ISLAMIC

Taj Mahal - Agra, India

The Islamic religion is the foundation of Islamic design, as people in this time period lived closely with their faith.  Mohammed (570-632 CE) was the figure-head of this religion, and the first mosque was actually Mohammed's farm.  This facility for prayer and worship and its purpose was a centralized destination where the masses could join and pray with one another towards Mecca.  Because the Islamic religion was spread to so many different areas in Africa, Asia, and Europe, there is a regional variation of Islamic design that vary in style and beauty.

Architecture

The mosques were built with similar architectural features.  The perimeter wall, the prayer hall, and ablutions fountain, a courtyard, and a qibla wall with a mihrab.  Depending on the region is where the design elements and added architectural features come into play. 

The Mosque of Sultan Ahmed - Istanbul, Turkey

THEN:

Interior of the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed

The Mosque of Sultan Ahmed, or otherwise known as "The Blue Mosque," was built in Constantinople - now known as Istanbul, Turkey - from 1609 - 1617.  There is one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.  The exterior is outstanding, but the architectural elements shine exquisitely in the interior.  The walls were decorated like intricate carpets, there are 200 stained glass windows that offer vibrant variations of color, and there are over 20,000 hand made tiles.  The decoration in cathedrals and churches prior to this were representations of religion and spirituality, but in Islamic design, it is more geometric and non-representational.

Chelsea Textiles

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The geometric design has inspired so many different manufacturers in the modern world.  Islamic textiles are widely used, glass and stone mosaics, and even jewelry can emulate the beauty of the the dimensional geometric design stemming from handmade tiles and motifs from religious centers of the Islamic period such as the Blue Mosque and the Taj Mahal.