The Great Mosque of Herat consists of a four-iwan courtyard design which uses brick construction and blue and turquoise glazed tiles to create star patterns and calligraphic and arabesque designs on its exterior walls. The northern iwan leads visitors to the open courtyard which leads to prayer halls with vaulted roofs and domed chambers that experience changing light effects between outdoor brightness and indoor dimness. The mosque serves religious purposes through mathematical ornamentation which directs worshippers to prayer areas while displaying political and cultural power through its large tile decorations. The mosque maintains its status as a living heritage site through its traditional color scheme and geometric designs which were restored during the twentieth century.
Principal later patronage: Timurid rulers (especially during reign of Shah Rukh)
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Image 2: https://www.nomadsland.travel/sites/default/files/styles/gallery_zoom/public/2023-01/jami-masjid-of-herat-right.jpg?itok=qupAQQJR
Major reconstruction: 15th century (Timurid)
A colossal wooden gate, one of the biggest in all Japan, that functions as the southern threshold into the todai-ji complex. Ancient wooden pillars form three gates into the complex, these entrances are flanked by the guardian kings. Two statues in the alcoves on either side of the temple facing the entrance. Above is the double tiered slopped roof in a style inspired by Chinese Song Dynasty architecture.
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The dynastic mausoleum of Timur exists at Gur-e-Amir in Samarkand with its tall ribbed turquoise dome resting above a brick chamber which is accessed through a monumental iwan entrance. The interior design of the space features marble walls and muqarnas transitions and fine blue tile decorations which showcase Timurid artistic elements while leading viewers toward the dome. The building design leads visitors through its entrance portal to reach a single domed room which functions as a dedicated funeral area for Timur and his family members. The mausoleum served as a royal burial ground during the early 1400s to showcase political power and ceremonial functions while developing architectural elements which became central to Timurid and Central Asian sacred building design.
Patron: Timur (Tamerlane) Builders/Architects: Unknown (Timurid court workshops)
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Image 1: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia_Irene,_Istanbul_(52112279404)_(cropped).jpg
Church reconstruction ordered by Justinian I: 548
Damaged by Constantinople Earthquake: 740
Church enclosed within walls of Topkapi Palace: post-1453 (fall of Constantinople to Mehmed II) Used by Janissaries as arsenal, warehouse for military equipment, and repository for trophies of arm and military regalia taken by the Ottomans during conquest: until 1826
Converted to National Military Museum during the reign of Sultan Ahmet III: 1726
Made into military antiques museum by Ahmed Fethi Paşa, Marshal of the Imperial Arsenal: 1846
Turned over to Turkish Ministry of Culture: 1978
The Hagia Sophia is a classic example of Byzantine architecture. The mosque stands at 182 feet (55.6 m) tall. Its most prominent feature is its large central dome, surrounded and supported by four towering columns, known as minarets. Forty arched windows line the base of this large dome, but more than 200 windows light the structure overall, some of them fitted with stained glass. Smaller half-domes and a variety of columns also line the building’s facade, the latter of which were primarily recycled from older Roman structures. At its base, the structure takes a rectangular shape. Brick, mortar, wood, and metal comprise the outer and supportive structures, while marble, pumice stone, and glass were used for interior decorative features. Carved relief panels and mosaics depicting religious scenes can be found all along the interior. Other Byzantine-style motifs, such as acanthus leaves and palm fronds, can also be found carved into columns and marble panels.
Architect: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus Patron: Emperor Justinian I
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Hagia_Sophia_Mars_2013.jpg/2560px-Hagia_Sophia_Mars_2013.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Hagia_Sofia_%2814193941907%29.jpg/2560px-Hagia_Sofia_%2814193941907%29.jpg
Image 3: https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.12084479
Image 4: https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.18119327
Image 5: https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.18127412
Image 6: https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.12289773
Image 7: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deesis_mosaic_Hagia_Sophia.jpg
532 - Construction begins 537 - Construction is completed 1453 - Constantinople falls to Ottoman forces and is converted from an Orthodox Christian church to a mosque 1919 - While under occupation during World War I by the British, French, Italian, and Greek forces, a Divine Liturgy is performed and the mosque is converted back into a church 1935 - Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish President and founder of the Republic of Turkey, converts the building into a museum 2020 - Hagia Sophia is reclassified as a mosque
The Haji Yakoub Mosque in Dushanbe features a modern mosque complex, which includes a central prayer hall with pointed arched windows and a prominent dome and tall minarets that create its distinctive urban shape. The building exterior features stone walls with decorative tile elements and its entrance section presents a symmetrical design through its arched doors and geometric pattern repetition. The main prayer area beneath the dome receives direct access from the interior paths, which allow natural light to highlight the elevated design of the space. The mosque built in recent times uses traditional Islamic architectural elements, including arches and domes and calligraphy, and patterned ornamentation to display religious heritage and national pride in contemporary Tajikistan. The design unites modern urban growth with the Islamic heritage of the region through its use of traditional elements to create new religious spaces in the capital city.
