At the heart of the Iranian city of
Isfahan is the main Friday mosque.
Originally founded in the 8th century it
has been continually expanded and
repaired with every major dynasty leaving its stylistic imprint. It stands
as a palimpsest which reveals the
development of Islamic architecture in
the Iranian world. Built of fired brick
the complex is bookended by two of the
most perfectly proportioned domes, while
the vast courtyard at the heart of the
mosque has a large arch called Anna Wan
in the middle of each side. The large
cupboard area of the mosque developed
organically over the course of the last
millennium and features several hundred
small vaulted domes which act as a
pattern book for the possibilities of
brick design. The building remains a
living structure and retains its
original function. It lies at the heart
of the bazaar area and the decoration is
focused almost entirely on the courtyard
rather than the exterior. This reflects
the broader character of medieval
architecture in the Islamic world from
the smallest houses to the grandest
mosques.
