Islamic Architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture. Islamic architecture may be identified with the following design elements: Minarets or towers, Mihrabs or prayer niches, a four-iwan plan (vaulted hall or space), domes and cupolas, isalmic gardens, central fountains, the use of geometric shapes and repetitive art (arabesque), and the use of decorative Islamic calligraphy instead of pictures (images are forbidden in Mosque).
Identifiable Features
Cities are containers of people that over time retain some of the cultural peculiarities that make its people unique. Much like a pet, who over time retains some of its owners characteristics and qualities, buildings in cities absorb some of their inhabitants personality. Identifiable qualities are a crucial elements that make a city unique and interesting. [...]
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Istanbul or Constantinople as it was previously known, has been through a lot. It was capital to the Roman Empire, the East Roman Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Today it is the largest city in Turkey, sits at the crossroads of two cultures, and is the only city in the world that is located [...]
