Islamic Architecture Research Articles

Applying the dark Tourism Route on Islamic Architecture in Al-Darb al-Ahmar District

Applying the dark Tourism Route on Islamic Architecture in Al-Darb al-Ahmar District

The Aesthetics of Timurid and Safavid Miniatures

This research studies the aesthetics of Timurid and Safavid miniatures in a comparative manner. The first chapter deals with the research problem, its importance, and defining the most important terms used in it. The research problem included the topic of the aesthetics of Timurid and Safavid miniatures in the drawings of both eras through the artistic works produced by Islamic painting schools, where each school has characteristics that distinguished it from the other. The research problem was overcome through the following question: How did the Muslim artist achieve the miniatures aesthetics in manuscripts for both eras?The II chapter, the theoretical framework, includes four sections: the first on the aesthetics of Islamic art, the second on the art of Islamic miniatures, the third on the most important artistic features of painting (the Timurid era), and the fourth of the (Safavid) era. The third chapter included the research procedures, and the fourth chapter included the results and conclusions.The functional treatment of the concept of space designated for Islamic miniatures came according to a fruitful and sincere artistic and functional emotional approach within the relationships of creation that give it a spiritual feeling due to what the elements of construction have of multiple intellectual meanings and connotations, such as transferring the stories and events that were prevalent at that time, to documenting the style of Islamic architecture and the type of clothing worn by Muslims, the moral and social values that appeared through the interpretation of the movements of people in the Islamic miniature, as came in most of the sample models.

Water Sustainability in Islamic Architecture as a Guide-line for Contemporary Architecture

Water Sustainability in Islamic Architecture as a Guide-line for Contemporary Architecture

Traditional archetypes of institutions for the socialization of orphans in the Arab world

The article identifies the traditional archetypes of social care institutions for orphans. Modern architectural solutions do not take into account the centuries-old traditions that have developed in Arabic architecture. Based on the method of historical and genetic analysis of objects of traditional architecture of children's educational institutions in the Islamic world, the article identifies stable elements of the system that allow maintaining the stability of development and determining genetically important features of architectural and planning solutions. For the formation of steadily developing architectural and planning solutions, the interrelations of the functional zones of educational complexes that do not contradict the traditions of Islam are determined. Rethinking these traditions in the light of new construction technologies will create an innovative product that can develop sustainably in today's dynamic world. In the context of the crisis of the 21st century, which is taking place in Syria and the Middle East today, a new interpretation of identity and cultural continuity will solve the problem of the demand for children's educational institutions for orphans in Syria during the period of reconstruction of the country. In the modern world, social protection of children is one of the priority areas for the development of a civilized society and state. The conditions in which a child's personality is formed have a great impact on the socialization and future of a citizen of the country.

Sapphire stories: the symbolic representation of blue motifs in Islamic architecture of Pakistan

This article focuses on analyzing and exploring the implication of blue motifs in terms of the representation of Islamic architecture in Pakistan. Architecture holds a great deal of importance within every nation's social and cultural domains. In the same way, architecture has played a significant role in dispensing Islam as a religion. The manifestation and reflection of blue motifs are present in various forms, such as formal, structural, and spatial. Moreover, these shapes carry symbolic connotations when presented in the form of ornamentation, geometrical patterns, floral displays, and arabesque. Furthermore, this study provides a valuable contribution to enhancing the awareness of the significance and representation of blue motifs in the Islamic architecture of Pakistan for the research. Secondary and primary data were collected to achieve the objectives of the study. The study concludes that mosques and shrines in Pakistan are loaded with examples in which the representation of blue motifs within the domain of Islamic architecture is quite evident.

The Verandah between Climate Determinism and Climate Consciousness

This article explores the architectural typology of the verandah by following its use in residential buildings during the post-Ottoman British colonization and Independence periods in Sudan and differentiating between the concepts of climate determinism and climate consciousness. It brings new archival family photographs and fieldwork to discuss a modern Sudan that is curiously absent from the scholarship of both African and Islamic architecture in order to write the global history of modernism in higher resolution. It shows that the verandah was a British colonial architectural device in the context of a distinct town planning strategy, conceived after the racist segregation of “white men” from “natives” and used for cooling purposes for the sake of colonizers’ comfort in perceived tropical climates. Comparing Abdel Moneim Mustafa’s designs to those of colonial architects such as Gordon Brock Bridgman and independence-era architects such as Peter Muller, the article defines climate consciousness as a position that resists colonial inequalities of climate determinism but does not reject international connections and the modern know-how of climatization. It shows that the colonial connotations of the verandah were transformed after Sudanese independence, thanks to its creative use by architects who critically employed the technical know-how progressed under the field of tropical architecture. The article identifies this approach as the search for a more equitable internationalism that struggled for self-determination in order to undo the domination of global empires but not foreclose cosmopolitanism.

