ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

l. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

ISLAM, a major world religion promulgated by the Prophet

Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century CE.
◊ Literally means "surrender," illuminates the fundamental
religious idea of Islam—that the believer accepts DOME OF THE ROCK
surrender to the will of Allah. (7TH CENTURY)
◊ Allah is viewed as the sole God—creator, sustainer, and It is the oldest standing Islamic Monument. The first
Islamic building to feature a Byzantine- style dome which
restorer of the world. is gold-plated wood on top of an octagonal base. The
rest of the building is decorated geometric floral and
◊ In Islam, Muhammad is considered the last of a series of geometric mosaics.
prophets (including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses,
Solomon, and Jesus) and his message simultaneously
consummates and completes the "revelations" attributed
to earlier prophets.

Distinctive Characteristics of Islamic

Architecture
DOMES
◊ Domes made its first appearance in
Mesopotamian Architecture.
◊ Islamic Architecture adopted the dome as ARCHES
one of its main features after getting
◊ Prominent elements
influenced by the model of the pre-existing
Byzantine domes in Ottoman Architecture. ◊ Usually defines the
entrances to buildings and
◊ Examples: Onion. Beehive, Braced, Coved, rooms
Compound, Cross-arched, Ellipsoidal, ◊ Pointed arches, ogee,
Geodesic. horseshoe, multi foil.
◊ There are no faces or animals painted. Only
arches and calligraphy.

MUQARNAS VAULTING
◊ Resembles stalactites or
honeycombs
◊ Underside of domes, pendentives,
arches, vaults, squinches usually
host muqarnas.
AL-ASQA MOSQUE, JERUSALEM
◊ Stems from the Arabic word, (8th century)
"Qarnasi," meaning intricate work.
◊ Symbolizes the vastness and
complexity of Islamic ideology.
◊ Made its first appearance in
Mesopotamia, and NE Iran region.
◊ One of the largest muqarnas
belongs to the Jazira region of
Eastern Syria and Iran.

MINARETS
THE GREAT MOSQUE OF CORDOBA,
◊ Appear as a part of the architecture of Mosques in the form of SPAIN
towers. 8th century
◊ Towers acts as a visual aid to direct people towards the mosque.
◊ They also act as focal points to call for prayers
◊ Forms are from thick, squat, spiral ramps to soaring , delicate,
pencil thin spires. The base are usually squarish.
◊ Numbers are from 1 to 6 minarets.
◊ The towers stand as landmarks of Islam.

POINTED ARCH

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 1

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

MINARETS
ARABESQUE ARTS
◊ INCLUDES THE GEOMAETRICAL PATTERMS, FLORAL
MOTIFS, CALIGRAPHY.
◊ The Roman, Greek and Sasanian cultures have inspired to
use symmetrical patterns.
◊ Commonly featured in 8 pointed star patterns, believing
that it captures djinns, genies, the immaterial
counterparts of the human.
◊ All Islamic decorations are symmetrical and usually
follow an oath from which leaves and flowers sprout. No
parts of the design take visual prominence.
MIHRAB
◊ An architectural element that marks the
element of Qibla.
◊ Appears as a semicircular niche in a wall of a
mosque. Addresses as Qibla Wall.
◊ Help the direction of prayer.
◊ the mihrabs of mosque-cathedral of Cordoba
and the Great Mosque of Damascus are highly
decorative and exhibits the inlays of precious
stones and expensive materials. Sometimes these
Mihrabs feature Muqarnas as ornamentation.

HYPOSTYLE HALL
◊ Entered during the Umayyad Dynasty.
◊ Came from ancient Egypt architecture.
◊ Shapes are typically rectangular or square. Columns are
arranged in a grid pattern
◊ Spiritual metaphor and visual aesthetics that narrates
the description of the groundwork behind the existing
science, technology and civilizations..

