Muqarnas and Its Functional Aspects in Architecture

Fereshteh Saedi¹

1) Master of Islamic Art,

IOI Code : XAEK-CZDBG
Publication : The National Conference on Recent Advances in Engineering and Modern Sciences(desconf.com)
Abstract :
    There is no doubt that Islamic architectural decorations in Iran can be considered one of the greatest artistic phenomena of this land and even the world. These works are both functional and conceptual (symbolic and divine). The decorations of architecture can be seen as a mirror reflecting the divine beauty that is presented in a coherent consistency of rational proportions through geometric patterns such as Muqarnas, Karbandi( Stellar vault) , and so on. Muqarnas is a kind of relief three-dimensional visualization of the geometric motifs and Gereh chini of Islamic architecture and art. The results of the research indicated that Muqarnas is one of the outstanding ornamental devices related to architecture, having aesthetic and functional aspects simultaneously. Muqarnas is a kind of volumetric space-making that plays an important role in the traditional architecture of Iran, in addition to the role of transforming the square plan into a circle one, in the term of space connection and separation. Having a very special shape, Muqarnas contains a well-defined harmonious geometry, and by using shadows created with different lengths, shows the time during the day. This game of light and shadow in the buildings makes it easy to determine the direction of Qiblah and religious occasions and also to act effectively in the building due to various aberrations in covering as an absorbing resonance of the sounds. The present study was carried out through a descriptive-analytical method and the necessary information to conduct the research was collected through survey and field studies.

Keywords : islamic architectural decorations muqarnas arch decoration the function of muqarnas