Gondarine Art and Architecture (HaAh 523) - Course Syllabus

Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 2006

It is important to carry out research into historical architecture before buildings are lost to demolition or decay, a risk that is particularly great in rapidly growing developing countries. The historic town of Gondar, Ethiopia, has a wealth of historical architecture, including a palace that is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage property, as well as traditional houses and Italian-style buildings constructed during the Italian occupation. These buildings have been examined, but the research has not been thorough enough. In my previous research, I looked at the construction of these buildings, and described details such as the distribution of the buildings, their ownership and uses, their height and current condition and how they are being preserved. Here, I focus on the methods and materials used in the construction of Gondar's Italian-style buildings, and attempt to clarify their features, any damage they have incurred, and the key issues involved in their preservation.

International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, 2022

To understand the Golconda Historical study, The Fort History of Golconda-a case study of Golconda Rulers. The present study has formulated three hypotheses: the historical background of the Golconda fort and political history, and the early foundations of the Golconda fort. The Art & architecture of the Golconda Fort and a particular focus on Hindu Islamic architecture. Golconda as a trade centre. And multi-Industries in this region, Golconda Social and political Aspects and economic conditions of Golconda in the region. Water irrigation system for Agricultural development, what happened ending period of Golconda, the tourist place of the great Golconda.

journal of art & civilization of the orient, 2019

Vernacular architecture is one of the most representative of each culture. The current study canonizes the architecture of a part of simple but magnificent Iranian architecture in the Zagros (Hawraman region) slopes. It has special attributes with a hidden identity in the field of rural structure and architecture, erected as a product of human, culture and nature intersection. The current study applies a descriptive-analytical research method based on library research and field studies. The findings of the study show that Hawraman architecture was formed in the light of its culture and in harmony with nature. The villages are located on narrowvalley hillsides with a high slope. The dominant typology of buildings are as double-story buildings standing against the mountain slopes. The village has centers equal to the number of neighborhoods, structurally. Settlements are built where lands had the least usability for the other means. The lack of dead ends alleys in the physical structure of residential areas results in the minimization of natural and human hazards. The integration of stone, soil, and wood, applicationof Dimak and Marôła for jointing the structure parts and preventing drift, use of thick stone walls to prevent heat exchange, canopy and rain collector around all walls are unique characteristics that have substantial difference with inwardly oriented buildings in central Iran. Understanding the accumulated experiences of such a style provides us a great knowledge ofthe construction of buildings by preserving its original texture and identity, keeping the organic structure of nature.

The ruins of Old Gourna in Luxor amid the Theban Necropolis evoke a lot of questions. The complexity and success of its vernacular architecture/urbanism continue to perplex experts till today. After several attempts to relocate its residents, first at Hassan Fathi's new Gourna, then in the 2 nd New Gourna, Old Gourniis are still nostalgic about their old village. The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the authentic urban/architectural particularity and cultural heritage of the Old Gourna compared to the other two New Gournas. This will be achieved via the analyses of Urban Design Dimensions in relation to the social production of urban spaces in the 3 Gournas.

The present Gondar zuria woreda had been the major cultural and political centre of the country in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. Even after the political centre was located at Gondar, the area had a tremendous significance in trade, culture and architecture. Since the fourteenth century Christianity was expanded to the region and several churches were built (such as Amba Maryam, Debsan and Mitraha) to evangelize the non-Christian population. And when the political centre was fixed at Guzara and Denqez the emperors built magnificent castles. Therefore, the result of the survey showed that Gondar zuria woreda is potentially rich in historical sites with their remains. This survey recorded more than thirteen historical sites that encompass a period from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. The existence of the sites from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century are attested by royal chronicles, European travel accounts, remains of the structures (the existence of mortar remains) and oral information. The result of this survey enlightens some of the research questions that the previous oral traditional and art historical approach did not address. This research provides important information about large number of unexplored historical sites which are found in Gondar zuria woreda. Among the surveyed sites, old Enfraz is perhaps the most promising owing to its extremely rich artifacts yield at the surface and the historical accounts which may supplement any archaeological evidence. In general, the result of this historical survey noted that the importance of the surveyed sites which deserves more research attention as it may yield. This work is the outcome of an MA thesis in history defended at University of Gondar in 2017.

South Asian Studies, 2011

Amin Ojie, 2024

In Islamic architecture, array and decoration, either essential or additive, is as important as the building itself. Decorative motifs, in addition to their decorative role, carry a lot of weight in Islamic art, so it can be viewed as the sample of artists’ artwork and mindset on their religion believes. Inscriptions, carry some verses of the Qur'an or quotes from Nabi, are an important part of the mosques decorations that have been worked out in different parts of the mosque, especially at the sides of the mihrab. The Kufic script gradually evolved by Iranian visual artists, and it reached to a full beauty degree in Seljuq period. The Mihrab and inscriptions of the Jameh mosque of Golabar in Iran, with a thousand year of background, is an example of Kufic script from the beginning of Seljuk period. It is beautiful but it has way to become an outstanding Kufic script. An eye-catching artwork that has never been studied seriously until now, so there are no references exist for a researcher to study that maybe reveals some secrets of this place. Two around mosques called Sajas and Ghorveh, implicitly lead the researcher to some information about this unique place. This paper studies and analyzes graphic and visual aspects of Golabar mosque remnants and, in some cases, adaptively studies the inscriptions of Golabar mosque in comparison with the Qerveh mosque. The mosque of Qerveh village (of the Abhar County) refers to the Seljuq period and is of the oldest buildings related to the Islamic period in Iran1, which has had a great importance due to its plan, Kufic script, inscriptions, ¬¬¬¬and rosettes bearing the name of prophet Muhammad. The evolution of Kufic scripts through this period is revealed by an adaptive comparison and given the relative closeness of these villages and, thus the possibility of communication along with the signs resulting from graphic examinations of the scripts, this hypothesize is put forward that the Qarveh mosque decorations are affected by that of Golabar mosque in some ways. It is hoped that this paper could pave the way for further study on these two buildings by Islamic art scholars.