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Geometry in the Islamic Architecture
Background

Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the
foundation of Islam to the present day. What today is known as Islamic architecture owes its
origin to similar structures already existing in Roman, Byzantine and Persian lands which the
Muslims conquered in the 7th and 8th centuries.
This was mainly in the ottoman time, when Islamic art and architecture was at its boom and
about half of the developed world was under Islamic rule. Even though there was an objection
to portraying the human form or human face in any of the paintings or sculptures, the Muslim
artisans and the craftsmen soon gained such a reputation that their products were sought all
over the globe. Fractal geometry, in this matter has also been a key utility in the making of
designs for these architectures. Other significant features employed as motifs include columns,
piers, domes and arches.
Islamic Architecture

Islamic architecture is very famous under three main categories that are the palace, the fortress
or castle and the tomb or shrine. The finest architectural monuments are in Spain, Egypt, Iraq,
Iran and the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. A common feature of Islamic art is the application of
geometric patterns on the surface.
Function of Geometry in the Islamic Architecture
An element of Islamic art is usually found in decorated the walls and window screens of
mosques, Muslim homes and buildings which is known as the arabesque art. It is an elaborate
application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants, shapes and
sometimes animals. The choice of which geometric forms are to be used and how they are to
be formatted is based upon the Islamic view of the world. To Muslims, these forms, taken
together, constitute an infinite pattern that extends beyond the visible material world.
It was widely accepted that the use of geometric shapes reflects the language of the universe
and helps the believers reflect on life and the majesty of creation. Islamic architecture now
holds its place in the modern world with many wonderful and exciting projects.


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The decorative patterns are obtained by repeating simple interlocking or overlapping elements.
Together with the taste for symmetry, it provides a dynamic and harmonious effect. For
example the images given above can be replicated multiple times to fill a wall. The design
multiplied on the whole wall will form another image that would look as beautiful as the
individual patch of design.
The detail does not prevail on the whole. There is no tension between reasons, only
equilibrium. The infinite recurrence of the themes is a metaphor for, eternity fills all and a
way of capturing the mutability of the universe.










Source:
http://www.researchomatic.com/islamic-architecture-and-geometry-128649.html