Art & Architecture

Architecture

General

	The Courtyard Houses of Syria
	By: Mahmoud Zein Alabidin, Tue 09 March, 2010 Mr. Mahmoud Zein Alabidin The courtyard house is one of the most enduring architectural forms, transcending regional, historical and cultural boundaries. Its balance of simple appropriate construction, environmental control and social and familial structures continues to engage architects and architectural historians. The emphasis on courtyard in Islamic architecture gave it the name of the "architecture of the veil", because it focuses on the inner spaces (courtyards and rooms) which are not visible from the outside. Courtyard housing is an architectural device with a long history first appearing in the buildings of Syria and Iraq three millennia ago. Arab nomads first made use of the concept of a courtyard during their travels and stay in the desert. They set up their tents around a central space, which provided shelter and security to their cattle. With the development of Arab-Islamic architecture, the courtyard became an essential typological element. It is likely that the previous nomadic desert lifestyle of Arabs had a strong influence on their permanent houses. The courtyard therefore fulfils a deep-rooted need for an open living area. This article describes the typology of the Syrian courtyard house, and presents a number of examples of courtyard houses in Aleppo.
	The Seljuk Face of Anatolia: Aspects of the Social and Intellectual History of Seljuk Architecture
	By: FSTC Limited, Tue 15 January, 2008 This article deals with the Seljuk Anatolian architecture and art. The art of the Seljuk sultans showed much interest in public buildings such as caravanserais, schools and hospitals. This architecture was based on strong religious and cultural sources of inspiration that nourished the works of architects, artists and artisans.
	A Treasure House on the Hudson
	By: Louis Werner, Thu 16 March, 2006 Olana is a remarkable galley of exquisite works of art collected by Fredric Edwin Church during his travels in the Muslim World. In fact, the actual design of Olana was inspired by the architecture of buildings in Muslim Lands. This article delves deeper into the great influence of Muslim styles on the imagination and efforts of Church.
	Christopher Wren and the Muslim Origin of Gothic Architecture
	By: FSTC Limited, Sat 08 November, 2003 Christopher Wren's respect for Muslim architecture is displayed in his adoption of numerous Muslim architectural solutions within his designs. In his greatest ever project, the Cathedral of St. Paul, London, the Muslim influence can be easily traced.
	A Glossary of Terms for Muslim Architecture
	By: FSTC Limited, Mon 16 June, 2003 This glossary aims to assist the reader when reading short and full articles on Muslim Architecture. It contains over 50 Technical Arabic terms which have been translated into English.
	Terminological issues of Islamic Architecture
	By: FSTC Limited, Thu 17 January, 2002 Terminological issues are connected with the use of "Muslim" and "Islamic" architecture. The two words are theoretically interconnected but conceptually different. Muslim is a general word referring to religious and geographical setting of Islam.
	Theoretical issues of Islamic Architechture
	By: FSTC Limited, Thu 17 January, 2002 Although Muslim architecture has been investigated by both Muslims and non Muslims, it still remains omitted from main stream architecture theories and much of existing works are no more than curiosities undertaken by a group of sympathisers.
	Introduction to Islamic Architecture
	By: Rabah Saoud, Thu 17 January, 2002 Rabah Saoud Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture and beyond. The principal Islamic architectural types are: the Mosque, the Tomb, the Palace, the Fort, the School, and urban buildings. For all these types of constructions, Islamic architecture developed a rich vocabulary that was also used for buildings of lesser importance such as public baths, fountains and domestic architecture. The following article, recalling salient aspects of the rich tradition of Islamic architecture, provides a brief discussion on the concept of Islamic architecture and reviews a number of its key theoretical issues circulating in the Western academic circles.