The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period

Muqarnas has always been one of the most complex decorative elements of worlds monumental architecture. In muqarnas, niche–like components are combined together and arranged in successive tiers to produce a three–dimensional geometric shape, enclosing and embellishing features such as ceiling, soffi...

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Main Author:	Kazempourfard, Hamidreza
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2014
Subjects:	NA Architecture
Online Access:	http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/78066/1/HamidrezaKazempourfardPFAB2014.pdf
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id	my-utm-ep.78066
record_format	uketd_dc
spelling	my-utm-ep.780662018-07-23T06:05:53Z The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period 2014-06 Kazempourfard, Hamidreza NA Architecture Muqarnas has always been one of the most complex decorative elements of worlds monumental architecture. In muqarnas, niche–like components are combined together and arranged in successive tiers to produce a three–dimensional geometric shape, enclosing and embellishing features such as ceiling, soffit, portal, and vault. This unique structure has been intensely studied from various aspects by many scholars. Nevertheless, there is still lack of clarification about the structures origin and path of evolution. There are some theories indicating that the structure is originated from squinches in Iran, but no further explanation is provided to fill the huge gap between the two, i.e. muqarnas and squinch, and to clarify the quality of the gradual development. This study assumes that the missing link between muqarnas and squinch should be sought in another undefined form in traditional architecture of Iran, named patkaneh. In this research, the main effort is to investigate the possibility of differentiating this ornament from muqarnas and to introduce it as a different structure, which is the missing link between squinch and muqarnas. This thesis employs a qualitative approach that strives to demonstrate the steps of gradual deformation of muqarnas from squinch by defining the characteristics of the linking ornament, using an inductive approach. For that, 20 critical samples of muqarnas and pseudo-muqarnas were selected out of a collection of 100 structures, by considering three main perspectives, i.e. chronology, form and structure, and construction techniques, with specific attention to the structure?s constituent elements and number of tiers as an indicator of the ornaments complexity. The differences and similarities identified among the selected samples lead to demonstrating the structures path of evolution. The results show there is another type (patkaneh) of ornamental structures with different characteristics in comparison with muqarnas. Therefore, this study contributes patkaneh as the connecting link between muqarnas and squinch, which is misinterpreted in many texts as muqarnas and thereafter shall be appropriately referred to none other than patkaneh. 2014-06 Thesis http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/78066/ http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/78066/1/HamidrezaKazempourfardPFAB2014.pdf application/pdf en public http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:97915 phd doctoral Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Built Environment Faculty of Built Environment
institution	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
collection	UTM Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	NA Architecture
spellingShingle	NA Architecture Kazempourfard, Hamidreza The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
description	Muqarnas has always been one of the most complex decorative elements of worlds monumental architecture. In muqarnas, niche–like components are combined together and arranged in successive tiers to produce a three–dimensional geometric shape, enclosing and embellishing features such as ceiling, soffit, portal, and vault. This unique structure has been intensely studied from various aspects by many scholars. Nevertheless, there is still lack of clarification about the structures origin and path of evolution. There are some theories indicating that the structure is originated from squinches in Iran, but no further explanation is provided to fill the huge gap between the two, i.e. muqarnas and squinch, and to clarify the quality of the gradual development. This study assumes that the missing link between muqarnas and squinch should be sought in another undefined form in traditional architecture of Iran, named patkaneh. In this research, the main effort is to investigate the possibility of differentiating this ornament from muqarnas and to introduce it as a different structure, which is the missing link between squinch and muqarnas. This thesis employs a qualitative approach that strives to demonstrate the steps of gradual deformation of muqarnas from squinch by defining the characteristics of the linking ornament, using an inductive approach. For that, 20 critical samples of muqarnas and pseudo-muqarnas were selected out of a collection of 100 structures, by considering three main perspectives, i.e. chronology, form and structure, and construction techniques, with specific attention to the structure?s constituent elements and number of tiers as an indicator of the ornaments complexity. The differences and similarities identified among the selected samples lead to demonstrating the structures path of evolution. The results show there is another type (patkaneh) of ornamental structures with different characteristics in comparison with muqarnas. Therefore, this study contributes patkaneh as the connecting link between muqarnas and squinch, which is misinterpreted in many texts as muqarnas and thereafter shall be appropriately referred to none other than patkaneh.
format	Thesis
qualification_name	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level	Doctorate
author	Kazempourfard, Hamidreza
author_facet	Kazempourfard, Hamidreza
author_sort	Kazempourfard, Hamidreza
title	The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
title_short	The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
title_full	The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
title_fullStr	The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
title_full_unstemmed	The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
title_sort	evolution of muqarnas in iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period
granting_institution	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Built Environment
granting_department	Faculty of Built Environment
publishDate	2014
url	http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/78066/1/HamidrezaKazempourfardPFAB2014.pdf
_version_	1747817898674487296

The evolution of muqarnas in Iran from pre-seljuk to ilkhanid period

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