The Use of Light in Islamic Architecture
Date Added
10/07/2019
Content Type
Article
Category
Websites
Link to Content
Author
Jason Cristiano Ramon
Publisher Name
classroom.synonym.com
Year of Publication
2017
Description
Light is a pivotal design element of Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock. The great French architect Le Corbusier once said: "Architecture is the learning game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light." In Islamic architecture, light plays a significant role in shaping the interiors of mosques and other buildings. Magnificent domes, windows and delicately carved screens recast light in new ways that not only decorate surfaces but extend structural lines and illuminate specific parts of the interior facade.
Religious Significance
According to the Quran, light was one of God's first creations. For Muslims,
light represents the divinity of God, so natural light is an integral design
element in Islamic architecture. Islamic buildings such as mosques have
traditionally incorporated minimal furniture in order to emphasize the
enclosure of this divine space, which is defined by the building's structural
design -- its facade, materiality, vertical and horizontal lines -- and the
ways that light addresses the structure.
Jali
An ornamental screen, or jali, is a prominent feature
of Islamic architecture and mediates the amount of sunlight that enters a
space. Jali is a delicately carved latticed screen that also exemplifies the
use of the ornament in Islamic art and architecture. The ornamental designs of
these screens strike similar patterns as calligraphy, one of the chief features
of Islamic sacred decoration. Jalis are important on a practical level, as they
filter out strong sunlight and keep spaces cool, which is ever important in the
Middle East's harsh sun. Surface Decoration The use of light in Islamic
architecture creates a play at light and shadow that shapes the interiors of
buildings. For example, screens not only act as ornamental decorations and keep
spaces cool, but the shadows created by a jali weave intricate patterns through
rooms and corridors.
The materiality of a building comes to life more
vividly: carved stucco, stonework and brickwork are illuminated and emphasized
by natural light. Domes In Islamic architecture, light also plays a critical
role in creating balance and harmony in mosques and other buildings. In
particular, the use of circular domes, prominent in mosques, transformed more
cramped, dimly lit religious chambers into vast interiors that have a
weightless quality. This weightlessness is enhanced by the use of numerous
windows on domes, which allow natural light to pour through and create lighting
effects on the dome ceilings, as well as accent and emphasize different parts
of the interior surfaces. Jason. "The Use of Light in Islamic
Architecture" classroom.synonym.com,