Early Islamic Architecture

Early Islamic Architecture An Introduction

Evolutionary Aspects • ‘Free city-states’ model flourished in ancient Arabian time based on maritime trade • The sea rather than the desert was the axis around which economic development revolved requiring astronomical and mathematical skills deemed essential for navigation • Geometry governed ancient Arabian art and Architecture much before the born of Islam • Highly articulated Architecture & art was actually passed to the Romans and Greeks cutting the life line of ancient free city-states in the fourth/fifth century A.D, except Mecca • Mecca emerged ever since as a centre of international trade at a time when most ancient Arabian cities economically ceased to exist paving the path for Islam Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Mecca City Plan • The plan represented a long evolution and displayed following elements: • A haram, the source for an open city • Geometric pattern: The whole is generated from a single centre with a symbolic form; The surrounding agglomeration takes the shape of a revolving square reflecting the centre; and Hexagonal arrangements describing Architecture forms & art • Orientation, according to the cosmos: the spring equinox • A market The whole structure of life was cantered in the market place It was located around the Ka’ba and very close to the Haram; and Its development was a prominent feature of pre-Islamic & Islamic urban form Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Successive Phases of Mecca Plan adopted • The Square System It has a square as its central unit, with four surrounding square units developing the system of Akhmas (fifths) on which early Islamic encampments/cities were modelled The system of Ashar (tenth) having two adjoining squares as its central unit surrounded by eight or more The method of planning is by having four arrows fired from the chosen centre in all four directions, beginning with quibla Then, the central square was allocated to the mosque & the command headquarters The Quadruple orientation relating the concern of the square Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

The hexagonal System • Known as the system of ‘Asba’ (seventh) • It was based on the hexagon replacing the square as its basic unit • The method of planning is to draw a central circle containing the mosque and the palace surrounded by six concentric circles, followed by an outer ring of 12 circles • The area in between was then divided to attain hexagonal form Hexagonal System Planning of Asba Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Urban Form of Islamic City • An aggregation of enclosed cellular units, taking the shape of private houses; mosques and markets, all built within a coherent urban form; • Buildings are not considered as detached objects, but rather as living architectural shells, shaped according to the actual needs and responding to enclosed activities; • Mosques are the reference point in the urban fabric: street layout seems to radiate & merge from one mosque to the next; • The division of land was not based on a definite method, with less connection to a geometric discipline. Rather, the size & alignments of lots was due to the continuous subdividing of land resulting in compact & uncontrolled urban fabric; Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Clusters & Central Courtyard • The cluster approach includes an integral & autonomous entity, known as a central courtyard; • Elevations are turned inwards facing each other; • Repetition of similar patterns of enclosure, and inclusion of plot size throughout hierarchal levels leading to a complete structural integration; • The outer walls are blind making street fronts of a secondary importance, responding to local climate and to the Islamic life of privacy while building exuding users with a sense of place, identity, security and individual freedom; Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

More on Courtyard Features • Street and alleyways are swallowed by the residential clusters, being transformed into a series of internal corridors; • The inside plan of the building frequently used the court form. Surrounding the court were covered colonnades and the rooms were arranged to open onto balconies overlooking the Court; • Such arrangement allowed cool air to flow through the building into every room in the evening. In the daytime, when outside windows were closed, the coolness was maintained inside the rooms by heavy walls absorbing any heat; and • The courtyard is the controlled source of light, providing shade and allowing a portion of that light to be used all day for indoor living purposes. Thus, the open courtyard was in effect the inner living space Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Public Spaces of Islamic City • Islamic cities were built on a pedestrian scale. • Public spaces were allocated to, and often integrated with, specific architectural units: such as mosques, schools, & etc. • Streets were subsidiary to the urban structure and were often transformed into narrow internal corridors (alleys). • Priority was given to the clear definition of well-marked space compartments, far from private and public uses. • As the ramified street network were absorbed by the corresponding architectural units, the main thoroughfares were integrated into the market. • Secondary lanes into the residential quarters, and the dead-end alleys into the clusters of private houses to which they gave access. Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Public Spaces of Islamic City • The space sequence corresponded to a well-established hierarchy and was punctuated by gates and thresholds. The circulation system therefore helped implement increasing degrees of privacy, ensuring every section of the network matching the character of space it served; • The space layouts are focused on a multi-functional core structure enveloping the surrounding central mosque by different layers of interconnected markets; and • These are interspersed with a number of Arabic paths, schools and caravanserais supporting the system for the mosque and the market. Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Islamic Architecture • Islamic architecture used materials of stones of various kinds and, particularly, sun-dried or baked brick to create tranquillity & unity. • Architectural forms were evolved using bearing walls with domes as the most common forms. • Domes were the natural roof forms to span larger covered spaces. For colonnades with flat roofs, wooden logs or cut-timber beams were used. • Islamic art was able to gain a new dimension through its marriage with architectural structures giving specific sense of space generated by the dominant courtyard typology. Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Decoration of Islamic Architecture • Such architecture was supported by means of artistic expression: i.e. calligraphy, geometric patterns, and arabesque, that all were surface-related and suitable to fully merge with the planes of walls and/or ceilings. • Arabesque and geometrical patterns were often juxtaposed with calligraphy to from frames and panels of continuous decoration. While Islamic art favoured plane surfaces for its use of geometrical patterns and arabesques. It also developed a three-dimensional geometric pattern that is considered as an important vehicle of artistic expression. • The key component of this three-dimensional adornment is the muqarnas. Their use was by no means restricted to the supporting corners of vaulted structures but became a ubiquitous decorative element, filling the interior of domes, the cavities of niches and the projecting edges of cornices. Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Summary:Architecture of Islamic Cities Islamic city is characterized by: • willingness to adapt to local materials and local image; • symmetry in the plan and elevation; the organic growth as an aggregation of private houses, mosques and markets, all collected within a coherent urban fabric; • the sequence hierarchy of space from the public, semi-private and private spaces to maximize family privacy; built on a pedestrian scale provided an extremely dense townscape; and • calligraphy, geometric patterns and the arabesque are considered as the key elements for visual interest and richness. Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine International

Early Islamic Architecture