$255.00
Architecture de l'Islam. De l'Atlantique au Gange
Stierlin, Henri.
Architecture of Islam.
Publisher : Office du Livre;
First Edition: January 1, 1979.
Language : French
Hardcover : 288 pages
This book shows the architectural history and characteristics.
of each region of the Islamic world from a cultural context.
It is full of beautiful color photographs taken by the author and newly made drawings.
The most important point is that the author, Stierlin, clarifies the feature of Islamic architecture from a new point of view.
It is a concept of 'space,' which is understood as a functional space in the buildings. He doesn’t focus on the stylistic analysis of expression. Scholars of esthetics explain from a viewpoint of expression. Functionalism in architecture was developed after the World War I, and it got the international agreement. But new nationalistic ideas opposing to international thinking have recently been raised, but on the contrary the aim of identification of different types of Islamic architecture in various countries is understood by the spatial idea.
The concept of space can categorize the architecture in several phases, and at the same time it makes new groups between the different epochs. Stierlin mentions several common rules and elements, and techniques of composition. According to this opinion, Islamic architecture is composed of many classical and Christian building elements but the final appearance is completely Islam. Moreover it makes it easy to distinguish the urban buildings from the monumental architecture.
We need a new history of architecture in addition to that of monuments such as religious building and palaces.
We must consider the vernacular architecture as well as rural buildings.
This book clarifies these necessities.
This is a beautiful coffee table collectible hardcover book.