MASJID AL-HARAM ('The

COURTYARDS Inviolable Mosque'),
also known as the GREAT
◊ Houses large gatherings during MOSQUE OF MECCA, is a
the festive occasions. mosque that surrounds the
◊ Arcades surround courtyards. Kaaba in Mecca, in the Mecca
Province of Saudi Arabi I is
◊ Features fountains to perform a site of pilgrimage in the Hajj,
ablution before prayers. which every Muslim must do
at least once in their lives

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 2

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

COURTYARD WITH ABLUTION FOUNTAIN GARDENS

◊ Holy Qur'an features many gardens which
symbolizes paradise on earth.
◊ Charbagh in Taj Mahal is the best example.
This is located in Northern India.

IWAN
◊ A rectangular hall with walls on three sides and an
open side with a vaulted roof.
◊ Pishtaq, the entrance of Iwan., decorated with
friezes of calligraphy, glazed tilework, and
geometric. riwaq / ARCADING
◊ Iwan of Jammeh is an ideal example. A riwaq (or rivaq, Arabic: riwäq or
ruwäq) is an arcade or portico (if in
front of entrances) open on at least
one side. It is an architectural design
element in Islamic architecture and
Islamic garden design.

EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURE
2. DOME OF THE ROCK
○ A monument sanctuary signifying
the triumph of Islam in Jerusalem
1. MOSQUE ○ Houses the rock from which the
○ from the word masjid w/c means a place for Moslems believe Muhammed
bowing down where faithful gathered for 5 ascended to heaven during a
daily prayers. nocturnal journey as recalled in
the Quran.
○ Traditional site of Adam's burial,
of Abrahams preparation for
Isaac's sacrifice, of the Temple of
Solomon which the Romans
destroyed in 70 BCE
○ The oldest standing Islamic
monument. The first Islamic bldg.
to feature Byzantine style dome
which is gold-plated wood on top
of an octagonal base.
○ ○ The rest of the building is
decorated with florals and
geometric mosaics.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 3

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
2. DOME OF THE ROCK 3. PALACES (palatial
○ 687-692 CE
residences)
○ A symbol of authority over
conquered lands.
○ Served as nuclei for the
agricultural development.
Possibly served as forts for
hunting lodges.
○ Typical plan: entrance gate,
mosque, courtyard, covered
area, audience hall.
○ SAMANAID MAUSOLEUM,
OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES UZBEKISTAN (10TH CENTURY)
• It was built in the 10th century
CE as the resting place of the
powerful and influential Islamic
Samanaid dynasty
1. • The mausoleum is considered one
of the iconic examples of early
Islamic Architecture and is known
as the oldest funerary building of
Central Asian architecture

2.

a. Is created in the later years of Islam archi

b. Octagonal dome

3.

a. Mausolea
b. A tomb

4.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 4

INDIA & ARCHITECTURE

THE RISE OF BUDDHISM, JAINISM,

AND HINDUISM
- Religion played an important part in
architecture

⚫ BUDDHISM
○ Founded by Gautama
Siddhartha Buddha
○ Was born in present-day Nepal
○ NIRVANA-- belief that
individuals are born in an
almost endless round of
rebirths until the soul reaches
ultimate cleansing
○ KARMA- either good or bad
determines the nature of
future rebirths

• There is nothing inside. Only monks are allowed

• Circumambulation: praying while going around
the stupa

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 5

INDIA & ARCHITECTURE
TURANA -GATES PILLARS
Lions

A significant animal= lion

ROCK CUT ARCHITECTURE THE MAHABODHI TEMPLE (Great
Enlghtenment)
Is a Buddhist stupa located at
Bodh Gaya, India. The main
complext contains a descendant
of the original Bodhi Tree.
Most scared place of Buddhism
Believed where Buddha received
enlightenment

STEEL ROCK CUT ARCHITECTURE

Stone carved into columns and entrances

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 6

 INDIA & ARCHITECTURE

JAINISM HINDUISM
• SHIVA- the destroyer
-advocacy of path of ascetism
The act of self-denial or self-discipline • VISHNU- the preserver
• BRAHMA- the creator

•
•

Places of worship:
• Jain temples are carved
• Stone carvings.