Islam Nusantara : Pribumisasi Islam ala NU

This article tries to explain the basic understanding of the term 'lslam Nusantara', including its history and methodology. Since its inception, lslam Nusantara has become a heated discussion in the public discourse. Controversies and misunderstandings have occurred with those who support and against it. ln the circle of NU (Nahdhatul Ulama), there is a group who prefer the term lslam rahmatan lil 'alamiin than lslam Nusantara. This article aims to minimize the negative accusation against the concept of lslam Nusantara like the following phrases; lslam Nusantara has the potency to gnaw the principle teachings of lslam, or lslam Nusantara has deviated from the teaching of Ahlus Sunnah Waljama'ah (Aswaia). The conclusion from this study is the dialectics between religions that have moral and universal values with the culture and traditions of the people of Indonesia to form a distinctive style of Indonesian Islam is commonly called Islam Nusantara. Islam Nusantara is legitimate from the standpoint of epistemological

A new canvas of learning: Enhancing formal analysis skills in AP art history through AI-generated Islamic art

This study explores the use of AI art generators to enhance formal analysis skills in AP Art History students, with a focus on Islamic Art and Architecture. Students, often entering the course with high academic achievements, find the unique challenge of articulating detailed visual descriptions of artworks. The study’s approach involves using AI image-generation websites, like wepik.com, where students create AI images resembling Islamic artworks studied in class. This method aims to refine their descriptive skills, focusing on visual evidence rather than relying on identifying details. The choice of Islamic Art, markedly different from other historical periods covered in the curriculum, is intended to boost retention and learning engagement. The results show that students were more successful in describing architectural artworks compared to two-dimensional narrative pieces, with limited site access and the need for iterative description refinement being key challenges. Successful attempts were marked by precise vocabulary usage and detailed descriptions, resulting in AI images closely matching the original artworks. In contrast, less successful attempts revealed deficiencies in comprehensive and detailed descriptions, particularly in narrative artworks. These outcomes highlight the potential and limitations of AI tools in art history education, suggesting that their effectiveness depends largely on the depth and precision of student inputs. The study not only demonstrates the innovative application of AI in education but also underscores the importance of detailed visual analysis, pointing towards future enhancements in AI-assisted educational methodologies.

The Current Situation and Prospect of the Research on the Silk Road and Chinese Islamic Architecture

The Current Situation and Prospect of the Research on the Silk Road and Chinese Islamic Architecture

Ancient residential Buildings in the northern Jordanian Badia, an archaeological and architectural study

This research deals with the archaeological architectural remains of house buildings in the northern Jordanian Badia region. It aims to identify them in terms of their designs, patterns, building materials and architectural elements. The area includes a number of archaeological sites such as Umm el-Jimal, Umm al-Surab, Sama al-Sarhan, Subha and Subhiya, al-Dafiyanah, Umm al-Quttain and other archaeological sites. The researchers used the historical descriptive analytical approach. The main results of the research were the following: --The house designs in the Northern Jordanian Badia were similar to those in the Horan area. --The houses had various shapes and sizes and, though similar to the other houses in its general features, each house had its distinct design. --The architectural type of the houses has the same features as those of the Islamic amd Byzantine architecture. Keywords: Northern Jordanian Badia, ancient residential buildings, architectural elements, archaeological architecture.

The Impact of Islamic Thought on Creating Space in the Residence: Case Study of Suhaimi’s and Sibai’s Houses

This study investigates the factors influencing Islamic residence design, with a focus on understanding the cultural, religious, environmental, and socio-economic considerations that shape architectural practices in Islamic communities. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the research examines the interplay between Islamic beliefs, functional requirements, historical heritage, and contemporary design principles in the creation of residential spaces that reflect Islamic values and traditions. Drawing on architectural analysis, case studies and corpus analysis, the study identifies key factors influencing Islamic residence design, including cultural and religious beliefs, functional requirements, climate adaptation, architectural heritage, sustainability, and socio-economic dynamics. The findings highlight the importance of integrating Islamic principles into residential design, engaging with local communities, promoting sustainable practices, preserving architectural heritage, and advancing research and education in the field of Islamic architecture. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of Islamic residence design and provides valuable insights for architects, designers, policymakers, and researchers seeking to create culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate residential environments in Islamic communities.

