The Dome of the Rock
“Holy is He Who carried His
servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makka) to the farther Mosque (in
Jerusalem) – whose surroundings We have blessed – that We might show him some
of Our signs 1. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (Quran 17:1)
This religious verse from a holy book might not seem
relevant or important to us in the west, but for over a billion Muslims this
parable gives Muslims the divine right over Jerusalem. As it is believed by all Muslims
the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat As-Sakhrah) was the destination of Mohammed’s
(PBUH) night journey. To commemorate this religious milestone, the Dome of the
Rock was the first Islamic structure to be built using the dome design, the
dome design that is now ubiquitous with modern day mosques worldwide.
Originally constructed in the 7th
century, the Islamic shrine has been continuously remodeled and been overtaken ever
since. As an architect, some
buildings are not just the sum of bricks and mortar but they are much more, a
spiritual connection, a political statement, and even a sacred religious
symbol. So as an architectural
student what do I take from this, well it is going to sound cliché: location,
location, location. If just the
structure of the Dome of the Rock was in Egypt it would be a minor tourist
attraction, well eclipsed by the Pyramids of Giza. However the Dome of the Rock is in Israel and after
the six day war it suddenly became the third holiest place in Islam behind the
Kaaba in Makah and the Grand Mosque in Medina.
A structure that laid abandoned and barely noticed became a
symbol that people were willing to die for or even more importantly kill
for. So why is the Dome so
important, why am I writing about it now, because of its location. When you are faced with a building
project, ask yourself not just about the budget, the specifications, but also
take into account the location.
Location can make a building insignificant or all important.
Sources
1.
Isra and Miraj the Miraculous night Journey
2.
Home Page
3.
Encyclopedia Britannica
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-dome-of-the-rock/photos/dome-of-the-rock-exterior-detail-c-torie
https://quadralectics.wordpress.com/3-contemplation/3-3-churches-and-tetradic-architecture/3-3-1-the-form-of-the-ground-plan/3-3-1-4-the-octagonal-church-plan/
https://quadralectics.wordpress.com/3-contemplation/3-3-churches-and-tetradic-architecture/3-3-1-the-form-of-the-ground-plan/3-3-1-4-the-octagonal-church-plan/
No comments:
Post a Comment