Islamic Architecture - In need of liberation from its own shadows
Prof. S.M. Akhtar redefining the notion of
Islamic Architecture in his Conference Paper
in the Valedictory Session
Whenever the term Islamic Architecture is used, it gives a set type of perception,
• Buildings having Arches, Minarets, Domes, or
• Buildings having Calligraphy as ornamentation element,
• Building built during medieval period,
• Building built by a Muslim ruler,
• Building constructed in Muslim ruled states of central or west Asia.
The finer description may even refer to -symmetrical balance also as one of the most pronounced aesthetical element.
If a building just by having Minarets & Arches can be called Islamic, then any person wearing skull cap and beard can be called a Muslim. But this cannot be true, there can be many people wearing Skull cap and beard, but they may not be Muslim, and there can be many Muslims not wearing Skull cap or beard, similarly there can be number of buildings having Arches and Minarets but definitely not representing Islamic Architecture., on the other hand there can be many building without Arches and Minarets but very strong representative of Islamic Architecture.
In this situation the extreme cases can be taken. The nucleus of Islamic faith Holy Kaba is a Cube without any Arch Minarets or Domes. Similarly when Muslims gather there for Hajj (pilgrimage) they do not wear any sort of head cover during that period.
It is a shear coincidence that when Islam was spreading its message, in the construction industry the Arches and Domes were used to make large built spaces, which got natural patronage with Islam at that time and were perfected with that stride.
Similarly the Minarets also came to fulfill the functional requirement of calling the people for congregation five times in a day, as at that time probably every wrist was not having a watch nor there were Loud Speakers to give the call. The natural choice was for a high platform to give a call for assembly which led to the development of the Minarets.
Minarets eventually took the role of beacon to give direction to people to reach the places of prayer, especially in the alien places as even at that time because of mercantile economy people use to travel a lot to unknown places in search of new markets. With time Minarets became a symbol for identification.
Often the rich building of the Medieval Period –Mausoleum and Tombs may be referred as Islamic Architecture, but Islamic theologian may question how they can be Islamic, as building of Mausoleum and Tombs are not endorsed as Islamic way of life.
In common parlance Symmetrical Balancing is taken as very pronounced element of Islamic Architecture, but this is again a coincidence that at that time this was one of design element which was in vogue due to various factors. It can neither be attributed to Islam nor can it be used to confine Islamic Architecture vocabulary. The asymmetrical balancing in Islam can be seen in organizing the five times prayer. All the Five prayers are unequally distributed in terms of their timing as well there performing module, but are in absolute balance and harmony in a routine day of any follower.
The implication of accepting these set definitions is that when the technology of construction got replaced with next generation of technology, it is given the impression that with this the transition in construction technology the chapter of Islamic Architecture stands closed. Whatever is being built with next generation of construction technology cannot be Islamic. To put it straight, whatever has been added on the surface of earth during the 19th & 20th century had no contribution of Islamic Architecture nor it is going to have any contribution in future.
On the contrary the rudimentary imitations with assembling of Arches and Domes which may be totally out of synchronization with dynamics of Architecture can be called Islamic Architecture which is normally in Absolute Defiance to Islamic spirit.
But is it all, complete and true to define any Architecture as Islamic Architecture or there is something beyond all these? Is it not true that all these are shadows which have castigated the Islamic Architecture?
Architecture is manifestation of the people’s expression backed with specific purpose and glued to certain place on the face of the earth in respect to some specific time frame that is period.
There are two distinct part to study of architecture, one is the study of Architecture which is existing that is basically history. It may be history of yesterday or of last decades, century or of thousands of years spanning back to 5000 BC or more. The other part is architecture for tomorrow, which keeps evolving like a metabolic action of the society, and gets metamorphosed with time.
Analytically Architecture is driven by People, Period, Place and Purpose. Because of this Architecture has always been studies and classified, either in terms of ‘Place’ like Egyptian. Indus, Greek, Roman, Byzantine. Or in terms of ‘Period’, First Kingdom, Second Kingdom, Tutan Khaman, Mughal dynasty, Lodhi Dynasty, Safavid Dynasty etc.
But when the term Islam is referred then it can neither be confined to any place or region on earth nor it can be confined to any period. The term Islam has Universal connotation and is there for all times to come, though the origin can be dated to 1400 years back. The term Islamic with Architecture means the Architecture that is Universal as well an Architecture that is Timeless.