Analytical Evaluation of Midjourney Architectural Virtual Lab: Defining Major Current Limits in AI-Generated Representations of Islamic Architectural Heritage

In artificial intelligence (AI), generative systems, most notably Midjourney, have tremendous power to generate creative images of buildings and sites of Islamic architectural heritage through text-to-image generation based on the internet. The AI-generated representations have significant potential for architects, specialists, and everyday users. However, the system has considerable limitations when generating images for some buildings and sites where the representations appear too far from their original represented structures. Evaluating Midjourney as an architectural virtual lab, this research article attempts to define the major current limitations of using Midjourney’s AI system in producing images similar to the actual buildings and sites of Islamic architectural heritage. This research employs prompt engineering techniques based on historical sources as inputs to examine the accuracy of the output of the AI-generated images of selected examples of structures of the Islamic tradition. To validate the research results, it compares the Midjourney output with the original look by employing direct observation through critical analysis of human intelligence (HI) facilitated by the analysis of the latest version of 3M Visual Attention Software and an online survey. It concludes that while Midjourney can represent high-end AI-generated images inspired by the Islamic tradition, it currently falls short of presenting the actual appearance of some of its original structures. Furthermore, it categorizes these limitations into four groups: (1) limits of the prompt, (2) limits of fame, (3) limits of regionality and historical styles, and (4) limits of architectural elements and details. The significance of this research lies in providing timely evaluation factors to architectural heritage practitioners and software developers. This practical article is the second in a series of two sequential articles in the Buildings journal; the first (theoretical) article introduces the concept of Artificial Intelligence Islamic Architecture (AIIA), answering the question: what is Islamic architecture in the age of artificial intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence Islamic Architecture (AIIA): What Is Islamic Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence?

Revisiting the long-debated question: “What is Islamic architecture?”, this research article aims to explore the identity of “Islamic architecture (IA)” in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) as well as the novel opportunities and cultural challenges associated with applying AI techniques, such as the machine learning of Midjourney in the context of IA. It investigates the impact factors of AI technologies on the understanding and interpretation of traditional Islamic architectural principles, especially architectural design processes. This article employs a quantitative research methodology, including the observation of works of artists and architectural designers appearing in the mass media in light of a literature review and critical analysis of scholarly debates on Islamic architecture, spanning from historical perspectives to contemporary discussions. The article argues for the emergence of a continuous paradigm shift from what is commonly known as “postmodern Islamic architecture” (PMIA) into “artificial intelligence Islamic architecture” (AIIA), as coined by the authors of this article. It identifies the following impact factors of AI on IA: (1) particular requirements and sensitivities, inaccuracies, and biases, (2) human touch, unique craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of cultural issues, (3) regional variation, (4) translation, (5) biases in sources, (6) previously used terms and expressions, and (7) intangible values. The significance of this research in digital heritage lies in the fact that there are no pre-existing theoretical publications on the topic of “Islamic architecture in the age of artificial intelligence”, although an extensive set of publications interpreting the question of the definition of Islamic architecture, in general, is found. This article is pivotal in analyzing this heritage-inspired design approach in light of former criticism of the definition of “Islamic architecture”, which could benefit both theorists and practitioners. This theoretical article is the first in a series of two sequential articles in the Buildings journal; the second (practical) article is an analytical evaluation of the Midjourney architectural virtual lab, defining major current limits in AI-generated representations of Islamic architectural heritage.

′Symbols′ as Expression Tools of Islam and Their Usage Methods in Palace Architecture

Islamic architecture consists of religion, politics, philosophy, and aesthetics. The religious expression of symbols in Islamic architecture is also extremely important in architecture. These religious symbols, which are used in palace buildings and generally in administrative places in the Islamic world, are shaped depending on the function of the buildings. In this period, the palace complexes were considered to be the most important structures representing state politics and economy. In this study, the purposes and methods of use of religious symbols used in many palace complexes of Islamic architecture were investigated. While investigating the main source and usage rules of these symbols in palace architecture, the Quran, which is the foundation of Islam, was examined and the dependence of these symbols on numbers was tried to be revealed with examples.

Drawing the Isolated Mosque

Abstract From the early-nineteenth century onwards, Orientalist visual constructs heavily shaped European depictions and analyses of mosque architecture. Over time, these representations shifted from the Orientalist exoticized scenographic model to the “scientific” language of the orthographic drawing. This article analyzes that process, tracing the evolution of a series of published plan drawings for five historical mosques. Unpacking their authors’ drafting techniques and examining the relationship between the isolation of the drawing and the understanding of the mosque as a timeless monument highlights the gaps of knowledge reproduced within the canonical texts of Islamic architecture and their disciplinary impact.

An Analytical study to develop the traditional craft in the field of creative industries in Egypt

The production of traditional crafts in Egyptian architecture, especially Islamic architecture, has been historically significant, reflecting cultural uniqueness. However, political, economic, and industrial factors have led to a decline in craft production, diminishing their cultural distinctiveness (Abdul Hamid, 2001). Traditional crafts currently face stagnation, lacking modernization in design, functional integration, and technological advancements. Artisans struggle to compete with imported products. This research aims to preserve and revitalize traditional crafts by integrating them with the creative industries. It explores modern Egyptian experiences, traces the craft’s development, and identifies key points for creating creative products. The study evaluates Egyptian models that introduce new products, assessing their suitability and overall development, including impacts on craftsmen, products, and the production process. The application of creative industry principles is also examined. Findings inform proposals and recommendations to preserve traditional crafts in Egypt and explore their local and global development potential.

