The surface decoration, the structural elements and the casting of the internals lend to the idea of the Islamic Mosque, (a common example of Islamic architecture) being a complex and sophisticated form of architecture. However, this is not really the case. The Islamic mosque is generally simple in design and architecture. This simplicity in structural design is evident in the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Taj Mahal in Agra. Decoration and structure play an important role that is interrelated throughout the above mentioned structures forming the perception of highly crafted and sophisticated construction. “

The decoration on the Taj Mahal aims at achieving an overall effect for the viewer, a total impact where the applied decorative themes uniformly line the entire building, and obtrusive contrasts of texture are not present. “A type of decoration whose purpose was first and foremost that of providing buildings and objects with an intricate and complex overlay, covering their structural cores with an outer skin or mantle.” This overall effect is achieved not solely by decoration. The structure of the Taj Mahal sets the foundations for this overall impact. The Taj Mahal’s arrangements of niches and arches are repeated throughout the complex periphery of the building, for example in the gateway, the mosque and the guesthouse. The relationship between the main structural lines and decoration, are the proportions that echo the repeated shape. This repetitiveness can be said to come from the Taj Mahal’s political and geographic isolation from the rest of the Islamic world.

 George Michell, Architecture of the Islamic World, Thames and Hudson, London, 1978.

 Henri, Stierlin, Islam Volume 1 Early Architecture from Baghdad to Cordoba, Benedict Taschen, Italy, 1996.

Some topics in this essay:
Mosque Cordoba, Honour Flemming, Taj Mahal, George Michell, Robert Hillenbrand, Taj Mahal’s, Near East, Honour Fleming, Arabian Peninsula, Islamic Mosque, islamic architecture, mosque cordoba, taj mahal, overall effect, honour flemming, cordoba taj mahal, architecture islamic, cordoba evident, structure building, structural elements, george michell, architecture mitchell beasley, mosque cordoba evident, mosque cordoba taj, mitchell beasley pub,