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Muqarnases, which are one of the most significant building elements brought in the architecture by Islam art, are three dimensional and complex geometrical compositions that are made with prismatic elements constituted with specific rules in specific combinations, with both ornamental, bearing features. Therefore, the surveys of muqarnases require a long, fragile, dangerous and difficult process. At that point, photogrammetry works come in and make the process of survey short, free of danger and mistakes as a useful application. Digital close range photogrammetry is one of the most active and efficient methods among the works to protect and document the cultural heritage by the means of the improvements of digital technology. Within the scope of this study, the surveys of the muqarnases in the portals of the Anatolian Madrasahs in Konya, Karaman and Aksaray in Central Anatolia Region were obtained with the use digital close range photogrammetry technique and 3D documentation works were made. With the 3D works, morphological features and differences of the muqarnases were determined. It was aimed to contribute to works to protect and document Konya Karatay Madrasah, Karaman Hatuniye Madrasah and Aksaray Zinciriye Madrasah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is asked to which extent the impact of religion and religious beliefs can be influential in architectural works. Historically, it seems that a study on the transformation in religious beliefs can be of great importance to track this impact. Advent of Islam into Iran and change of religion in Iran can be known as one of the most influential transformations in people's beliefs, followed by abundant consequences at social, cultural and art areas. Architecture, as one of manifestations of culture and civilization, indicates many transformations, beliefs and willingness of a community. Thus, hesitation in social events and attention to change of religion at the early Islamic centuries besides study on architectural and decorative features at this period and their comparison with the period of past can help to give response to the raised question. In this study, the relationship between social and religious developments analyzed. The developments at architectural and decorative areas are also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Islamic geometric art in Isfahan, Iran. It informs that Kites are the main characteristic of Islamic geometric art. It also presents some patterns formed by placing kites with squares which are referred as the Whirling Kites. It further informs that calligraphy, arabesque and geometric are the three rules of Islamic ornament.

The article provides information on the different pre-Islamic signs and symbols indicating the persistence of pre-Islamic decorative patterns in the wooden architecture of Swat in Pakistan. It presents the decorative features of the aboriginal mountain cultures substratum which was deeply inspired from Central Asia from the most advanced mountain princely states and southern plains. It also notes the existence of a Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya cultural substratum characterized by pastoralism and wooden architecture and craft. Several photographs are also offered depicting the architectural decoration of the wooden architecture of Swat as influenced by Saka, Gandharan, Hindu and Iranian decorative culture as well as Dardic elements.

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Ottomans who constituted one of the important periods of Turkish cultural history and civilization left unique handiworks in the field of bookbinding as in the other branches of art. These bindings prepared for protecting handwritten books are of great importance in point of the book and decorative arts. These handwritten books with their handwritings, generally leather-made bindings, the ornaments on them and their technical features are among the unique examples of Turkish Islamic calligraphy and decorative arts. A large amount of these books which were written in different languages have been protected in official libraries. The rest is in some private collections. In this paper seven handwritten books from Ottoman period in the private library of Ali Sırrı Kethüdaoğlu in Erbaa in Tokat have been searched with regard to the binding and decorative features. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the scientific studies by presenting these valuable artworks that remained hidden for years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban fabric in traditional Muslim cities is characterized by its complexity, its compactness, and its well-defined form contrasting the countryside. Most of these features could be explained through the decision-making system that originated from the theory of power, Wilaya, as defined in Islamic law. This paper first defines the concept of Wilaya through a model of three bodies: the public, the private, and the collective power that regulates the "osmosian" relationships between them. It then attempts to identify the physical impact of each of the three bodies. Algiers during the Ottoman period (1516-1830) provides an example for such a relationship between the physical environment and the decision process. A selected number of records from Ottoman archives comprised of court cases and Sultan decisions are, therefore, explored to elaborate the different decision-making systems and to analyze the causal relationship between the decision process and the urban geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]