Islamic Architecture

by Robert Hillenbrand

This beautifully conceived and produced survey of Islamic architecture explores the glorious world of the caravansarai, mausoleum, palace, and mosque. Focusing on the multifaceted relation of architecture to society, Robert Hillenbrand covers public architecture in the Middle East and North Africa from the medieval period to 1700. Extensive photographs and ground plans― among which are hundreds of newly executed three-dimensional drawings that provide an accurate and vivid depiction of the structure―are presented with an emphasis on the way the specific details of the building fulfilled their function.

Included are chapters on religious and secular architecture and the architecture of tombs. Each building is discussed in terms of function, the links between particular forms and specific uses, the role of special types of buildings in the Islamic order, and the expressions of different sociocultural groups in architectural terms. Here the student or historian of Islamic architecture will find an astonishing resource, including Maghribi palaces, Anatolian madrasas, Indian minarets, Fatimid mausolea, and Safavid mosques, each rendered in lavish illustrations and explained with incomparable precision.

Genres: Architecture, Art

700 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1984

Reviews

[madie · Rating 4 out of 5]

اين كتاب منبع بسيار خوبي براي اينه كه بفهميم واقعن جايگاه معماري ايراني در معماري اسلامي كجاست. معماري اسلامي به چي گفته ميشه. نكته فابل توجه درباره ي كتاب اينه كه نويسنده نه ايرانيه نه مسلمون و هيچ تعلقي به مباحث نداره و همين باعث شده كه مطالبش زور از غرض ورزي و پيش داوري باشه. جايي از كتاب بود كه درباره ي نماز صحبت ميكرد و طوري وصف ميكرد كه انگار درباره ي يه رقص دسته جمعي صحبت ميكنه . كتاب جالبيه و ادم رو همراه ميكنه هرچند ترجمه ي باقر شيرازي كمي ثقيله اما كتاب مفهومه. در نهايت بگم كه خوندنش لازمه برا معمارا هرچند مثله من ازين موضوعا لذت نبرن:)

[Mahshid Parchami · Rating 3 out of 5]

منبع مطالعاتی برای درس معماری اسلامی دوره کارشناسیم بود البته قسمت هاییش. کتاب مفصل و سنگینیه با توضیحات کامل از ابتدای شکلگیری عناصر معماری اسلامی تا دوره کمال و تعالیش. ترجمه هر چند دقیق ولی ثقیله. مطالعه ش به حوصله و زمان نیاز داره

[Carolinemawer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have used and re-used this book.
As a student, that is.
So I'm fond of it, even though it's not exactly a snappy read.
It's very toned-down from Hillenbrand's entertaining and amazing lectures.
Despite the reservations and hedging about in the useful introduction, the problem with the book is surely the exact same problem that the whole concept of 'Islamic architecture' suffers under. It's trying to stuff a whole multi-era zoo of large and very splendid beasts into a single plain brown-paper envelope.
This isn't Hillenbrand's fault of course, and he grapples manfully with the task. But he's not alone in not quite managing it

[H M · Rating 4 out of 5]

* it considered more as a reference ,especially for mosque and Islamic educational buildings (madrassah)
* although the book is mostly about two areas, it covers most of the important subjects and elements needed for designing an Islamic building .
* the author compares a lot between Islamic and western architecture which i found is written not in an objective way because it reflects his opinion only.
* at the end of the book, there are helpful illustrations.