flat roof incorporating large onion shaped dome and large porch
recalling the Persian Iwan as seen in the Delhi’s Jami Masjid.( 1644-1658)
 CHARACTER OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE
MATERIALS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
POINTED ARCH AND DOMES
• arcuated system of construction .
• use of the pointed arch and horse shoe arch. - origin -can be traced back to the Byzantium and
Sassanid Empire.
• Most masonry structures were in arched , vaulted or dome forms continuing the roman and
byzantine building tradtions.
• Cements, plaster and stucco were used for bas- relief carving and higly decorative muqarna
technique employed in domes , vaults and arches .
• Muqarnas take the form of small pointed arches , stacked in tiers projecting on the underside of
arches, vaults and domes .
 CHARACTER OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE
MATERIALS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS
• Brick making was universal in alluvial planes.
• In stone bearing areas the art of selecting and quarrying stone was established.
• Marble was available due to trade if not available locally.
• A rich variety of stones is found in areas from Asia minor and Egypt to northern India and
techniques of working them and building in masonry has highly developed before the advent of
Islam.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)

•The earliest surviving stone mosque, built between AD 705 and 715 by the Umayyad Caliph
al-Walīd I.
•stands on the site of a 1st-century Hellenic temple to Jupiter and of a later church of St. John the
Baptist.

•The layout was based on the Mosque of the

ProphetThe layout was based on the Mosque of
the Prophet in Medina.
•the first mosque in Islamic history to feature such
luxury and large size.
• marked the emergence of independent style of
architecture and decorative art, helping thus to
incarnate a new personality with a firm identity.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)
The Umayyad mosque complex included :

•A prayer hall,
•A vast courtyard surrounded by galleries of horse
shoe arches
•3 Minarets
• three structures of polygonal form standing on
columns and topped with domes
•Access through three main gates. main one is
pierced in the centre of the northern wall other
two doors on side walls to the east, and the west,
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)

•The ground plan of the Umayyad Mosque is

rectangle in shape and measures 97 meters by 156
meters
•A large courtyard occupies the northern part of the
mosque complex, while the haram ("sanctuary")
covers the southern part.
•The courtyard is enclosed by four exterior walls.
•Arcades surround the courtyard supported by
alternating stone columns and piers.
•The open courtyard contains a central Ablution
Fountain, the Dome of the clocks and the Dome of
the Treasury
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)

Sanctuary/ Prayer Hall

•consists of three transverses, supported by
columns in the Corinthian order covered with
elegant gabled roof, lying on arched arcades.
• three naves are also crossed by a lofty transept,
carrying a large truncated dome.
•The main arcades are parallel to the direction of
prayer (qibbla).
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)

Sanctuary/ Prayer Hall

•Each of the arcades contain two levels.- The first
level consists of large semi-circular arches, while
the second level is made up of double arches.
•The three interior arcades intersect in the center of
the sanctuary with a larger, higher arcade that is
perpendicular to the qibla wall and faces
the mihrab and the mimbar
•The qibla wall holds 4 mihrabs
•The central transept divides the arcades into two
halves each with eleven arches.
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)

The Courtyard
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- THE GREAT MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS (Umayyad Mosque)

Within the Umayyad Mosque complex are three unusual minarets.

1.The Minaret of the Bride - the first one built and located on the northern wall.- used by
the muezzin for the call to prayer
2.The Minaret of Jesus -located on the southeast corner- the tallest of the three minarets.
3.The Western Minaret- also known as the "Minaret of Qaitbay“- octagonal in shape and is built in
receding sections with three galleries
Dome of the Rock
Qubbat As-Sakhrah
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem _ Historical Importance
•One of the earliest surviving buildings from
Islamic world, built by the early caliph Abd
al-Malik in 691
• located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
•The third most important shrine of Islam.
•Building is a shrine and not a mosque
•generally regarded as an attempt to provide a
Muslim alternative to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre which had previously dominated the
city of Jerusalem.
•The plan and design of the Dome of the Rock
reflect this rivalry.
•The Noble Rock is the focus of the interior of the
Dome of the Rock
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- Dome of the Rock
Historical Imprtance

• The rock which the dome surrounds is considered one

of the most holy placeless, not only by Muslims, but
Jews and Christians as well.

• In religious terms the building is significant because it

commemorates the place where Abraham prepared
to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice and the place
from which Muhammad made his night journey to
heaven.

• In 692 the Dome of the Rock was commissioned for

not only religious but also political purposes.

