Muqarnas: History, Evolution and Regional Variations of a Unique Islamic Architectural Form

By Glenn McArthur

Muqarnas: History, Evolution and Regional Variations of a Unique Islamic Form explores one of the most intricate forms in Islamic architecture. Muqarnas transforms surfaces and space into layered, three-dimensional compositions. It appears in domes, portals, niches, and cornices, where geometry, craftsmanship, and light shape the design.

Drawing on research and photography undertaken at more than 500 sites across 26 countries, Glenn McArthur traces the development of muqarnas from its early forms to its varied expressions across the Islamic world. The book examines how regions adapted the underlying geometric design principles to different materials, traditions, and architectural settings, from the Alhambra in Spain to the monuments of Iran and Central Asia.

Richly illustrated with original photographs and analytical drawings, this study celebrates the design and craftsmanship behind these structures and the viewer's experience of them. It offers an account of a remarkable architectural form for readers interested in Islamic art, architecture, design and the people whose skill brought these complex structures to life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1972474464
• ISBN13: 9781972474464
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Oro Editions
• Length: 400 Pages