Emmanuel Daskalos
ARCH 3152, Mical
Nov. 15 2001
Impressions of Islamic Architecture
The native architecture of the Middle East, Asia Minor, and parts of southern Asia is known as Islamic. This is based on the culture and religious beliefs that shape the lives of the current inhabitants. While Islam has played a powerfully important role in shaping the structures built by these people, the actual basis of the designs and forms was laid out more than 3000 years before the birth of Islam. The cultures of the “Cradle of Civilization”, also known as Mesopotamia, were the original architects of what is, today, referred to as Islamic architecture.
Mesopotamia was located in the Middle East and Asia Minor, between the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead Seas. This geographic region is notoriously hot and dry and receives very little rain. These climatic factors were key in the early peoples design of their dwellings and other functional building types. The shape of almost every native house is short roofed and with a central courtyard, creating a form that is a “container”. As opposed to a modern Western home, which is “contained”. Another very evident aspect of design is the use of local materials. Adobe is the primary method of construction for every building type. The lack of trees and large stone quarries makes this choice quite obvious. The added bonus for this material is its ability to work as thermal massing: insulating and storing heat during the day and releasing heat and blocking cold at night. This comes into play because of the lack of moisture and humidity; where in the days reach 120 degrees and at nights the temperatures plunge to 40. Small window openings also help in this task. Another feature not noticeable from the outside are the one to two level basement areas of the buildings. These underground places remain at an almost constant sixty to seventy degrees. Sometimes “wind catchers” aid in this cooling.
