By 300, the Roman empire starts to disintegrate. It has become overstretched, inefficient and attacked by roaming bands of bandits and goths. By early 300, Constantine moves the capital from Italy to the city of Constantinople, present day Istanbul.
In 313, Constantine issues the Edict of Milan and the Roman empire has adopted Christianity as its main form of religion. Thus, there is a removal of power from the European capital of Rome to Asia Minor but also a shift in religion, which changes the fabric of Europe going forward in terms of architecture, design and learning.
People are not wealthy and do not have the ability to invest in architecture or interior design. One of the great architectural works of the 6th century was the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul; which, is a very important Byzantine church that today is being used as a Mosque. Minarets, four spiral towers were additions to make the structure suitable for functioning as a Mosque. The three domes are part of the original structure. It has a centrally oriented plan with a large space in the middle; unlike, the Western church which is based on a basilica form. The Roman temple form such as the Parthenon is used as the plan for the Byzantine church. However, the space opens up wider in the Byzantine church. Four large piers in the floor plan carry the weight of the dome above. The Pantheon could fit a perfect globe comparatively the Hagia Sophia has a far greater heightened ceiling with a grand central space. The entire inside is covered with mosaics and patterned marble. The dome sits atop a drum which is pierced by multiple windows unlike the Parthenon which has a central oculus.
The flat walls and walls with apses have ample light coming in. When a circular dome sits atop rectangular forms, to hold the structure, triangular elements called pendentives are required. Thus, pendentives become integral to Neoclassical and Renaissance architecture causing this innovation to move from the Roman architecture to the Byzantine architecture. Furthermore, one can see richly patterned marbles with capitals characterized by pierced carving. This is not classical but based on classical form. