The presentation demonstrates the influence of 'Orientalism' as an ideology on European scholars and architects' understanding of Islamic Architecture.

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Orientalism and Islamic Architecture
Arch. Lamiaa Abdel Aziz
Teaching assistant
German university in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt
Prof./Dr. Khaled Dewidar
Professor of Architecture
Ain -Shams university
Cairo, Egypt
Prof./Dr. Mostafa Refat
Professor of Architecture
Ain -Shams university
Cairo, Egypt

2. Contents
 Orientalism.
 Phases of Orientalism.
 International expos: avenues for ‘Orientalism’.
 European scholars interpreting Islamic Architecture.
 Orientalism and Islamic Architecture.
 Conclusions.
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3. Orientalism
What is Orientalism ?
 A mere descriptive term associated with the western scholars’ fascination with the East.
 Edward Said’s book: “Orientalism” in 1978.
 Reintroduced a different definition to the term ‘Orientalism’.
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4. Orientalism
Said’s interpretation of ‘Orientalism’
 According to said ‘Orientalism’ implies a different sense of understanding.
 Orientalism discourse was a tool that empowered growing western domination.
Factors shaping ‘Orientalism’
 Polarized views (East/ west)
 Totalizing cultures
 Ethnology Discourses
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5. Orientalism
Phases of Architectural ‘Orientalism’
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18
th
Century
Orientalism
19
th
Century
Orientalism
New
Orientalism
18th Century 20th Century
19th Century
 Purpose: An analytic method in
viewing Islamic Architecture.
 Available data: based on expeditions.
 Islamic Architecture.
 Purpose: studying classical
heritage remnants.
 Available data: ‘Description of
Egypt’.
 Islamic Architecture.
Purpose: Wasn’t architecturally
based.
Available data: travelogues.
 Islamic architecture.

6. Orientalism
Comparison between ‘19th century Orientalism’ and ‘New Orientalism’
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19
th
Century
Orientalism
New
Orientalism
20th Century
19th Century
‘Description of Egypt’ Drawing
illustration of sultan Hassan mosque
Edward Lane Drawing illustration of
sultan Hassan mosque

7. Orientalism
International expos: avenues for ‘Orientalism’
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London
colonial
and
Indian
exhibition
Crystal
palace
London
Crystal
palace
Sydenham
Exposition
universelle
Paris
French
Exhibition
Paris
1889
French
Exhibition
French
Exhibition
Paris
 Held in 1854.
 Orientalists designed the
pavilions displayed in the
exhibitions.
 Held in 1851
 Orientalists designed the
pavilions displayed in the
exhibitions.
 Held in 1855.
 was intended to surpass the
British great exhibition
‘Crystal Palace’.
 Held in 1867.
 First time nations were
invited to design their own
pavilions.
(houses in the national
Architectural style).
 Held in 1878.
 National houses were
developed to become
separate pavilions.
 Held in 1886.
 Indian craftsmen were
seen while working by
visitors.
Held in 1889.
Egyptian craftsmen
constructed buildings
under French supervision
19th Century

8. Orientalism
International expos: avenues for ‘Orientalism’
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Alhambra court at the crystal palace, London
Crystal palace, London

9. Orientalism
European Scholars interpreting Islamic Architecture
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Tree of Architecture
by Sir Banister Fletcher
Drawing illustration for a tomb Near Cairo by Owen Jones

10. Orientalism
Orientalism and Islamic Architecture
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First Design for St. Marks church by James Wild
Alexandria, Egypt
The Executed design for St. Marks church

11. Orientalism
Orientalism and Islamic Architecture
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Heliopolis city, Egypt

12. Conclusions
 Orientalism discourse was influenced by ethnology and was used as a tool in justifying and
empowering the increasing western domination.
 European scholars' Architectural history accounts followed a bilateral division and were greatly
influenced by Orientalism discourse. And so history of Islamic Architecture.
 Orientalism discourse limited Western scholars statements about Eastern cultures and architectures;
in particular Islamic architecture.
 Orientalism and architecture emerged as a coupling and both were strongly related.
 Orientalism was a main factor in shaping the European architects’ outcome of Islamic architecture.
Recommendations
 Architectural Western Historical accounts need to be re-read and understood within the Orientalism
context.
 More research need to be conducted on The relation between ‘Orientalism’ as an ideology and
Architecture.
 More research need to be conducted on how ‘Orientalism’ affects architecture production nowadays.
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13. Thank you
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