Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Islamic Architecture

Publication Date

6-29-2026

Abstract

The research aimed to revive muqarnas using digital computational tools, drawing on the techniques of Damascene craftsmen and ancient manuscripts. It involved designing contemporary muqarnas with double-curvature vaults and large spans, incorporating new unit designs and compositional techniques. In Section I, the researcher conducted pre-design studies on four muqarnas types, each associated with one of the four Damascene architectural styles. These studies examined the geometry and behavior of muqarnas types when used on traditional domed surfaces. Section II included a design study of the Dome of the Eagle of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, using modern software tools such as Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper. The design study explored various sizes, forms, and functions for contemporary muqarnas vaults. In Section III, the final design was based on a hexagonal grid with clusters of three rhombi, each forming a hyperbolic paraboloid shell. It allowed lateral movement and a variety of compositions, making the building a macrocosm of muqarnas. The development process involved five iterations, and the final iteration produced the best results, combining efficiency and elegance, resulting in a shell division that followed the surface geometry. The Grasshopper definition was introduced to add complexity and a smoother exterior shell. The design successfully analyzed traditional muqarnas and developed a four-stage process, including Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining, mold-making, slip casting, and glazing, to produce six units at a 1:2 scale.

ISSN

2086-2636

Publisher

Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University

Volume

9

Issue

1

First Page

436

Last Page

459

Disciplines

Architecture | Computer Sciences

Keywords

Grasshoper, Islamic Architecture, Mamluk Period, Muqarnas, Ottomon Period, Rhinoceros 3D, Umayyad Mosque

Scopus ID

105045258562

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series

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