CAVE
ARCHITECTURE

VISHNU TEMPLE
• One of the
earliest Hindu
Temple.
• Early 6th
century.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 7

INDIA & ARCHITECTURE
MODERN ARCHITECTURE

OFFICE BUILDINGS

LOTUS TEMPLE

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 8

 ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN
1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Two major distinct groups have lived on the islands since the
earliest recorded historical timeline. Human migration came from
the eastern side of the country, namely from Korea, China and
Russia
• The great majority of Japan trace their ancestry to the two
original inhabitants of the islands and Japan is considered to be
culturally homogenous throughout its history, helped by the
fact that the geography of islands are mountainous terrains
and the whole country is surrounded by waters making it
difficult for foreign invasion from the outside world.

Different dynasties ruled the

JAPAN BEFORE islands throughout the centuries :
BUDDHISM • The first three
dynasties
existed before Jomon Period (ca. 10500 - 300
1. BUILT ENVIRONMENT- Buddhism in BCE)
○ Burial mounds Japan.
TUMULI • Two basic Yayoi Period (ca 300 BCE - 300
Pit graves covered by enormous timelines of the CE)
mounds of soil. Important symbolic history of
objects are buried with the deceased Japanese Art Kofun Period (330 - 552 CE)
such as mirrors, swords, and jewels. Architecture:
a. JAPAN Asuka Period (552 - 645 CE)
BEFORE
BUDDHISM Hakuho Period (645 - 710 CE)
b. BUDDHIST
JAPAN Nara Period
(710 - 794 CE)
Heian Period (794 - 1185 CE)
Kamakura (1185 - 1332 CE)
Period

1) This is in Osaka, WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Japan ANCIENT BURIAL MOUNDS SCATTERED
2) It is still existing OVER OSAKA, JAPAN

GOSHIKI-ZUKA KOFUN TUMULUS, HYOGO,

THE BURIAL MOUND OF EMPEROR NINTOKU JAPAN

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 9

 ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN
B. SHRINES
1. EARLY beliefs and practices of ISE GRAND SHRINE
Pre-Buddhist Japan formed a STARTING AT 4 BCE
belief system which was later KNOWN AS THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF THE JAPANESE PEOPLE, ISE
known as SHINTO (SHINTOISM)- GRAND SHRINE (OR ISE JINGU) DATES BACK ALMOST 2,000
"way of the gods." YEARS AND REMAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT AN CULTURALLY
2. It is not based on formal SIGNIFICANT SHRINE IN ALL OF JAPAN. IT IS A SHINTO SHRINE
DEDICATED TO THE SUN GODDESS AMATERASU. OFFICIALLY
scriptures as Buddhism but grew
hand in hand. KNOWN SIMPLY AS JINGO ISE JINGU IS A SHRINE COMPLEX
3. Villagers venerated and prayed COMPOSED OF MANY SHINTO SHRINES CENTERED ON TWO MAIN
to different deities or spirits SHRINES, NAIKU AND GEKU.
called KAMI. i. AMATERASU- gave a sacred mirror to the first
4. Clan members built shrines made emperor
up of several buildings for their
KAMI. Priests made offerings of
grains and fruits at the shrines
and prayed on behalf.
5. Different shrines are bult for
different kami.
As with any religious landmark, there are certain
behaviors expected of visitors to show respect to the • Now encompasses a complex of 125 shrines across Ise
site. Some etiquette tips for visiting Shinto shrines city.
respectfully include:
• What's interesting is that naiku and geku are
• Bowing before you pass through the torii gate at the dismantled and put back together. Because of
entrance and under the gate at either side of the TOKOWAKA or like a death and renewal or rebirth. It
center .
• Outside the shrine you'll find a basin of water for
can't be used in other shrines. Built in a special
washing your hands, which is done by filling the ladle and variant of YUITSU- SHINMEI-ZUKURI (mortice)
washing each hand, starting with your left.
• Some shrines have a bell hanging over a donation box,
which you may ring before donating to the shrine.

