Architecture is not just a building, a street or a space. Architecture constitutes a specific theme for a place and gives it its own personality. These details become part of that space and grow together with the people who use it. Architecture is considered one of the main factors influencing history due to its different shapes, patterns, styles and the way it is built. Each historical period has its own style, as people design their cities with constantly changing standards. Over the years religion has played an important role in shaping architecture and the way of representing a culture or different groups of people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Islamic architecture is a great example when it comes to architectural history. It is considered a major movement in architecture and has had a long-term impact on our cities, especially in the Middle East and most Islamic countries. As a Muslim from the Middle East, I studied construction engineering and learned about the history of Islamic architecture, including how it influenced the future of architecture. In this essay I will talk about how Islamic architecture has been involved in the design of many buildings in Europe and especially in Spain. “Muslims derived their architectural style from the Byzantines, Copts, Romans and Sassanids. The types of Islamic architecture are mosque, tomb, palace and fort. The Islamic architectural style developed soon after the time of the Prophet Muhammad. An example can be known with the completion of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. It featured vaulted interior spaces, a circular dome, and the use of decorative motifs. The art of building was popular.” “The Dome of the Rock, a 7th-century sanctuary in Jerusalem, is the first Islamic building to feature this architectural element. Inspired by Byzantine plans, the octagonal building is topped with a wooden dome, gold-plated in the 16th century. Unlike most Islamic domes – which rest on spandrels – the dome rests on a drum supported by 16 pillars and columns.” “Plumes are tapered structures that allow a circular base for a round or elliptical dome to be placed over a square or rectangular room. In Islamic architecture, spandrels are often decorated with tiles or muqarnas, a type of sculptural decoration.” “Islamic architecture prohibits any use of symbolic art such as statues, paintings or other representations of living beings. That's why you won't see family portraits or paintings of people in Muslim homes. The second restriction is the use of high-cost materials. So Islamic artists work mainly with brass, clay and wood. They learned to decorate objects made from these less expensive materials. One of their design features is an arabesque.” Islamic architecture is known for its arches, domes, curves, courtyards and motifs. Spain was affected by these elements as Muslims and Arabs lived there for years. To this day, some of these buildings influenced by Islamic architecture still exist and have historical value. The Patio (Spanish courtyard) is considered one of the ancient spaces that displays elements related to Islamic architecture. It is known for the relationship that is created between the internal and external spaces as the courtyard connects both with the use of arches and Islamic motifs, "the patio is free from its exact form and familiar context, as its elements are expanded to create public spaces in an urban context”. “The Muslim empire in Andalusia occurred between the years 750 and 1031 AD, with the city ofCordoba as a political and intellectual center. The exiled heir to the Damascus caliphate, Abd al-Rahman, a half-Arab prince born to a Berber mother, whose family was murdered while he himself barely escaped, established his capital here uniting the various warring Islamic tribes who had arrived in Damascus. a few decades earlier. Cordoba was thriving and the welcoming of foreigners and the financing of places of culture allowed the arts to flourish. Architecture was abundant in the form of gardens, universities, public baths, huge libraries and mosques. The typology of the mosque in Muslim culture is immensely important and central to its architecture was the presence of ornaments." “The mosque of Cordoba is one of the most important remains of this period. Built on Roman and Visigothic ruins, the mosque continued to add further layers, receiving additions and modifications from subsequent owners. The mosque was built with a non-hierarchical plan, as a civic institution for the people of Cordoba. It is a hypostyle structure; a flat ceiling supported by columns – in this case, a vast grid of columns, creating the impression of infinite space. The public part of the mosque is left unadorned and there is no privileged portion here, no “center” of the building. The space is not processional, as it is not intended to follow a certain path or prescribed narrative, but rather to wander. As stated in the philosophy of Islam, wherever the worshiper is, that, for him, is the center of the mosque, the structure and the world.” The elaborate ornamentation adds beauty to the space above the area for public prayer. Stone horseshoe arches soar overhead, supporting the roof, arch upon arch. Red brick and white stone alternate, a sort of vaudeville show for the senses taking place above you. The Roman aqueducts of Mérida provide some precedent for these structures. The horseshoe arch is an element of the indigenous tradition of church building both before and after Muslim rule in Spain. Some columns are recycled from ruined churches and Roman civic buildings. According to a common practice of Andalusian architecture, these architectural remains were assimilated into the structure, creating a dialogue between the reborn indigenous cultures and the newly flourishing one. “The Alhambra in Granada, Spain, built in the 1300s, is the best known. Its many rooms are built around three open courtyards. The Corte dei Mirti is characterized by a long rectangular pool flanked by hedges. At the center of the internal Court of the Lions there is a fountain supported by twelve lions. The lower part of the palace walls is decorated with colored tiles arranged in geometric patterns. Painted and gilded plaster designs cover the upper part of the walls. “Throughout the history of the world, there have been architecture and works of art that have resonated with the human mind, soul and spirit, but the structures and buildings of Al-Andalus have raised the bar and, by extension , have had an impact on architecture even today. . The Great Mosque of Cordoba is still an example of Islamic architecture in Spain today; in the Alhambra castle you can also observe the architectural style of this civilization, and you can also see the art of Al-Andalus in the Seville Cathedral, which was once a mosque. In conclusion, these great achievements show the advanced artistry and skill of Muslim Spain, and still amaze millions of people around the world today.” “There are so many elements that define Islamic architecture. The use of the frame created organization and design. Calligraphy has been found in the decoration of almost all Islamic buildings. Geometry becomes a major art form by using the circle as a basis and generating patterns from it.”