The relationship between volumetric geometry and Islamic architecture in historical writings

Subject Areas :

Aref Azizpour Shoubi ¹ , Ahad Nejad Ebrahimi ² , یاسر شهبازی ³

1 - PhD of Islamic architecture at the faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Iran.
2 - Professor at the faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Iran .
3 - Associate professor at the faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Iran.

Received: 2024-06-27 Accepted : 2024-10-27 Published : 2024-12-11

Keywords: Islamic architecture, geometry, volume, trigonometry, literature,

Abstract :

Introduction: To study Islamic architecture, one must explore the intellectual discourse that has led to the emergence and evolution of Islamic architectural traditions. Among the critical discourses influencing Islamic architecture is the knowledge of geometry and its application. Geometry, both planar and volumetric, has been prominently employed in Islamic architecture. However, most researchers have focused on planar geometry, with limited studies investigating volumetric geometry in Islamic architecture. This neglect appears to stem from a lack of understanding of volumetric geometry and its relevance to Islamic architectural practices. Methodology: This research, fundamental in nature and adopting a historical study approach, seeks to answer the following questions through library studies and historical interpretation: 1. What evidence is there in buildings and written sources that demonstrate the use of volumetric geometry in Islamic architecture in Iran? 2. What sciences contributed to volumetric thinking in the Islamic architecture industry? To address these questions, the research reviews previous studies related to volumetric geometry and Islamic architecture, examining the position of architecture in the classification of sciences. Subsequently, it searches for evidence related to geometry, volume, and architecture in written architectural sources (literature and encyclopedias). Results: Analyzing volume from an architectural perspective reveals various concepts such as volume in relation to form, spatial volume, and material volume. Polyhedrons—shapes bounded by planar faces—play a pivotal role in architectural modeling since constructing flat surfaces is generally easier than creating curved ones. Throughout history, pattern recognition has provided a fundamental connection between architecture, mathematics, and society. Human thought not only identified patterns in nature and society but also developed new patterns and visual representations to understand their application and results. Some believe that those working in architecture followed principles and guidelines explained by mathematicians.

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