When the Term Islamic Architecture is accepted, It implies with the architecture representing Islamic philosophy and symbolizing Islamic way of living, which is universal and that is for the global society, as well that has to be eternal, that is relevant for all times which have been passed and which will come as future. In this context it is to be seen that the four elements of Architecture that are defined as People, Period, Place and Purpose are complimented with a fifth element, which encompasses all these four elements that is ‘Philosophy’. The Architecture which imbibes the basic philosophy of Islam can be termed “ISLAMIC Architecture”.
This is the expression of the Islamic Philosophy and way of life expressed in the Architecture is Islamic Architecture. The magnetism of Islamic Architecture is in its pluralistic feel, strong discipline, scale, purity reflected in Geometry, truthfulness of form and functionality, Clarity of expression.
Islam is a philosophy and a way of life, having its emphasis on pluralistic living and universal brotherhood, harmony, rhythm, discipline, order, human value, simplicity and truthfulness. Functionality and care for Nature.
Holy Kaba itself is the first and foremost source to influence and command the basics for the Islamic Architecture. The simplicity of the form of Holy Kaba laid the foundation and the direction for the evolution and development of Islamic Architecture. Cube the most basic, simplest and pure form is the form chosen for Holy Kaba.
The Elements which can be attributed to Islamic Architecture can be, -Purity of Form, -Strong Geometrical Order, -Clarity in surface treatment, Honesty in application of materials, Harmony and Functionality.
In that context even the Bahaus movement of Early 20th Century can be seen closest to Islamic Philosophy. At the same time the Era of Minimalism can also be seen in its proximity with Nucleus of Islam that is “Kaba”. But something was missing in the Bahaus; that is the dynamism and rhythm.
The second source for the Islamic Architecture can be “Azan” the call given for the prayer five times in a day. Islam is dynamic with rhythmic and Harmonic motion, which can be directly seen from the Qirat the way Holy Quran is recited. And the way the Azan in called. The importance of Scale and Balance and modulation, can also be inspired for the Islamic Architecture from these practices.
The elements of ‘Strong Discipline’ and ‘Order’ and balance can be derived, from the manner in which the Salah (Prayer) is scheduled and integrated in the daily routine of Islamic way of living, traditionally also in all sort of Islamic Architecture strong Geometrical order and discipline with perfect balancing has always been followed, which is the essence of Islamic Architecture.
Calligraphy, is a unique way of play with the geometry without losing the discipline and order, which keeps the rhythm and dynamism in expression, which has also been used in Architecture in surface treatments for ornamentation. So the ornamentation too is integrated with consideration of scale and without losing the order and discipline.
Extensive use of Jali in the Islamic Architecture is there for making building energy efficient not just for ornamentation. Jails are effectively used as shading devices as well for regulating the breeze, in terms of flow, direction and reduction of heat gain using the venture action, responding to the climatic consideration. The application of Jali in Islamic Architecture is the signature to endorse the sensitivity towards nature climate and energy efficiency. The uniqueness of Jali is in its retention of strong geometrical discipline while serving the functional requirement.
There are many more direct sources for giving direction for the Architecture in Islamic Philosophy and way of living, They needs continuous exploration interpretation and adaptation. Like the Holy Quran itself which is for all times, so it keep revealing itself continuously with changing time and context, and it remains up to date and relevant for all times. Similarly the Islamic Architecture has to be up to date and relevant for all times and all situations and context.
With this retrospection and reinterpretation of Islamic Architecture and with the widening up of the domain of Islamic Architecture there may be a question what type of Architecture will not qualify to be covered within the parameters of the Islamic Architecture.
Islam means peace. Any architecture having clash in its form or expression, in its treatment cannot be Islamic. Islam means purity and truth, any Architecture with falsification; - camouflaging, visually polluted elements and forms cannot be called Islamic. Islamic is for harmony with nature, thus any architecture defying nature cannot be Islamic.
The Islamic Architecture needs to be liberated from it own shadows, and seen in totality for the whole civilization as well for all times to come. The traditional Islamic architecture needs to be renamed as Islamic Medieval Architecture. To pave the way for emergence of contemporary Islamic Architecture, that will have the spirit and expression of Islamic Philosophy but the building typology of today. That will be the vocabulary for Islamic Architecture of today.
This has become more relevant today for the global society, as today’s architecture is heading with total aimlessness and hollowness, total confusion with shallow mirage chasing. Totally defying and mutilating in nature, Confused and camouflaged.
It has become a challenge for architecture fraternity to steer the dynamics of today’s Architecture with more rational and logical objectivism.