Real? Virtual
Representing Architectural Time and Space
Ancient Architecture
Byzantine Architecture
Medieval Architecture
Renaissance Architecture
Baroque Architecture
19 Century Architecture
Modern Architecture
Islamic Architecture
Columbia University
+   Department of Art History and Archaeology
+   Visual Media Center
+   National Endowment for the Humanities

 
INTRODUCTION    
Read an introduction to the topic of Islamic Architecture in the context of this resource.
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360° PANORAMAS INTERACTIVE PLAN(S) FEATURED PROJECT(S)
Explore a number of ancient architectural spaces using QuickTime technology.


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Fully experience an architectural space with QuickTime panoramas mapped to a plan.

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Visit a specialized project designed to support and enhance undergraduate education.

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Select one one of the links above for more information.
Is there such a thing as "Islamic" architecture? Style, culture, religion—what do we signify when we use this adjective? On the one hand, it is common to find the paired terms the "Abode of Islam" ( Dar al-Islam ) and the "Abode of War" ( Dar al-Harb ) in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish primary sources. Authors from a particular social stratum identified an Islamic world in distinction to an uncivilized, chaotic territory beyond the folds of civilization. The Caliphate and its successor states, stretching from Spain to North India, did rely on an ideology of unity. Could there not be aesthetic, design and architectural ideals coinciding with this ideal realm that shaped the development of architectural practice? If so, is contemporary Islamic architecture now lost like the age of these empires?

As Hasan-Uddin Khan, Martin Frishman and others have pointed out, the use of "Islamic" to describe architecture, urbanism, and art is problematic. The development of this designation finds its foundations on a history of European scholarship more than an all-pervasive stylistic or cultural reality. Unlike the Roman Empire, the early Caliphate had no model of architecture or town planning to export from its Arabian heartland. And where built elements did exist, it is difficult to discern the dividing line between Arab and Islamic culture. If we do focus on the common institutions and ideologies that would make it possible for scholars, artists, merchants and pilgrims to travel across distinct regions, often the Dar al-Islam amounted to an imagined abode of the elite. Even later in history, when a Dar al-Islam did coalesce, few Muslim jurists commented on a common prescription for the layout of all mosques. Their focus instead honed in on prescriptive codes of conduct as outlined in and interpreted from the Qur'an, Hadith and previous juridical decisions. If we are looking for an Islamic Architecture, we should focus on architectural elements that facilitate codes of conduct within the multiple regional and historical contexts of the Islamic world.
Use of the term Islamic architecture then signals us to pay close attention to the means by which diverse peoples across the world integrate cultural-historical contexts, regional styles, functional needs, and environmental possibilities with their religious practices. It also points us to the use of Islam and architecture to represent and legitimize modes of status, state, and empire throughout history.
INTRODUCTION

360° PANORAMAS

Bam (Iran)

Affluent house in the archaeological site. The courtyard (Qajar period)

Archaeological site: View from the barracks at the base of the Citadel (Timurid, Safavid, and Zand periods)

Citadel and general city view, the archaeological site; View facing north, taken midway between the Citadel and the main entry gate (Timurid, Safavid, and Zand periods)

The archaeological site; View from the barracks at the base of the citadel (Timurid, Safavid, and Zand periods)

The Citadel and remains of the archaeological site; View facing northeast, taken from the main entry gate (Timurid, Safavid, and Zand periods)

View of the Citadel and the archaeological remains, the archaeological site; View facing northeast, taken from the main entry gate (Timurid, Safavid, and Zand periods)



Granada (Spain)

Building: The Alhambra
Date: 1338 –1390

Interior view of entrance to Nasrid Palaces
Interior view #1 of Mexuar
Interior view #2 of Mexuar
Interior view of the Oratory
Exterior view of the Façade of Comares and Court of the Golden Room
Interior view of Golden Room
Exterior view of the Court of Myrtles
Interior view of the Barca Gallery (Hall of the Boat)
Interior view between the Barca Gallery and the Hall of Ambassadors
Interior view #1 of the Hall of Ambassadors
Interior view #2 of the Hall of Ambassadors
Exterior view #1 of the Patio of Wrought Iron Grille
Exterior view #2 of the Patio of Wrought Iron Grille
Exterior view #1 of the Court of the Lions
Exterior view #2 of the Court of the Lions
Exterior view #1 between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Mocarabes
Exterior view #2 between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Mocarabes
Exterior view #3 between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Mocarabes

Granada (Spain) continued...