• Chaliph Abd El-Malik placed the monument on the the

Noble Sanctuary, in order to enshrine the sacred rock.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

•consists of a domed octagonal structure set in

the middle of a raised plaza or enclosure known
as the Haram al-Sharif or holy place.
• In the immediate vicinity -two other buildings
of similar antiquity
1. Qubbat al-Silsila - a smaller structure
immediately to the east of the Dome of the
Rock; it shares the same basic plan of an
octagonal structure covered with a dome and
sides open.
2. The Aqsa Mosque - the main place of prayer
for the Haram and is located to the south of the
Dome of the Rock.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- Dome of the Rock
•The plan based around a central dome resting on a
circular drum supported by an arcade.
•The Noble Rock is the focus of the interior of the Dome
of the Rock- situated directly beneath the lofty dome and
surrounded by the highly ornate inner circular and
outer octagonal arcades and a solid octagonal wall
which supports the shallow pitched roof around the dome.
•Both sets of arcades are carried on a mixture of piers and
columns; the inner arcade is composed of four piers
and twelve columns whilst the outer arcade consists of
eight piers and sixteen columns.
•There are four entrances to the building, one on each of
the sides facing the four cardinal points.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- Dome of the Rock
•Each of the eight sides of the outer octagon is divided
into seven tall arches or bays, five of the arches on each
side are open as doors or windows whilst the two nearest
the corners are blind arches.
•There are twelve more windows in the circular drum
below the dome.
• Directly below the dome is an exposed area of natural rock
enclosed by a screen or fence, under-neath there is a small
cave with a mihrab reached by a set of steps.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- Dome of the Rock

•The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat alSakhrah) in Jerusalem (691) is one of the most important
buildings in all of Islamic architecture
•a strong Byzantine influence (mosaic against a gold background)
•a central plan that resembles that of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
•purely Islamic elements, such as the great epigraphic frieze.
• interior vaulted spaces, a circular dome, and the use of stylized repeating decorative
arabesque patterns
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- Dome of the Rock
•Extensive decoration from a variety of periods, including mosaics, painted wood, marble,
multi-colored tiles, carpets, and carved stone, covers most of the exterior and interior of the
building.
•The intricate patterns and geometric shapes of the mosaics replace figurative art since, according
to Muslim belief, it would be impossible to represent Allah in any figurative form.

•the shrine conveys its own message through color and shape.
•In Islamic art, blue, the color of the sky, suggests infinity, while gold represents the color of the
knowledge of God.
•The shape of the dome itself is a powerful symbol of the soaring ascent to heaven, its circle
representing the wholeness and balance essential to the Muslim faith.

Exterior drum tile work

 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SYRIA & EGYPT- Dome of the Rock
According to tradition, Muhammad first selected Jerusalem as the qibla, the direction the faithful
should face during prayer. Later, the prophet redirected his followers to face the city of Mecca
when praying, to symbolize Islam's independence from the other monotheistic religions that had
chosen Jerusalem as their most holy city. In the late seventh century, however, Chaliph Abd
El-Malik wanted to discourage his followers from making the pilgrimage to Mecca because he
feared that they might fall under the influence of one of his Muslim rivals. He, therefore,
constructed the Dome in the hopes of establishing Jerusalem as the major Muslim pilgrimage
destination, so that he could keep his followers and attract new ones.
 Details

Grilled windows Lead sheets above ambulatory

3 columns supporting 4 arches on either sides

Plan
Section
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT- History

639 ~ The Arab Conquest ~ 641

641 ~ Caliphate Rule ~ 868

1. Ummayyad Dynasty
• ruled from Damascus sent governors to collect taxes, but did not interfere in day-to-day
operations

2. Abbassid Dynasty
• ruled from Baghdad increased non-Muslim taxes in Egypt, leading to a Coptic rebellion and
increased challenges to Muslim authority

868 ~ The Tulinid Dynasty ~ 905

Ahmad ibn Tulun
• ruled autonomously but under Abbasid Caliphate
• kept much of the revenue since the caliphate was weak, enabling him to build up his
capital, now known as Cairo

