History Of Architecture2D
Asian and Islamic Architecture - Theory & Concepts - Islamic Geometry
Exploring the profound spiritual traditions, timber structural ingenuity, and sweeping geometric innovations of India, China, Japan, and the Islamic world.
Open the complete lessonIslamic Geometric Patterns (Girih)
Base geometry creates 12-pointed stars.
Concept:
Islamic architecture shuns figurative representation (aniconism) in religious spaces. Instead, it relies on complex, infinite geometric patterns (girih), stylized vegetative motifs (arabesque), and calligraphy for profound spiritual expression.
These interlacing strapwork patterns are generated from a basic grid of polygons (often squares and hexagons) tessellated across surfaces, symbolizing the infinite nature and underlying order of the universe created by God.