Islamic

Islamic architecture and design varies depending on the region. An explanation for the widespread success of Islamic design into Africa, Europe, and Asia was its ability to incorporate local architectural and decorative trends. Although the design varies, there are many recurring forms that can be found. Islamic decoration is largely geometric, nonrepresentational and often formed by tiles or mosaics. The vertical architecture surfaces often resemble carpets. The Islamic arch is also a key figure of this design period. The features of arch include a pointed top and an angle that exceeds 180 degrees. It is very similar to a horseshoe shape.

Mosques
Mosques were used as a central facility for prayer and worship. All mosques owe their form to the Prophet's farm in Medina and are in fact representations of it.The important features of all mosques are the perimeter wall, the covered hall of columns that becomes the prayer hall, and the courtyard (which acts as both forecourt to the prayer hall and overflow space). A mosque is a space designed around an individual, on a carpet, facing Mecca and praying to God. To the left you can see a picture of the Great Mosque of Kairouan.


Residential Architecture

The typical house was oriented inward; this angle marked the transition from the outside world to the home. Entrances didn't usually align with houses directly across from each other to maintain privacy. Rooms were often arranged around a central courtyard. Islam design was concerned much more about the interior aesthetics of the home than the exterior. Houses were very often outfitted with a protruding bay window called a roshan. A roshan created a barrier between the public world of the street and the private world of the house. It also created a space for women to observe city life while being shielded from public visibility. This reasoning is the result of the cultural beliefs of many (but not all) Islamic people.

Furniture

Islamic furniture is pretty much an oxymoron. Many of the functions that were typically accomplished with chairs and couches were taken care of with cushions, pillows, carpets, mats, etc. This was a cultural response to living in a warm climate where it was less necessary to distance oneself from the ground. Furniture such as the minbar and stools were used for religious purposes. A minbar was created for the Islam religion; it is a hybrid of a stair, a chair, and a pulpit used for preaching. Stools used at this time were often collapsible and portable. They were intended for use when reading the Koran.

Modern Examples

Islamic design can inspire modern spaces in many different ways. Below you can see the Islamic arch and mosaic playing a role in a small seating area. The geometric patterns on the wall installations also are representational of Islamic design.

Helpful Videos

Ancient Islamic Architecture | http://youtu.be/WdzTuMbH2LM

Islamic Arts & Architecture | http://youtu.be/D9Z5wZvjpk0

Peer Reviews

Alex R. | I enjoyed how Alex went into detail about the different variations of Islamic design around the world. Since it was so widespread, it is interesting to learn how different it is depending on the region.
Paige S. | I liked the modern application pictures that Paige posted. I find it very interesting how distinguishing the Islamic design features are.