• captured Syria in 878 and united it with Egypt

ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT-
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn , Tulun, Cairo
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT-
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun, Cairo
•one of the most important architectural monuments of Cairo and of the Islamic world as a whole
•dates back to the last quarter of the ninth century, -(870-879 AD)- the formative period of Islamic
architecture.
•built during by the Egyptian ruler of the Tulunid Dynasty Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt.
•the third largest mosque in the world and one of the oldest to survive basically intact
•very good example of an early Islamic hypostyle mosque
•The forms and carved plaster decorative motifs of the mosque are considered amongst the finest
examples of the emergent ‘classical’ Abbasid tradition of Islamic architecture.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT-
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun, Cairo - Layout
•Arabic Type Hypostyle Mosque-Modelled on the Great
Mosque of Samarra (Iraq)
•a square courtyard (Sahn) surrounded with hypostyle
halls (cloisters),
• outer enclosed yard (Ziyada) designed to keep out the
heat, dust and noise of the profane exterior world and keep
the worship space quiet.
•a roof supported by arcades on piers.
•off-center, spiral stone minaret with a mabkhara finial
•ablution fountain / fawwara, purely decorative, housed in
a domed pavilion.
•The original ablution facilities and a clinic were housed in
the ziyada for hygienic reasons.
•built entirely of well-fired red brick faced in carved stucco;
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT-
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun, Cairo
PRAYER HALL
•prayer hall opens directly onto a courtyard
•features five colonnades arranged parallel to the
qibla wall, oriented towards Mecca.
•A portico consisting of two colonnades surrounds
the courtyard on the three remaining sides
MINARET AND FOUNTAIN
•the spiral minaret-spiral stairs winding around it
instead of containing a spiral staircase.
• the roofed fountain in the courtyard
• two floors -the upper floor served a function of a
minaret too.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT-
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun, Cairo-
•Much of the decoration and design recalls the ʿAbbāsid
architecture of Iraq.
•The crenellated outside walls have merlons that are shaped and
perforated in a decorative pattern.
•The courtyards are lined with arcades of broad arches and heavy
pillars.
• In the mosque and the courtyard the arches are decorated with
elaborate designs in carved stucco.
• The roof originally ornamented with panels of
carved wood.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-

•The . Islamic conquest of Persiain the 7th century led early Islamic architects to borrow and
adopt many traditions and ways of the fallen Persian Empire
•Islamic architecture thus borrows from some what called an extension and further evolution of
Persian architecture.
• Ghurids, and Ghaznavids, Samanids, TahiridsIn Persia and Central Asia, the struggled for
power in the 10th century
•Great cities were built, the Great Mosque of Isfahan was initiated
• Funerary architecture was also cultivated.
• Under the Seljuqs the "Iranian plan" of mosque construction appears for first time.
• Lodging places called khans or caravanserai for travellersand their animals, displayed
utilitarian rather than ornamental architecture, with rubble masonry, strong fortifications, and
minimal comfort
•Seljuq architecture synthesized various styles, both Iranian and Syrian, sometimes rendering
precise attributions difficult
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-
The Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan –Historical Importance
•Shah 'Abbas moved the capital of the Safavid dynasty to Isfahan in 1597 with the
goal of centering political, religious, economic, and cultural activities
•built on the south side of Isfahan's maydan, the royal square of Isfahan-under Shah
'Abbas
•The Masjid-i Shah was Shah 'Abbas's largest architectural monument.
•The mosque's monumental portal iwan is located exactly opposite the portal iwan on
the northern arcade of the maydan, which connects the maydan to the old bazaar to
the north.
•Construction of the Masjid-i Shah began in 1611 under Shah 'Abbas, and was completed
around 1630 during the rule of Shah Safi, 'Abbas's successor, who ruled from 1629 to
1642
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-
The Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan- Layout
•From the center of the southern wall
of the maydan, one enters the
mosque through a recessed vestibule
where the main portal to the mosque
is located on the vestibule's southern
wall.
• This area connects on its two other
sides (east and west) to the
maydan's corridor, which runs
behind its mercantile facilities.