BUDDHIST JAPAN
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Buddhism originated in India in the 6th century BCE consisting of
the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha. Of the main
branches of Buddhism, it is the Mahayana or "Greater Vehicle"
Buddhism which found its way to Japan.
• Buddhism was imported to Japan via China and Korea in the form
of a present (gilded bronze statue) from the friendly Korean
kingdom of Kudara (Paikche) in the 6th century CE.
• While Buddhism was welcomed by the ruling nobles as Japan's new
state religion, it did not initially spread among the common people
due to its complex theories. There were a few initial conflicts with
SHINTO, Japan's native religion, but the two religions were soon
able to co-exist and even complement each other.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 10

 ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN

ZEN BUDDHISM IN JAPAN

first and foremost, is a Buddhist school that has origins in Chinese Mahayana
Buddhism which then spread to Japan under the name Zen. Zen is divided into
various schools namely :
1. The RINZAI SECT is adopted in medieval Japan by the samurai (and
therefore by the shoguns).
Traditionally practiced by the samurai caste, the Rinzai School
include the presence of Koan, a kind of short and paradoxical
sentence that cannot be solved intellectually. However, those are
usually introduced only after good posture and concentration were
achieved during the seated meditation.
2. The SOTO SECT the largest of the sects. Historically practiced by
the lower classes, artists, and poets, the Soto sect emphasizes the
practice of sitting meditation known as zazen. Practitioners face a
wall or a curtain during this meditation, without focusing on a
particular object (a point, the breath or a mantra) but follows the
concept of shikantaza, or just sitting, cultivating a generic
awareness, opening the senses and letting the thoughts flow
without intervening or being carried away.
3. The OBAKU SECT is the smallest of the sects, it was formed by a
small group made up of Buddhist masters from China and Japanese
students (Manpuku-ji). To this day, those in the Obaku sect continue
to chant sutras in the Chinese language.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT
A. PAGODAS
a. Was originally a simple
mound containing the
ashes of Buddha which
in time became more
elaborate.
b. Used to spread from
Korea to Japan.
c. it became one of the
focal points of early
Japan Buddhist temple.
d. Wooden pagodas are YAKUSHI-JI'S
pagodas with an odd EASTERN PAGODA TAHOTO PAGODA -
number of storeys. Japan's oldest
three- storeyed This pagoda seems a rare 2 storey
e. Mokoshi- purely to have six storeys pagoda
decorative pent roofs. pagoda Hokki-ji, but has in fact only
Ikaruga, Nara three
ca. 706 Storeys.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 11

ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN
STONE PAGODAS are usually made of TEMPLES (Main Hall)
materials like apatite or granite, are much Main hall is the building within a Japanese Buddhist temple
smaller than wooden ones and are finely
carved. Often they bear sanskrit inscriptions, compound (garan) which enshrines the main object of
Buddhist figurines and Japanese lunar veneration
calendar dates. Like wooden ones, they are
mostly classifiable on the basis of the • A kondo is the centerpiece of an ancient Buddhist
number of stories temple's garan in Japan
• The term hondo enshrines the most important
objects of veneration.
• The butsuden or butsu-do ('Buddha hall') is the
main hall of Zen temples of schools such as the
soto and Rinzai.

A rare 16-storey stone pagoda at Chosho-ji in

Kamakura HORYUJI KONDO (Golden Hall)
The gorinto is made of 5 blocks, each having one of ca. 680
the 5 shapes which symbolize of the Five Elements Japan's National Treasure, it is the oldest
believed to be the basic building blocks of reality: surviving wooden building in the world.
• earth (cube),
• water (sphere),
• fire (pyramid),
• air (crescent),
• ether, energy, or
void (lotus)