A Computer-Aided Design Tool for Muqarnas

In numerous instances of Islamic architecture, the geometric arrangement of muqarnas was established using square-rhombus tessellations in their flat projections. Similarly, in Türkiye, square-rhombus projection schemes have been employed in muqarnas designs since the era of the Anatolian Seljuks. This study introduces a computer-aided design (CAD) tool called "Anatolian Muqarnas," which aims to recreate muqarnas schemes with square-rhombus projections. The tool is built upon a novel geometric analysis approach specifically tailored for Anatolian Seljuks muqarnas, drawing inspiration from Ammann-Beenker tiling and supertiles. Users of Anatolian Muqarnas can easily simulate existing or new designs by following predetermined rules. This contribution is expected to enhance discussions regarding the geometric analysis of muqarnas and the interplay between computing and cultural heritage at large.

Investigating the Islamic Architecture By Focusing on the City of Yazd, Iran

This research aimed to investigate Islamic architecture and its architectural impact on the city form and building structure in the Islamic world. This research's theoretical base was founded on the frequently used term 'Islamic architecture' in the literature that allegedly has created its physical expression. The method of literature review was used to confirm whether 'Islamic architecture' created its iconic physical structures. The Iranian city of Yazd was selected as a case study to document if any identified element in the ancient city of Yazd was affected by the so called 'Islamic architecture'. The reviewed literature revealed no agreement among researchers to confirm that there is a recognised physical form, theory, or method to represent 'Islamic architecture' in the Islamic world. This finding and literature review point to a clear conclusion that there was no typical form of architectural design that could show the existence of so-called 'Islamic architecture' all over the Islamic world. This paper may stimulate and excite the Islamic advocates’ interest to further investigate and introduce evidence of recognised physical form or iconic structure to portray Islamic architecture.

Robert Byron: An Iconoclast on the Road to Appreciation of Islamic Architecture

England in 1933 was a claustrophobic, desolate, and enervating country generating a generation of discontents like Robert Byron. Unsatisfied with the received ideas of Western aestheticism, he aligned himself with Islamic aestheticism and departed for Oxiana to study Islamic architecture resulting in his The Road to Oxiana, a masterpiece in travel writing. This study contends that Byron is an iconoclast who undermines the rhetoric of colonialism and imperialism in his travel book. To elaborate its analysis, the study employs Holland’s and Huggan’s idea of countertravel writing along with psychoanalysis. It argues that Byron’s countertravel writing in his narrative manifests in two ways. Firstly, when he critiques the reductive picture of Islamic architecture by exalting and appreciating its beauty, especially its Kufic inscriptions. Secondly, when he extols Gohar Shad, a renowned patroness of architecture by acquitting her of the orientalist charge and acknowledging her contributions to Islamic architecture. In doing so, he reveals that she is his ‘anima’ and archetypal mother.

The Status of Islamic Art and Architecture in the Ghaznavid Era

The Ghaznavids (1206-962 AD), a Turkic dynasty that ruled vast parts of eastern Iran, are named after their capital and the formation of their state in Ghazna (Ghaznin/Ghazni, located in present-day Afghanistan). After Sebüktigin (ruled 996-977 AD), the primary founder of the Ghaznavid state, his son Mahmud (ruled 1030-997 AD), who, by defeating the last Samanid ruler and conquering Sistan, Turkestan, Khwarazm, Makran, Sistan, and Kerman, elevated the state to its peak of glory. The Abbasid caliph al-Qadir (caliphate 1031-991 AD) confirmed his rule and granted him the title "Yamin al-Dawla." Mahmud’s victorious campaigns in India brought him immense wealth, power, and prestige and contributed to the spread of Islam and the flourishing of the Persian language in the Indian subcontinent. Due to factors such as the Ghaznavid rulers' religious zeal, the dominance of Sunni schools of thought—particularly the Hanafi school—and the prevalence of Ash'ari thought, along with the patronage of the Abbasid caliphate and the flourishing of Sufism, Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence, Hadith studies, Qur'anic knowledge, and literary sciences experienced significant growth. In the religious sphere, non-Sunni sects and religions, such as the Shiites, did not enjoy favorable conditions. Architecture and arts such as goldsmithing, inlaying, and the production of exquisite metalware, as well as industries like textile weaving and carpet making, saw remarkable progress during the Ghaznavid era.