• Only the vestibule follows the maydan's orientation

(north-south). The rest of the mosque, rectangular in shape (100
by 130 meters), is rotated 45 degrees to orient it toward Mecca,
according to which the qibla wall is installed.
•To achieve this orientation toward Mecca the main portal is
connected to a triangular vestibule, which connects it to the
mosque's courtyard via the space behind the northeast iwan.
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-
The Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan- Layout
•the Iranian traditional mosque plan,
• a court surrounded by a two-story arcade on
four sides
• four iwans, one at the center of each side,
•a domed sanctuary behind the southwest
iwan, oriented towards Mecca.
•the mosque's plan presents an interesting
variation: behind each lateral iwan is a
domed chamber.
•The domed sanctuary behind the southwest
iwan is flanked by rectangular rooms
functioning as winter prayer halls that are
entered from the domed sanctuary aligned on
the northeast-southwest axis.
•These halls are covered by eight domes and
connect to two rectangular arcaded courts
serving as madrasas also aligned on the
northeast-southwest axis and are only accessed
from the domed chambers behind the southeast
and northwest iwans, respectively.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-
The Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan
•Both the main portal iwan, overlooking the maydan, and the sanctuary iwan are flanked
by a pair of soaring cylindrical minarets 34 meters in height.
•These minarets are decorated with tile mosaics of epigraphic elements
•On top of its upper zone runs an inscription band in white on a blue background, marking the
beginning of three tiers of muqarnas units, of the minaret.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-
The Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan
•In the court, the iwan preceding the domed sanctuary is larger than the other three iwans
at the centers of the two-story arcades.
•The dome - Timurid prototype- comprises two shells, the bulbous dome
being fourteen meters higher than the interior dome.
• On the exterior, the bulbous dome is covered with a spiraling beige arabesque on a light
blue background.
• The dome rises on a high drum and a sixteen-sided transitional zone.
•The eight domes in each of the prayer halls adjacent to the domed sanctuary are
decorated with mosaic tilework of concentric medallions in floral motifs.
•The arches on which these domes rest ascend from undecorated octagonal columns that
divide the space of these halls into eight bays.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF PERSIA-
The Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan
•The mosque's interior and exterior walls are fully covered with a polychrome, mostly
dark blue, glazed tile revetment above a continuous marble dado.
•Introduced a novel technique called "haft-rangi" (seven colors)- a square tile
that incorporates various colors in one firing.
•Water is an important element in the design; both the main court and the courts of
the madrasas have pools at their center reflecting the architectural splendor of the
Masjid-i Shah.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
•In the middle of the 8th century the last of the Umayyads escaped to Spain and re-founded
the dynasty there.
•The culture of Islamic Spain reached its apex in Moorish art and architecture.
•Construction of the Great Mosque at Cordoba marks the beginning of Islamic architecture
in the Iberian peninsula & North Africa .
•Moorish architecture reached its peak with the construction of the magnificent
palace/fortress Alhambra
•Moorish architecture has its roots deeply established in the Arab tradition of architecture
and design established during the era of the first Caliphate of the Umayyads
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
Thethe
•In the middle of the 8th century Great Mosque
last of at Cordoba
the Umayyads escaped to Spain and re-founded
the dynasty there.
•The culture of Islamic Spain reached its apex in Moorish art and architecture.
•Construction of the Great Mosque at Cordoba (now a cathedral known as the Mezquita)
beginning in 785 CE marks the beginning of Islamic architecture in the Iberian peninsula
& North Africa .
• The mosque is noted for its striking interior double arches
• Moorish architecture reached its peak with the construction of the magnificent
palace/fortress Alhambra, with its open and breezy interior spaces adorned in Granada of
red, blue, and gold.
•The walls are decorated with stylized foliage motifs, Arabic inscriptions, and arabesque design
works.
• Moorish architecture has its roots deeply established in the Arab tradition of architecture and
design established during the era of the first Caliphate of the Umayyads
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba -History
•built in the 8th century, during the reign of Abd al-Rahman I over the remains of the
Visigoth Basilica of San Vicente.
•There were consecutive extensions carried out over three centuries, and in 1236 the
Christian Cathedral was installed.
•The greatest reconstruction was carried out in the Renaissance period, between 1523 and
1599, which resulted in its present structure of space
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba

2 3 4
1
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
Layout: The mosque was built in
four phases, with each Caliph and
his elite contributing to it
•The building itself was expanded
over two hundred years.
▪The 1st and 2nd enlargements
were made along the central axis;
▪the 3rd enlargement was done to
the lateral direction, which caused
the position of the Mihrab not to be
located in the middle of the Qibla
wall.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
Phase 1 (Original Mosque):
•comprised of :
a large hypostyle prayer hall with aisles
arranged perpendicular to the qibla ( not
towards Mecca but South) supporting the
timber ceiling
Double arches: lower horse shoe arch served
as a truss and the upper semi circular arch
supporting the roof
Voussoirs – alternating colours of yellow
limestone and red brick
courtyard with a fountain in the middle,

Phase 2:
•Pulled down the primitive Qibla wall and extend
the tiers of arch by another eight rows-
southward extension of the mosque itself
•Use of eight new acanthus leaf capitals
•Addition of a staircase to the roof
•Addition of a new tower by Abd Al Rahman II
 Phase 3:
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
•mosque later expanded even further south,- The Great Mosque at Cordoba
additional 12 bays
•To improve lighting four sky lights with
beautiful rib vaults were built
•Building materials were custom made using
wasp nest capitals
•Double wall of the qibla
•Turning the mihrab niche into a small
octagonal room covered by a bell- shaped vault

