Islamic Architecture Pointed Arch

[Adam Makin]

Apointed arch, ogival arch, or Gothic arch is an arch with a pointed crown meet at an angle at the top of the arch.[1] Also known as a two-centred arch, its form is derived from the intersection of two circles.[2] This architectural element was particularly important in Gothic architecture. The earliest use of a pointed arch dates back to bronze-age Nippur. As a structural feature, it was first used in eastern Christian architecture, Byzantine architecture and Sasanian architecture, but in the 12th century it came into use in France and England as an important structural element, in combination with other elements, such as the rib vault and later the flying buttress. These allowed the construction of cathedrals, palaces and other buildings with dramatically greater height and larger windows which filled them with light.[3]

Crude arches pointed in shape have been discovered from the Bronze Age site of Nippur dated earlier than 2700 BC. The palace of Nineveh also has pointed arched drains but they have no true keystone.[4] There are many other Greek examples, late Roman and Sassanian examples, mostly evidenced in early church building in Syria and Mesopotamia, but also in engineering works such as the Byzantine Karamagara Bridge, with a pointed arch of 17 m span, making "the pre-Muslim origins of pointed architecture an unassailable contention".[5]

The pointed arch became an early feature of architecture in the Islamic world. It appeared in early Islamic architecture, including in both Umayyad architecture and Abbasid architecture (late 7th to 9th centuries).[7][8] The most advanced form of pointed arch in Islamic architecture was the four-centred arch, which appeared in the architecture of the Abbasids. Early examples include the portals of the Qubbat al-Sulaiybiyya, an octagonal pavilion, and the Qasr al-'Ashiq palace, both at Samarra, built by the Abbasid caliphs in the 9th century for their new capital.[8] It later appeared in Fatimid architecture in Egypt[9] and became characteristic of the architecture of Persianate cultures, including Persian architecture,[10] the architecture of the Timurid Empire,[11] and Indo-Islamic architecture.[12][13][14]

The appearance of the pointed arch in European Romanesque architecture during the second half of the 11th century, for example at Cluny Abbey, is ascribed to the Islamic influence.[16] Some researchers follow Viollet-le-Duc in acknowledging the spread of Arabic architecture forms through Italy, Spain and France, yet suggesting an independent invention of the pointed shape in some cases. The change was supposedly driven by the observations of the collapses of semicircular arches, with the crown moving down and haunches out. In this interpretation, the pointed arch was an attempt to strengthen the semicircular arch against a collapse by moving the crown up and haunches in.[15]

The reduction of thrust on supports that a pointed arch provided, as compared to a semicircular one with the same load and span, was quickly recognized by medieval European builders. They achieved this at first through experimentation, but technical literature dating to the Renaissance indicates that formulas for determining thrust may have been in use during the medieval period.[15]

The rib vault quickly replaced the Romanesque barrel vault in the construction of cathedrals, palaces, and other large structures. In a barrel vault, the round arch over the nave pressed down directly onto the walls, which had to be very thick, with few windows, to support the weight. In the rib vault, the thin stone ribs of the pointed arches distributed the weight outwards and downwards to the rows of pillars below. The result was that the walls could be thinner and higher, and they could have large windows between the columns. With the addition of the flying buttress, the weight could be supported by curving columns outside the building, which meant that the Cathedrals could be even taller, with immense stained glass windows. [17]

In the earliest type of Gothic rib vault, the sexpartite vault, the vault had a transversal pointed arch, and was divided by the ribs into six compartments. It could only cross a limited amount of space, and required a system of alternating columns and pillars. This type was used in Sens Cathedral and Notre-Dame de Paris. A new version was soon introduced, which reduced the number of compartments from six to four, distributed the weight equally to four pillars, eliminating the need for alternating columns and pillars, and allowed the vault to span a wider space. This quadripartite vault was used at Amiens Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral, and Reims Cathedral, and gave these structures unprecedented height. [18]

The window in the form of a pointed arch is a common characteristic of the Gothic style. Windows sometimes were constructed in the classical form of a pointed arch, which is denominated an "equilateral arch", while others had more imaginative forms that combined various geometric forms (see #Forms). One common form was the lancet window, a tall and slender window with a pointed arch, which took its name from the lance. Lancet windows were often grouped into sets, with two, three or four adjacent windows.