EIGHT ELEMENTS OF JAPANESE

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
THE IMPERIAL PALACE
1. WOOD Kyoto, Japan
○ Dominated by wood. Yellow: Omoya — core
of the building
○ Due to humidity, earthquakes Red: Mokoshi —
and typhoons proper ventilation decorative pent roof
by wood was preferred than
stones. White: Hisashi - the area
○ Japan values wood and respects surrounding the core of
it that they use it naturally a building either
and no paint is coated onto it. completely or on one,
two, or three sides.
○ Nails are refrained for usage. In Japanese
They use timber or miter joints architecture, mokoshi
to attach woods. (also pronounced
2. ROOFS shokai), means "skirt
○ Curvy, elongated roofs are focal storey" or "cuff
points storey",which is a
▪ Kirizuma (gabled) decorative pent roof
surrounding a building
▪ Yosemune (hipped) below the true roof.
▪ Irimoya (hip-and-gable) Since it does not
correspond to any
▪ Hogyo (square pyramidal) internal division, the
○ Eaves are designed wide to mokoshi gives the
protect the windows from rain. impression of there being
more floors than there
○ Kawara- traditional roof tiles really are.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 12

ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN
3. SHOJI AND FUSUMA
○ SHOJI (movable screens) and FUSUMA (sliding doors)
○ Shoji- wooden frames with translucent paper
○ Fusuma- opaque paper
○ Homes usually use white paper, shrines or temples use painted
ones.
○ Both are used as interior doors, partition.
○ Shoji s solely used for windows, exterior walls and doors

5. TATAMI
○ Type of mat flooring in traditional Japanese-
style homes.
○ made of rice straw and soft rush with cloth
edges
○ 2:1 standard size ratio.
○ One is expected to take off their shoes before
walking on these.

6. ENGAWA
○ Japanese word for "veranda". 7. GENKAN
○ Edge side; are non-tatami matted ○ Traditional Japanese entryway.
flooring like porches.
○ Usually wood ○ Located inside a home
○ It serves as a merger of inside and ○ It serves as an area for shoes.
outside of the house.
○ It is used usually in summer while
delighting on nature.

8. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

NATURE
○ In Japanese culture, all
life has value and
meaning.
○ They strive to work in
harmony with nature.
○ Man-made and natural.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 13

MODERN ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 14

ARCHITECTURE IN BURMA
MYANMAR- BAGAN is one of the world's greatest
Buddhist sites, comparable in size with
• Is the Angkorwat.
northwestern-most
country of mainland
Southeast Asia.
• Strategically
located near the
major Indian ocean
shipping lanes.
• They are a land of
million pagodas.

STUPAS AND
TEMPLES at the
Ancient City of Bagan
(pagan) - 9th to 13th
century

ANANDA TEMPLE
• Ananda (named for
Venerable Ananda,
Buddha's first cousin) is
considered the finest,
largest and best
preserved temple in
BAGAN
• "in the shape of perfect
Greek cross."

KAKKU PAGODAS

• Burmese Architecture has a

sacred practice of using gold
cladding in their majestic
structures.
• YANGON- a huge stupa with
hundred meters in height and
is adorned with gold slabs.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 15

ARCHITECTURE IN BURMA
MONASTERIES DISTINCT BRICK SIZES AND
• Presence of monasteries or resting ARCHES
place of Buddhist monks. • Early pagan structures
• Typically made of brick or timber. were constructed with
brick and plastered with
• Arranged around a central stucco.
rectangular courtyard or shrine • Typically measuring about
• Shwe Yan Pyay teakwood 36x18x6 cm.
monastery
• Clay as a mortar.
• Arches and vaults were
chiseled to trapezoidal
○ shapes.
STUCCO AND WOOD CARVING
• The Mandalay Palace, the
last royal palace of
TRADITIONAL BURMESE Burmese monarchy, was
constructed entirely with
HOMES teakwood with wood
• Were made of various carvings and stucco for
types of materials ornamentation.
depending on the economic
status of the residing
communities.
• Wealthier=mahogany and
tiled roofs with posts and
plank floors.
• Low income= bamboo
houses, thatched roof, mud
floors.

THE COLONIAL ERA

• At the end of 19th century,
there was a massive
construction of colonial
buildings throughout Yangon.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Page 16