Phase 4- lateral expansion

•Biggest enlargement
•East ward extension of mosque and courtyard-
towards south was impossible due to the
proximity of the river
•Eight new naves were built
•As a result the mihrab was no longer centred
and qibla wall reconverted into a single wall
•Alternating colours of voussoirs were painted
instead of using different materials
•Arches were made with lime stone and painted
red
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
Features:
• Arcaded hypostyle hall
, with 856 columns of jasper, with 856 columns
of jasper, onyx, with 856 columns
of jasper, onyx, marble, with 856 columns
of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite.
seems magnified by its repeated geometry.
built with recycled ancient Roman columns from which
sprout a striking combination of two-tiered, symmetrical
arches, formed of stone and red brick.
•Double arches-two tired arcades
a new introduction to architecture
permitting higher ceilings than would otherwise be
possible with relatively low columns.
consist of a lower horseshoe arch and an upper
semi-circular arch.
alternating red and white voussoirsalternating red and
white voussoirs of the arches were inspired by those in
the Dome of the Rock.
horseshoe arch -easily identified characteristic of
Western Islamic architecture
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba -History
Features:
•Honey-combed dome
has blue tiles decorated with stars.
built of crisscrossing ribs that create pointed arches
covered with gold mosaic in a radial pattern.
•Mihrab
horseshoe arched mihrab or prayer niche
intricate calligraphic bands and vegetal motifs that adorn the arch.
•an open court (sahn) surrounded by arcades
• screens of wood
• minarets
• colourful mosaics
•windows of coloured glass.
•Quranic inscriptions on walls
•Ashlar Construction
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Great Mosque at Cordoba
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
•ancient arab fortress complex- located in Granada, Spain-

The Alhambra
•built on the hill Sabikah on the left bank of the river Darro- a strategic point, with a view over
the whole city and the meadow
•Alhambra : The Red Castle - qa'lat al-Hamra
•originally constructed as a small fortress in 889
•renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Moorish emir Mohammed ben
Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada
•converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada.
•designed in the Mudéjar style, which is characteristic of western elements reinterpreted into
Islamic forms
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
•complex is surrounded by ramparts and has an
irregular shape.
•thirty towers of varying size enclose this city
within a city- some defensive and some
providing vistas for the inhabitants
• Access was restricted to four main gates.
•The Alhambra's nearly 26 acres include
structures with three distinct purposes,
a residence for the ruler and close family,
the citadel, Alcazaba-barracks for the elite
guard who were responsible for the safety of
the complex,
an area called medina where court officials
lived and worked.

•The different parts of the complex are connected by paths, gardens and gates but each part
of the complex could be blocked in the event of a threat.
• The exquisitely detailed structures with their highly ornate interior spaces and patios
contrast with the plain walls of the fortress exterior
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
The Alhambra in Granada,
Spain, is distinct among
Medieval palaces for its
sophisticated planning,
complex decorative
programs, and its many
enchanting gardens and
fountains.
Its intimate spaces are built
at a human scale
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
•: extended by the different Muslim rulers
•The majority of the palace buildings are quadrangular in plan, with all the rooms opening on
to a central court,
•the gradual addition of new quadrangles, followed the consistent theme of "paradise on
earth".
•connected with each other by smaller rooms and passages.
•
•a dense network of rooms
•Column arcades, airy gardens, fountains
with running water, and reflecting pools
were used to add to the aesthetic and
functional complexity.
•Water – significant of luxury
• the exterior was left plain and austere.
•Sun and wind were freely admitted.
•Blue, red, and a golden yellow, are the
colors chiefly employed
•The decoration Arabic inscriptions that are
manipulated into geometrical patterns
•. Painted tiles are largely used as panelling
for the walls.
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra

an alternation of stuccos, majolicas and arabesques that form an incredible richness of

decorations
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra

•feature shaded patios and covered walkways that pass from well-lit interior spaces onto shaded
courtyards and sun-filled gardens all enlivened by the reflection of water and intricately carved stucco
decoration.
•Water an integral element- brought the sound, sight and cooling qualities of water into close proximity,
in gardens, courtyards, marble canals, and even directly indoors.
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF SPAIN
The Alhambra
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II
•Commissioned by King Hassan II to provide a single
landmark monument
• the largest mosque in Morocco and the7th
largest in the world- rises above the Atlantic
Ocean-built partially on land and partially over the
ocean
• minaret is the world's tallest at 210 metres - 60
stories high topped by a laser, the light from which
is directed towards Mecca
•Completed in 1993,
•designed by Michel Pinseau .