In the later years of the flamboyant Gothic the arches and windows often took on more elaborate forms, with tracery circles and multiple forms within forms. Some used a modification of the horseshoe arch, borrowed from Islamic architecture.

The Tudor Arch of the Late Gothic style was a variation of the Islamic four-centred arch. A four-centred arch is a low, wide type of arch with a pointed apex. Its structure is achieved by drafting two arcs that rise steeply from each springing point on a small radius, and then turning into two arches with a wide radius and much lower springing point. It is a pointed sub-type of the general flattened depressed arch. Two of the most notable types are known as the Persian arch, which is moderately "depressed".[8]

The pointed arch has become a common feature of most European churches. Where did it come from and how? The full article, see below, gives the full story and the debate concerning its origin. Below is only an extract from the full article in the pdf file where all references and end notes are found.

The main advantage of the pointed arch was that it concentrated the thrust of the vault on a narrow vertical line that could be supported by the flying buttresses, a major feature of Islamic architecture and also European Gothic architecture. The pointed arch enables the reduction of the lateral thrust on foundations. It enabled architects to lighten the walls and buttresses which had to be massive to support earlier semicircular arches(endnote 2). Additionally, it resolved the difficulty of achieving level crowns in the arches of the vault allowing the vault to become suitable for any ground plan.

In the Great Mosque of Cordoba, a more impressive method consisting of intersecting arches as well as building a second arcade on top of a first lower level arcade was introduced (figure 7). These clearly show the genius as well as the rational thinking in addressing various architectural problems.

The adoption of Cluny and Monte Cassimo, the two most influential churches in Europe, of the pointed arch and other Muslim forms encouraged the rest of Christian Europe to adopt it leading to its rapid spread across much of France, especially in the south, later in Germany in mid 12th century (Heer (1962, p.332), and eventually to the rest of Europe.

1. Al-Aqsa was built in Jerusalem firstly by Omar (2nd Caliph in 632).

2. The semi circular vaulting caused some static problems in covering such large and irregular areas.

3. Originally built between 670-675.

4. She traced the pointed arch to India in the second century AD. According to her, it was transmitted to Persia and then to Syria and Egypt.

Pointed arches are a distinctive architectural element that originated in the Middle Ages. They are recognized for their pointed, or apexed, shape, which sets them apart from the more rounded Romanesque arches. These arches are not just beautiful; they also have practical benefits in construction and design.

Pointed arches are a key feature in architecture that go beyond just looking good. They carry a deep history and cultural importance. These arches, with their sharp tops, became crucial in architectural design, especially in the middle ages. They weren't just about beauty; they brought new ways to solve building problems, allowing for the creation of high ceilings and spacious interiors that weren't possible before.

These arches mean more than just smart engineering; they carry deeper meanings, often tied to spiritual goals and the sacred. They started in the Islamic world and then became a big part of Gothic architecture in Europe. Over time, they've influenced many types of building styles and have made a lasting impression on our cities and buildings.

When we look into how and why pointed arches were used, we get to see a mix of clever engineering and creative design. We learn how these arches have helped shape buildings and places where people live and gather. By understanding where they came from, how they help structures stand up, and what they've meant over the centuries, we get a full picture of their role in the history of building. This helps us see why pointed arches are still important and admired in today's architecture.

A pointed arch can have different names depending on its style and where it's used. For example, in Gothic architecture, you might hear names like lancet arches, which are very tall and narrow, or equilateral arches, where the sides have the same length. In Islamic architecture, the pointed arch doesn't have a special name but is a key part of the overall design.

Impact on Architecture: The introduction of pointed arches had a profound impact on building design. They enabled the construction of taller, more spacious buildings with larger windows, transforming both interior and exterior aesthetics.

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