Analysis of Islamic Architecture - Coursework Example

No: Introduction: From the birth of any civilization, a special architecture appears that gives us the information about the living standards of the civilizations. Architecture could relate to the factors that make the structure or the type or style or designing. Every region of the world has some special architectural characteristics that depend on the materials utilized, climate, etc. Among the most versatile architectures, the architecture of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a leading position. The vernacular style of the UAE’s architecture speaks the tradition of the architecture. The religion also influenced the architecture of the UAE. As the UAE is an Islamic region, the influence of the Islamic architecture defines the architecture of UAE. Most of the Islamic architecture has its roots in Romanian and Persian architectures, like the Islamic architecture mixed the Islamic designs with the Persian architecture after the Islamic domination on Persia. In this way, a newer architecture appeared and similar case with the Byzantine architecture occurred when Islam dominated the region. Some people have the view that the architecture of the UAE is not contributed much in the determination of an Islamic architecture. However, some other people oppose the view and have the view that the progress in the region brought an alteration in the architecture of the UAE. Some residents and non residents favor the progress in the architecture and have the view that the development in the region is irrespective of the architecture. In this report, my main focus is to describe the several characteristics of the traditional and modern architectures in the regions of UAE and Turkey and focus on the Shaikh Zayed mosque and The Blue mosque. Shaikh Zayed Mosque: Architecture is recognized and determined by special characteristics that are associated with the architecture. The mosque has mixed the traditional architecture of UAE and Islamic architecture. Shaikh Zayed mosque stands in between the modern architecture. Shaikh Zayed mosque is constructed by utilizing the modern and unique architectural techniques. According to visitabudhabi.ae, “the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is probably the most imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi to date. It is also arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society - and one of the most beautiful in the world - initiated no less by the late president HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is fondly thought of as the father of the UAE. The Mosque’s initial architectural design was Moroccan, but it evolved to include many global features, including exterior walls that are of traditional Turkish design. Natural materials were chosen for its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics”. The ornamentation of the mosque not only involved the precious stones, crystals and ceramics but the enormous carpet that is the biggest in the world imported from Iran to cover the 5627square meters of the mosque, the approximate weight of the carpet is almost 47 tons. The biggest chandelier in the world is also utilized in the mosque that is 10meters in diameter and 15 meters in length. The chandelier is imported from Germany. The newer architectures in the region have not the certain aspects of the Shaikh Zayed mosque’s architecture like in 2004; the Emirates palace in Abu Dhabi was completed. The building has some aspects to be considered as an Islamic architecture but it lacks some aspects as of the Shaikh Zayed mosque like dooms, etc. However, the dooms in the architecture is not only utilized by the Islamic Architecture but also in some other architectures but there are some special characteristics that are attached to the dooms that make them an important piece of Islamic architecture, Like the Jerusalem’s doom of rock can be identified as an Islamic architecture (Grube 1978). The Islamic architecture utilized a big doom and it can be noticed easily that the doom of rock is very big in size. Tony Kettle (2009) has the idea that the most modern architecture is environmentally and socially better (Tony Kettle, 2009). The modern building and modern building techniques have blessed the UAE to keep the pace of progress and development with the other regions of the world. However, the modern ways of architecture have contributed much in destroying the architectural heritage of UAE. The Blue Mosque: Islamic Architecture has the most distinguishable and significant figures in the world. The uniqueness of the art represented in the Islamic architecture in the form of calligraphy, painting, use of ceramics, use of glass and sometimes piece of textiles or leather. The art not only depicts the Islamic heritage but also involves geometric designs, and influences of different cultures. Now a day, people tend to more attracted towards the ancient Islamic architecture. The most part of the Blue mosque is the main prayer. The building of the mosque represents the architecture of the Ottomans. Earlier, the Muslim architects like Arabian and Iranian have the view of constructing mosques that had more domes but Turks utilized the methods of constructing a mosque with a single but a larger doom which have a single vast space to support as many persons as the mosque can. At that time, the innovation and technology is not such that to make it possible for the people to construct such a magnificent structure when the architects have not the knowledge of making the reinforced concrete or allow the steel to be the part of the construction. The characteristic of the mosque to have such a big doom made the architecture an identity of the Ottoman architecture. Sheikh Zayed and the Blue mosques: Both of the structures are a unique piece of architecture having many similarities and dissimilarities. The major similarity is that both of the buildings utilized the Turkish aspects of architecture like ornamenting the mosques and the massive space of the both the architectural buildings. As the Shaikh Zayed Mosque is newer than the Blue mosque, the Shaikh Zayed mosque utilized the Iranian architecture, Turkish architecture, etc but the Blue Mosque only utilized the ancient architecture of the Ottomans. Conclusion: The Islamic Architecture is heavily influenced by the religion and societal aspects of the different regions like turkey, Iran, etc all have different architectural aspects. Architecture not only represents the climate of the region but also the utility of the sense and the living standards of the civilizations. As the western architectural designs influence the Islamic architecture, the architecture lost its domination. Both of the countries UAE and Turkey have a heavy influence of the modern architecture. Islamic architecture is considered as an piece of art all around the world. Bibliography: Grube, E.J. (1978). What is Islamic Architecture? In G. Michell, Architecture of the IslamicWorld. (pp. 11-14). London: Thames & Hudson.Grube in this article focused on some features of Islamic architecture such as the enclosed space anddomes. Then, the writer move on this point to another point which is the hidden architecture of Islamiccivilization. A additionally ,the  functions of Islamic architecture are mentioned.Comparing to the  other resources this was one of the helpful one, it helps me a lot in finding informationabout the characteristics of the Islamic architecture. So , I think that if you want to know  some featuresof Islamic designs, go to this reading.The reading is very  beneficial although the words were difficult little bit.Getlen, M. (2005). United Arab Emirates (pages 256 – 258)Peterson wrote about the way  of building constructions in the past. And then the writer moved on other idea which is the architecture of the UAE in the past.This reading was not useful as much as other resources. I did not use it a lot in writing my essay, since itdoes not have information that I need. However, it has information about buildings in the UAE that mayhelp the one who wants to know more about the UAE’s  old buildings and its heritages. http://www.bluemosque.org/architecture-part4.htm http://www.islamicinformation.com/ http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/what.to.do/mosques.and.other.places.of.worship/sh.zayed.mosque.aspx Read More