The document summarizes the design elements of the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque located in Shiraz, Iran. It was built between 1876 and 1888 in the Iranian Qajar architectural style. The document outlines the key lines, shapes, forms, textures, and decorative elements used in the mosque's interior design, including arched entrances, muqarnas vaulting, arabesque patterns, stained glass windows, and a central courtyard with water. The rectangular layout and use of geometry throughout is said to produce a feeling of order and control over the space.

1. Prepared by: Aysha Asaad
Interior Design Studio
2017-2018
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2. Content :
-Brief explanation about the site
-Elements of desgin
• Lines
• Spacing
• Shapes
• Form
• Textures
-Decorative elements
-Standards and desgin considerations
-Reference
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3. • Location: shiraz-Iran
• architectural style: Iranian style "Qajar”
• Built: from 1876 to 1888
• The designers: Mohammad Hasan-e-Memār, an
Iranian architect, and Mohammad Rezā Kāshi-Sāz-e-
Širāzi
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6. Elements of design:
lines:
• Vertical lines are dominant.
• Vertical lines work on increasing the height to the
building and as height increases the space
spirituality increases.
• It gives the feeling of grandeur also strengthens
the space.
• Those lines Can be seen in Columns and Pillars.
• The thick lines of columns shows how rigid and
strong and dominance the space is.
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7. Spacing/ zoning
• Large and high ceiling worship halls are designed
to give the prayers the feeling of happiness
,calmness ,humbleness and how great is Allah .the
mosque has 2 loggias one in north and the other
on south, and the middle connection of the 2
loggias , two short minarets exist.
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8. Shape:
• The layout of the plan is in a rectangular shape,
• All element hired are in a geometrical shape, only
the arches are “pointed arches”, those
mechanical shapes produce a feeling of control or
order.
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9. Forms:
• Muqarnases are used widely in the interior,
those geometric Form were created by the
combining of two or more shapes. And are
enhanced by texture and color.
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10. Textures
• Actual textures or tactile are used to decorate the whole
interior ,those textures are shiny ,and with vivid colors and
smooth touch.
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11. Arabesque
(islimi)
• Arabesque designs are
biomorphic, floral patterns
representing the underlying
order and unity of nature with a
great deal of accuracy.
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12. Islamic Decorative
Elements
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13. Stained
glass:
• Stained glass is dominance for the
interior of the mosque
• sunlight shines through the colorful
glasses, it presents as exemplary
beauty to the interior of the
bedchamber, making this mosque
outstandingly aesthetical among other
mosques of Iran.
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14. Light
• Light can add a dynamic quality to
architecture, extending patterns, forms and
designs into the dimensions of time.
• And the combination of light and shade
creates strong contrasts of planes and gives
texture to sculpted stone, as well as stocked
or brick surfaces.
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15. Water Element
• Water in Persian gardens has a particularly
symbolic meaning, but it also helps to cool
the air and nourish the plants that provide
shade .
• water used in both a practical and spiritual
way;water symbolizes external purification,
and it also brings the user into ritual contact
with the architecture itself
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16. Advantages
• Some Arts are very significant at this mosque, like tiling, painting in roofs
of loggia, colorful glasses, plaster-works, turnery of columns and the
beautiful decorations of Mihrab.
• Rectangular plans are considered to be the best and the most used in
whole world .
• The middle courtyard with water helps decreasing the heat in summer
times
Disadvantages
• the columns interrupts the lines of the praying peoples, as we as Muslims
need to be in one row without breakage.
• Huge contrast makes reading Quran difficult somehow.
• The ceilings need more height ,which makes the praying person feel more
comfortable and able to hear the praying clearly without so much noise .
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18. Minimum space required for a praying person
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19. Sample ablution space
Figure 1
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25. bathrooms
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26. Reference:
• https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/15/nasir-al-mulk-pink-
mosque_n_4959362.html
• http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/mosque-of-whirling-colours
• http://gravity.ir/nasir-al-mulk-mosque-in-shiraz/
• https://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/articles/water-in-islamic-
architecture/
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