Architect/Builder: Unknown Patron: Local Islamic community of Dushanb
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The main part of the garden is square in shape. The garden is lined with a small stone wall, with steps on each corner leading into the center part. There is one large band of grass following the inside of the lawn, with benches along each wall. On the opposite side of the grass, the garden is then separated with more pathways, portioning it into four triangular sections. In each of the sections, an abundance of plants grow, filling the garden with different colors and various textures. In the center of the square is a small stone structure, similar in resemblance to a water fountain. Outlining the various grass sections are small stone strips, which add dimension and aesthetic to the garden. The role of this garden is to not only be a place of beauty and aesthetics, but also to be one of social interactions, evoking sight and movement.
Image 1: Hestercombe Gardens (6097257589).jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Hestercombe_Gardens_%286097257589%29.jpg)
Image 2: Hestercombe House and gardens.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Hestercombe_House_and_gardens.jpg)
Image 3: Hestercombe Gardens - formal gardens - geograph.org.uk - 3146305.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Hestercombe_Gardens_-_formal_gardens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3146305.jpg)
Formal Description A beautiful, fascinating house that looks like it is standing tall right in the sky above all other houses, like it is floating in the sky like clouds without any base. Makes you wonder what it feels like to be up there. This house has many layers of walls, and the gates that surround the central tower. The layout is fascinating but also complicated and mysterious. It feels like a maze. It is mostly designed to confuse enemies. The paths of the house are twisted and turned, leading uphill through courtyards, towers, and narrow passageways. Each area is built to slow down attackers and protect the center. The highest tower is 152 feet tall. From the outside, it looks like it has five levels, but actually it has six levels inside and also a basement. Each level gets smaller as it goes up. The entrance of the house is made up of a large wooden gate at the very bottom of the hill. It moves through the paths and multiple gates, which lead to the main tower. The building material is a wooden post and lintel structure. Beams and columns support each floor. There are no vaults or domes, just stacked wooden levels with steep tiled roofs. The Surfaces are smooth white plaster over wood and stone. Roofs have repeating curved tiles and family crest tiles at the edges. Decorations are simple but elegant, with fish-shaped roof ornaments for protection. The light of this house comes through small windows and slits in the walls. The house is made of wood, stone, and white plaster. The base is made from a strong stone, and the towers and walls are mostly made out of wood, with plaster to help prevent fire.
Interpretive Reading This house was designed to protect, impress, and show power. The maze paths, tall stone base, and strong wooden structure were chosen to be a military defense, to make it hard for enemies to attack. At the same time, is elegant white walls and layered roofs gave it a beautiful, almost floating look, which signaled wealth, power, and control. In its historical context, it likely showed the strength of the ruling family and helped to keep the peace. The use of wood and plaster helped keep it light and flexible, which is good for earthquakes, and the stone base gave it the strength to keep it together. It may have felt like walking toward the sky and heavens. The whole structure can be seen as a metaphor for a mountain, with many levels rising to the peak, and the main tower is its hierarchy, where power is held.
Contemporary Resonance or Reflection Today, this house is a rare example of a large wooden structure that has survived for centuries, so it raises questions about how this building has lived for centuries that not even in modern times, with a lot of technology, we are unable to build such a building. It also reminds us to think about how power and beauty were shown through architecture, and how a design and an idea will still live on even after the architect dies.
Image 1: Himeji-Castle-01.jpg https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/app/uploads/2019/07/Himeji-Castle-01.jpg
Original construction: 1333 by Akamatsu Norimura