Muqarnas are a three-dimensional architectural ornamental style from the middle of the 10th century and have become a standard feature of Islamic architecture. They can be found in different styles in the Islamic world. Muqarnas are used in vaults, domes, niches and arches.
Here are some examples I photographed in the Alhambra in Granada Spain.
The "Visualization and Numerical Geometry Group" of the University of Heidelberg has a project for the visualization of muqarnas. Here is their project site.
There the basic geometric forms of the Muqarnas elements are described according to al-Kashi.
Al-Kashi was a major physician, mathematician and astronomer of the Middle Ages. One of his most important works is "Key of Arithmetic". In this work, al-Kashi describes the measurement of Muqarnas.
Based on the work of the University of Heidelberg, I have reconstructed some muqarnas elements.
A Muqarnas is usually designed by drawing the plane projection of the Muqarnas elements.
Shiro Takahashi of the Japanese Tama Art University has created a comprehensive database of plan projections, with which I reconstructed some smaller muqarnas.
Takahashi Database #294
Takahashi Database #374 Takahashi Database #155
Takahashi Database #720
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