Pilgerort des Islams: Kaʿba in Mekka. Auszug des Kupferstiches (1774), in: Carsten Niebuhr, Description de l’Arabie, Kopenhagen 1774, Taf. XXI: ‚Plan de la Mecque / Vue de la Mecque‘. Digitalisat, gemeinfrei.
Pilgerorte und Erinnerungslandschaften im islamischen Raum
Light and Architecture in the Orient – Between Symbolism and Function
This semester, the course focuses on the multifaceted role of light in the architecture of the Orient. It explores how light and shadow have been used both as functional elements and as expressions of meaning. The historical development of these applications is examined through case studies of buildings such as the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum (Samarkand, 14th century), the Khan As’ad Pasha (Damascus, 18th century), the Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque (Shiraz, 19th century), and the Aga Khan Mausoleum (Aswan, 20th century).
The course emphasizes the use of light not only for climate control and spatial organization but also as a symbol of divine presence and spiritual content. Additionally, architectural elements such as Mashrabiya screens and wind towers are analyzed in terms of their roles in light management and interior design. The course also considers the role of light in modern architecture, exploring works by Zaha Hadid and Rasem Badran to illustrate the connection between traditional and contemporary uses of light in Oriental architecture.
Lectures are followed by student presentations on selected topics. These presentations engage with the interdisciplinary approach of theory and practice in the context of Oriental architecture, focusing on the role of light as a design element. This approach enables participants to gain a comprehensive understandi