HISTORY OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE
INTRODUCTION
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE
• architecture that emerged as a product of religion, not a region or country
• "Sahra" Arabic term for desert
• "Saracen" pertains to tribes who occupy the deserts west of the Euphrates;
followers of Mahomet (Prophet Muhammad)
• Islamic Architecture
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
• centered upon Islam and the
events that followed the
religion's origin
• Byzantine and Muslim
conquests in the 7th and 8th
century
• Trade routes between regions
of Islamic rule and the rest of
Europe
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• "Hejira" or "Hijra" - ight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622
• Areas under Islamic Rule:
• Persia in 632-651
• Umayyads of Damascus overthrown by the Abbasids of Baghdad in 750
• Syria was conquered by Saracens in 632-639 AD
• North Africa in 647-709
• Independent Caliphate of Cordoba, Spain in 710 AD, later divided into four
kingdoms: Seville, Granada, Toledo and Valentia
• Moorish occupation of Sicily, Italy in the 8th Century
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
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• Areas under Islamic Rule (cont.):
• Indian States invaded in 1000 AD; founding of the Mughal (Mogul) Empire in 1526
which consolidated the Muslim states
• Cairo reconquered by Saladin for the Caliphate of Baghdad in 1171
• Rise of the Ottoman Empire in the 1400's
• Constantinople conquered in 1453
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• highly dependent on conquests and Caliphate rule
• the separation of men and women in society
• At the time it was not appropriate for women to be seen from the outside,
providing purpose to lattice decoration of windows
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• Islam is the greatest contributor to the architecture style
• Images of human and animals are not allowed therefore intricate
geometrical forms and calligraphy is used
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• large extent of countries including Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine,
Egypt, parts of North Africa and Spain, India and South East Asia
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• varies depending on the country
• mostly warm and dry climate in the Mediterranean and the Middle East
Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• conversion of existing buildings to mosques or other Islamic structures
• adapted the use of vaulting and dome construction
• method of construction varies upon the conquered territory
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
System of Construction
• Muqarnas (also known as honeycomb vaulting or stalactite vaulting)
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
• most commonly used materials are marble, stone, brick, plaster and wood
• brick and plaster - principal materials used in Spain
• marble and red sandstone - principal materials used in Northern and Central India
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
• spherical domes, some built upon octagonal bases
• bulbous domes (more onion-like in shape)
The Blue Mosque, Turkey
Jama Masjid, Delhi, India Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Ogee Arch Multifoil Arch
Openings
Pointed Arch Horseshoe Arch
Gateway in Raqqa, Baghdad Toledo, Spain
Jahaz Mahal, India Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Spain
Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Decoration
• abstract and geometric forms
• calligraphy
• arabesques
• stone inlay and mosaic
uence in the development of Gothic
Architecture, examples of which can be seen in Italy and Spain
where Saracenic or "Moorish" elements were applied
Freeman, E., A History of Architecture
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FEATURES OF SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE APPLIED IN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
• note the use of trefoil arches and pointed arches in
Canterbury Cathedral
Darke, D., Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
LIST OF REFERENCES
• Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V., A Global History of Architecture
• Darke, D., Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe
• Fletcher, B., A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method
• Freeman, E., A History of Architecture
• Roth, L. & Roth Clark, A., Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning
• Stephennie, Mulder (2014). The Shrines of the 'Alids in Medieval Syria : sunnis, shi'is and the architecture of
coexistence
• Tabbaa, Yasser (1985). "The Muqarnas Dome: Its Origin and Meaning
• Ward, James. Historic Ornament: Treatise on Decorative Art and Architectural Ornament
Presented by: Arch. KCF Pajela
