Structural Solutions with Aesthetic Values in Islamic Architecture

The construction of the dome is considered one of the most important architectural achievements in the history of architecture, through continuous development in the design of the dome, which led to the design and implementation of large areas without any construction obstacles, making it one of the projects that was built on a large scale.Important architectural styles require recognition of their structural capabilities and artistic expression.Hence, this research highlights the importance of domes, arches, and muqarnas in Islamic architecture.The idea of the research came to draw inspiration from the past in the dome element, in terms of its shape and development, in a structurally defined area, which is the area of transition from the square shape to the circle.This transformation captured the thought and interest of Muslim architects over a long period of time, giving this structural solution aesthetic value.These ideas were used in all types of buildings, and when we wanted to study them, we only found mosques and tombs whose details remained, which gave us a golden opportunity to study them and benefit from them.From here we can understand this development and reach the current dome.The research begins by identifying the most important structural elements in Islamic architecture, including the dome, which we expand into studying its origins, types, different shapes, uses, and development.We see this development by studying the transitional zone of the dome from the inside and outside.From the inside, we find corner curves, spherical triangles, and stalactites, which we explain in detail due to their importance and the variety of their shapes, then using arches.Development from the outside includes keeping pace with the inside in increasing the transformation area, finding simple aesthetic solutions, reaching hierarchical solutions, and others.Then comes the innovative solution, and the maximum stage of Evolution in the Ottoman Dome, and how the development of the dome reached the point of covering the entire building area.