Islamic Design

Islamic religion is the foundation of Islamic design.  Mosques are the central place for prayer and worship.  The first mosque was a prototype for other mosques to come.  This mosque was inspired from Mohammad who was the head figure of Islamic religion.  An example of an Islamic mosque is The Great Mosque of Kairouan.  This mosque was used as a prayer hall and was the most famous ancient mosque in Tunisia, North Africa.  The mosque of Sultan Ahmed, also known as the blue mosque, is another mosque in Constantinople.





The picture above is The Great Mosque of Kairouan.  This mosque demonstrated the use of the horseshoe arch and classic capitals.  The Sultan Ahmed (shown to the right) had one main dome, six minarets and eight smaller domes.  It has 200 stained glass windows, walls that look like carpet and over 20,000 handmade tiles.  The Taj Mahal, The Great Mosque of Cordoba and Alhambra are all examples of Islamic architecture and design.



Until relatively recent times, wooden furniture, such as tables and chairs were not as known in traditional Islamic societies. Throughout the warm and dry lands of North Africa, the Middle East, India and Central Asia, most people found it practical, as well as comfortable, to sit or kneel on the ground or on the floor. They used soft carpets to protect themselves from dirt and leaned against cushions and firmly stuffed bolsters.

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