Islamic

What I Learned 

Islamic Religion was the foundation of Islamic Design. Mohammad is the figure-head for the Islamic religion and he lived from 570-632 C.E. Mosques served as the central facility for prayer and worship. The first mosque (Mohammad's Farm) was a prototype for all mosques to come. The features of the mosques were: perimeter wall, covered hall of columns, and the courtyard. The purpose of the mosques was to provide a place where many people could come and pray to God by kneeling on a carpet and facing Mecca. 

Horseshoe arches, ogival arches, muqarnas-filled niches, and muqarnas domes are distinctive characteristics of Islamic design. They can be found used inside the mosques and in many other Islamic buildings.

This is an example of horseshoe arches found in the Great Mosque of Cordoba. This is an example of ogival arches found in the Battle Monastary, or Mosteiro Batalha.

This is an example of a muqarnas-filled niche. It is known as a mihrab and is found in the Tiled Kiosk Museum in Istanbul. This is an example of a muqarnas dome in the Alhambra Palace.

Muqarnas are a type of architectural ornamentation that are reminiscent of stalactites or honeycomb. They were developed around the middle of the 10th century in northeastern Iran and they take the form of small pointed niches, stacked in tiers which project beyond lower tiers. They are commonly constructed of brick, stone, stucco, or wood,  and are clad with painted tiles, ood, or plaster. They are typically applied to domes, pendentives, cornices, squinches and the undersides of arches and vaults. The Taj Mahal is a famous example of Islamic Design. It was built from 1632-1648 C.E. It was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It was seen as an earthly replica of the house of Mumtaz in paradise.

The Taj Mahal

My Favorites From This Time Period

I love so much about Islamic design. It is extremely beautiful and intricate. I love the use of gold and the deep blues that can be found in some places. I also find design elements such as the muqarnas fascinating. They are just so intricate and beautiful.

Modern Interiors Using Islamic Design

Romanesque

What I Learned About the Romanesque Period

Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Roman Empire in 800. He encouraged learning and the arts and preserved and copied Roman literature. He also established schools and monasteries and encouraged building using the technology of Roman structures. Before 1000 AD not a lot of architecture was built, but with the strong religious movement that was brought on at least 1,587 churches were built between 1000 and 1100. Some typical features of the Romanesque churches included semicircular arches and vaults. They were based off plans from the Early Christian basilicas and had a nave, transept, and apse that were modified for better space. There was also a side chapel added in the transept. Romanesque churches had roofs that were made of masonry rather than wood. Their walls were painted with rich greens, blues, purples, and gold. They also were decorated with rich tapestries and gilded sculptures and their bibles, chalices, and other accessories were gold, silver, and ivory set with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and pearls. They were very ornamental.

Romanesque homes were primitive and made of wood, mud, twigs, dirt floors, and had little light or warmth. Nobility had castles that were made of stone but they could be drafty, wet, and dark so there was a center fire in the great hall. Their structure was wood, though, so not many survived.

My Favorite Romanesque Architecture

This is the Angoulême Cathedral in France. Its facade is richly decorated with architectonic and sculptural forms. I love all of the intricate details and the repetition of the arches.

This is the Limburg Cathedral in Germany. I love all of the gold accents and the beautiful rose window. It kind of reminds me of a clock tower or something you'd see in Disney's "It's a Small World."

This is a cloister of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome. I love all of the different columns. Each is so unique and  I especially love the ones that look like they are all twisted up.

Current Application of Romanesque Design

Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas is a perfect example of a modern application using Romanesque Design. It uses pendentives, arches, and domed ceilings characteristic of this time period. These are pictures I took when I visited it.

Early Christian

What I Learned About Early Christianity

Christianity began with the death of Christ in ancient Judea at an eastern outpost of the Roman empire. Rome was fairly tolerant of most religions, but not when it came to Christianity. This is because Christianity posed a threat the the emperor since they could not declare the divinity of the emperor. This unfortunately led to the persecution of early Christians in Rome. Christianity still prospered, though, and became a sort of "underground religion." Most people who followed the Christian faith were of a lower class. This is because Christianity was a faith that didn't favor the wealthier classes. You were judged on character instead of wealth. Christianity also promoted access to God through Jesus Christ in a personal relationship which provided a lot of hope for those in lower classes.

Then came Constantine. He was the first emperor to recognize Christianity as a valid religion in 313 C.E. Constantine legalized Christianity through the Edict of Milan. He declared it an official religion with all rights and privileges the others had. Also now Christians could have official houses of worship and display holy artifacts. Before this they had to worship secretly in church houses. Constantine had a vision of a shield containing a Christian cross before the battle of Milvian Bridge. He believed that this was a sign from god and from thereafter emperor's ceased to be considered divine. This secured his support from the Christian church.

Very few examples of Early Christian furniture remain to this day, but the ones we have are elaborate and richly decorated with jewels. They follow the Roman style and exhibit storage as the most important feature. The artwork that has been found included paintings, murals, and frescoes. They included religious motifs like the cross, dove, fish, grapevine, and lamb. They also show images of Christ the good shepherd, the apostles, and Mary. 

My Favorites

  

The early fifth Roman basilica of Sta. Sabina.

I love the inside of this building. It's so grand with it's high ceilings and the domed ceiling at the back. I also love the columns and decorations.

 

I love this piece of furniture because it has such intricate details carved into it. It's amazing how much detail they put into their furniture. They also put small details in the carvings on the sarcophagi they buried their dead in that can be found in the catacombs of Rome.

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus.

Another sarcophagus that can be found in the catacombs of Rome.

Current Applications of Early Christian Design

  Early Christian design wasn't particularly different from Roman design but you can still see the inspiration in today's churches.

Domed ceilings still show up in modern churches.

This modern church still uses columns and high, curved ceilings.

This example is really interesting. This is an old church that has been turned into a bookstore. They utilized the shape of the old building and made the new stuff work with the existing shape instead of juxtaposing it.

Another picture of the church turned bookstore.