•the siting of the mosque was inspired by the Quranic

verse describing the Creation of the World: ‘-and His
throne was over the waters’
•Casablanca, on the sea, was also seen as having a
natural advantage from which to signal the presence
of Islam.

•blends Islamic architecture and Moroccan

elements, and reflects Moorish influences, while
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II
The complex is comprised of five main elements
1. a prayer hall which can accommodate 25,000
worshippers, areas for ablutions, thermal baths,
meeting and VIP rooms, press facilities and other
ancillary spaces, and the minaret.
2. the madrasa -a semicircular protrusion
containing a Quranic school, a library
specializing in Islamic sciences, and other
conference and audio-visual spaces.
3. the Public Library and Museum, composed of
two symmetrically arranged separate buildings
along the main access plaza.
4. a huge open space covering some 30,000
square metres and surrounded by columns, is an
area that can be used as an extension of the
prayer hall to accommodate over 80,000 people.
5. transport facilities, with an underground road
and parking spaces for 1,100 vehicles and 40
large coaches.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
he King Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan
II
• follow the styling of the historical
Moroccan mosques
• larger in scale and richer in the use
of materials and detailing.
• basilican plan,
• qiblaqibla wall perpendicular to
the naves -an unconventional
layout,
• A huge retractable roof covers the
centre of the prayer hall to form an
internal ‘courtyard’ when it is
opened.
• The hall itself rises from a height
of 27 metres to 65 metres above the
floor.
• Women’s galleries occupy
mezzanine floors along each side of
the main hall with direct access
from the ablution facilities.
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II
• The ablution chambers and a vast public hammam are
in the basement, with its own entrance.
• In addition, there are hammams and a heated hall
• .interiors takes traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and
ornamentation to new heights
• the beige marble, green tile work, copper and brass
doors, and traditional green roofs of the exterior help
unify the grand comp l e x .
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande
Mosquée Hassan II
Prayer hall
•on the ground floor
•built to a rectangular plan of 200x100 metres
with three navesbuilt to a rectangular plan of
200x100 metres with three naves, which are
perpendicular to the qibla wall. centrally
heated, and provides spectacular underwater
views of the Atlantic Ocean.
• The central nave of the hall is 40 metres and
larger than the side naves which are 27 metres
high.
•The central hall is undulating with a
succession of numerous domes from which
glass chandeliersThe central hall is
undulating with a succession of numerous
domes from which glass chandeliers,
imported from Murano, are hung.
•On either side of the hall, there
are mezzanine floors with carved dark wood
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande
Mosquée Hassan II
Prayer hall
•The doors are electrically operated
•The gates are embellished with marble bars
•The roof is retractable, illuminating the hall with
daytime sunlight and allowing worshippers to pray
under the stars on clear nights
•The roof is covered with cast-aluminium tiles,
stronger and more reliable than traditional ceramic
tiles
•The prayer hall is also illuminated by light from the
glass gates on the northern wall
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II
Hammam
•traditional public bath which has been separated into
different sections for men and women
•place for social gathering, pampering, relaxation and
rituals.
•consist of three, interconnected rooms: a hot (steam)
room, a warm room and a cool room.
•Tadelakt, a plastering technique which adds egg
yolks and black soap into mixed plaster, was used in
the hammam baths

Ablution
•more than forty fountains — rosettes of pale, carved
stone
 ISLMIC ARCHITECTURE OF MOROCCO
The King Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II
.
Architectural features
• the conspicuous columns,
• the horseshoe-shaped arches,
• the innumerable murqarnas embellishing the ceilings.
• dome, arches and walls give a grand ambiance to the mosque.
• the plaster carving, stone work, wood carving, mosaics, painting

Modern features to provide worshipers with added comforts.

1. built to withstand earthquakes
2. heated floors,
3. a roof that slides open so the sky can be seen
4. electric doors.
5. lasers which shine at night from the top of the minaret toward Mecca.
http://www.slideshare.net/erazedrus/alhambra-palace-and-the-great-mosque-of-cordoba?related=1
http://www.vincico.com/jimla/s51a3/a15.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EggUa-J6Kg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx_9ye32sws