The Evolution of Muqarnas in Iran - Paperback

by Hamidreza Kazempour (Author)

Muqarnas has always been one of the most complex decorative elements of world's monumental architecture. This unique structure has been intensely studied from various aspects by many scholars. Nevertheless, there is still lack of clarification about the structure's origin and more specifically its path of evolution. There are some theories indicating that muqarnas 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. In this manuscript, the missing link between muqarnas and squinch is introduced that is in fact, another undefined form in traditional architecture of Iran, named patkaneh. A qualitative approach was employed 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. In addition, some critical samples of muqarnas and pseudo-muqarnas, as they are named before being identified, were selected and introduced in this manuscript, which were used as guides towards finding the gradual development of muqarnas.

Author Biography

Dr Hamidreza Kazempour has PhD of architecture, as well as DA in restoration of traditional buildings of Iran. However, what makes his knowledge more valuable and distinct is that he is also a young and experienced master in making Iranian traditional ornaments and tiles; a knowledge he obtained from his ancestors since his childhood.