Islamic Architecture: A World History

(Hardback)

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Description

A richly informative and visually packed sourcebook demonstrating and explaining the function and worldwide appeal of Islamic architecture.

Islamic architecture dates back 1,400 years and continues to reinvent itself up to the present day. The enormous richness of building types, regional styles, and architectural details is revealed here by a well-travelled expert guide, exploring the familiar and unfamiliar, striking a balance between famous masterpieces and unknown gems.

All eras and global regions are represented, with a selective eye for some of the creative exuberance, boldness and sensitivity of Islamic architecture that has not always been widely appreciated outside of the region. Close-ups of architectural details not only describe style and function but also show the hand of the craftsman, making this reference work both useful and beautiful.

Here is a wealth of information about the historical and cultural context of buildings around the world, a chance to encounter the widest Islamic community, and the deeper pleasure of immersing ourselves in the beauty of Islamic architecture.

Reviews

'A sugar rush of exquisite images accompanied by delicious anecdotes' - The National
'The authors broad-brush approach makes for informative and fascinating reading and imagery' - Times LUXX
'Beautiful you could get lost in the book going from picture to picture and picking up interesting bits of information' - The Muslim News
'Brougs approach to the subject is novel, and ambitious in its chronological sweep and geographical reach. It truly is a world history. Brougs interest seems not to be in geometry per se, but in the interaction between the controlled lines of architecture and the messy realities of daily life' - World of Interiors
'Full of jaw-dropping pictures from over 60 countries highlights little-known Islamic monuments outside the Arab world' - Arab News
'Broug's richly illustrated history spans 1,400 years and the entire globe Full of treasures and surprises' - NPR

Author Bio

Eric Broug is an educator and artist who has followed his passion for Islamic geometric design for over 25 years. He holds a Master's degree in the History of Islamic art and architecture from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. As well as leading workshops and giving lectures around the world, Eric Broug runs his own school of Islamic geometric design and is involved as a consultant in various educational and design projects in the Middle East and beyond. His previous titles for Thames & Hudson include Islamic Geometric Patterns (2008), Islamic Geometric Design (2013) and Islamic Design Workbook (2016).