TIMURID ARCHITECTURE

1. (1370–1526)
Presented by
Aiman Naseem
Sundus Hussain
Bilal Khan
Mohd.Raghib
Hamzah

2. 

I.
II.
III.
Introduction
General characteristic
Domes
Arches & Vaults
Minarets
Case Studies
I.
BIBI KHANUM MOSQUE
II.
ULUGH-BEGH MADARSA
III.
MAUSOLEUM of KHWAJA
AHMAD YASAWI


References

3. • This architecture is named
after a builder Timur.
• Timurid architecture was the
pinnacle of Islamic art in
central
Asia(Samarqand, Bukhara, H
erat).
• Timurid architecture started
with the
 Sanctuary of Ahmed
Yasawi in presentday Kazakhstan
&
 Culminated in Timur's
mausoleum Gur-e

4. • It drew on
I. Centrally planned &
II. Highly symmetrical plans
• The style is largely derived
from Persian architecture.
• Axial symmetry is a
characteristic of all major
Timurid structures, notably
the Shah-e
Zendah in Samarkand and the
mosque of Gowhar
Shad in Mashhad.
Shah-e-Zendah, southeastern Uzbekistan, 13th–
15th century
Mosque of Gowhar Shad in Mashhad, Iran

5. 
I.
II.
Timurid architecture combines
Centrally planned
Symmetrical Persian structures with
Central Asian decorative elements.

Baked brick (270x270x70mm) was
used to construct most Timurid
buildings.

Exteriors of the buildings were
decorated with
Polychrome tile mosaics
Under glaze painted tiles.
I.
II.

6. Timurid buildings are known for
their
I.
Monumental scale,
II. Multiple minarets,
III. Polychromic tile work,
IV. Bulbous double domes.
V. Axial symmetry


Used gilded papier-mache
extensively in the interior of
their buildings.

7. DOMES

38m high from
ground
Most Timurid buildings have
double-shell domes with a thick
outer dome and a thin inner dome.
The outer dome is
I.
Tall
II.
Melon-shaped
III.
Ribbed
IV.
Decorated with colourful tiles.
RIBBED DOME


Vaults supporting the domes were
not only structurally complex but
dazzlingly
decorated
with
traditional Islamic muqarnas.
SMOOTH DOME

8. • Most of the minarets in Tiumrid Architecture are found with a
round capping at the top, decorated with turquoise & Blue
colours.
BIBI KHANUM MOSQUE

9. Masjid-i Gawhar Shad, Mashhad, Iran
Friday Mosque in Herat, Afghanistan

10. ARCHES

Variety of arch forms were used -round, two-, three-, and
center arches.

11. 1.
2.
3.
BIBI KHANUM MOSQUE
ULUGH-BEGH MADARSA
MASUOLEUM of Khwaja Ahmad Yasawi

13. • Named after Timur's favorite wife, Saray Mulk
Khanum.
• Construction begun in 1398-1399.
• The basic structure was rectangular in
shape, measuring 109 by 167 meters.
• It featured four units :I. A large entrance portal
II. The main sanctuary
III. Two smaller side mosques.
•
These four units were linked by hypostyle
arcades.

14. Symmetrical
Main sanctuary
Two iwans
Large entrance portal
N

15. View of BIBI KHANUM MOSQUE
MAIN
ENTRANCE
MAIN
DOME
RIBBED
SMALLER
DOMES
COURTYARD

16. 
Kufic designs

Mosaic tiles

Tiles inset in brick and stone.

Incised marble and terracotta.

The domes were covered in
inscription, the smaller ones in
naskhi, the larger one in kufic.

All three domes were originally finished
in light blue tile on top of a zone of
muqarnas.

17. Restoration of the monument.
Comparison of the overall view in 1969, 1991, 1996, and
1999.
Restoration work was carried by Govt.
1969
1996
1991
1999

18. 2 of 3
ULUGH BEG MADARSA
Samarkand, Uzbekistan

19. •Located on the registan
square, Samarkand
Uzbekistan.
•Rectangular in shape
56x81m, and encloses a
courtyard.
•There are minaret & Dome at
each of its four corners.
•34.7 m tall entrance portal on
the façade with lancet arch.
•Trademarks of the Timruid
style were
I. Monumental scale
II. Multiple minarets
III. Polychromic tile work
IV. Large bulbous double
domes.
PISHTAQ

20. Rectangular in shape 56x81m
Two other nearby
Madrasa
Registan Square
Smaller
Entrances
The Entrance Arch
(with Lancet Arch)
Courtyard
OVERVIEW OF ULUGH BEG MADARSA

21. Deep galleries Containing Lecture rooms
& dormitory Cells
MINARET
COURTYARD
SIDE ENTRANCE
PLAN OF ULUGH BEG MADARSA
DOME
MAIN
ENTRANCE
(with Lancet
Arch)

22. 
Decoration of the
madarsah, emphasizes the colour
BLUE, with light and dark
blue tiles.

Mosaic panel over the iwan’s
entrance arch is decorated by
Geometrical stylized ornaments.
The square courtyard includes
I.
Mosque
II.
02 Lecture rooms
III.
50 Dormitory cells


There are deep galleries along
the axis.

24. 
Located in southern Kazakh
city of Turkestan.

Built during the reign of
Mongolian conqueror (Timuri Lang) (1370-1405)

Construction spanned almost
16 years.

The structure is rectangular
in plan, measuring 45.8 ×
60m

The primary material used
for the building is
I.
Fired brick mixed
with mortar
II.
Gypsum
III.
Clay

25. Meeting
rooms &
Refectory
DOME
Main
Entrance
Mausoleum of Khwaja Ahmad Yasawi

26. 
Main entrance to the complex is
from the southeast into the
large square assembly hall
(18sqm), which is covered with a
conical dome, the largest in
Central Asia.

The dome is
18.2 m in dia & is 38.7 m high.
Clad with a mosaic of light
blue tiles with gold patterns
Raised on a square and
octagonal drum to the height
of the portal.
I.
II.
III.

27. 
The decoration of the shrine
complex is concentrated on the
exterior.
The interior decoration is limited
to
I.
Plaster Muqarnas
II.
Carvings in the dome surface
III.
Pendentives of the assembly
hall, the mausoleum and the
mosque.


Layers of clay reaching a depth
of 1.5 m, to prevent the water
penetration, were used for the
original foundation.

28. 


http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=3167
http://www.saylor.org/site/wpcontent/themes/saylor/curriculum
http://www.worldarchitecture.org/islamic-architectureinfluence-on-iranian-architecture.html
E-BOOKs


Golombek, L. and Wilber, D. eds. 1988. The Timurid Architecture
of Iran and Turan. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 228-230.
B. O'Kane, Timurid Architecture in Khurassan, Costa Mesa, CA
1987.

29. THANK YOU