Exterior view between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Abencerrajes
Interior view of the Hall of the Abencerrajes
Exterior view #1 between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Kings
Exterior view #1 between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Kings
Exterior view #3 between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Kings
Interior view of the Hall of the Kings
Exterior view between the Court of the Lions and the Hall of the Two Sisters
Interior view of the Hall of the Two Sisters
Interior view of passage to the Hall of the Two Sisters
Interior view of the Mirador de Daraxa
Interior view of the Partal Palace
Exterior view #1 of the Partal Palace
Exterior view #2 of the Partal Palace
Exterior view #3 of the Partal Palace
Exterior view #4 of the Partal Palace
Exterior view #1 of the gardens of the Partal Palace
Exterior view #2 of the gardens of the Partal Palace

Istanbul (Turkey)

General view of the Istanbul from the roof of the German Archaeological Institute building, 2003

Building: Beyazidiye Mosque Complex
Date: 1501–1506

View of courtyard
Interior view

Building: Nurosmaniye Camii
Date: 1748

Interior view

Building: Sultan Ahmet Mosque Complex
Date: 1609–16

Exterior view of courtyard

Building: Rustem Pasha Camii
Architect: Mimar Sinan
Date: 1561

Interior view

Building: Shehzade Mosque Complex
Architect: Mimar Sinan
Date: 1548

Interior view

Istanbul (Turkey) continued...

Building: Suleymaniye Mosque Complex
Architect: Mimar Sinan
Date: 1557

Exterior view of courtyard
Interior view

Mopti (Mali)

Building: The Great Mosque of Mopti
Date: 1936-1943

Exterior node at the northeast corner of the mosque
Exterior node at the qibla wall
Exterior node at the main entrance
Exterior node taken on the roof, facing west

Interior node facing north with mihrab to the right


Shah Na'met Allah Vali (Iran)

Building: Shah Na'met Allah Vali Complex
Architect: Unknown
Date: 1436; Additions throughout Safavid period

View of interior courtyard of Complex
Tarim (Yemen)

Building: Qasr al-'Ishshah
Architect: Abu Bakr bin Hussein bin Abdallah al-Kaf
Date: Late 19early 20th century
View of Balcony 124a
View of first floor bath
View of Room 212
View of second floor hallway
View of third floor room
View of the Palm Court
 

Tarim (Yemen) continued...

Building: Dar al-Salam
Architect: Abu Bakr bin Hussein bin Abdallah al-Kaf
Date: Early 20th century
View of Room 105
View of Room 132
Balcony on the south facade
Yazd (Iran)

Building: Friday Mosque of Yazd
Architect: Unknown
Date: 1375 and later (Muzaffarid period)

Exterior view of minarets and iwan
Exterior view of courtyard and entrance
Exterior view of inner courtyard
Interior view of mihrab

Building: Traditional House in Zoroastrian quarter
Architect: Unknown
Date: Early 20th century

View of Interior courtyard

INTERACTIVE PLAN(S)

Also, be sure to visit the following interactive plans:

Friday Mosque of Yazd, 360°

Go there.


Istanbul, Shehzade Mosque, 360°,

Go there.

Istanbul, Sultan Ahmet Mosque Complex, 360°

Go there.

Experience the Istanbul, Süleymaniye Complex Interactive Plan. Go there.
 
 
FEATURED PROJECT(S)
Istanbul Documentation Project

Also, be sure to visit the following featured projects:

Community and the Built Environment Tarim, the Hadhramaut Valley of Yemen.

http://learn.columbia.edu/tarim/

Tour the Alhambra

http://learn.columbia.edu/alhambra/

The Great Mosque of Mopti

http://learn.columbia.edu/mopti/





Experience the Istanbul Documentation Project Web site. Go there.
 


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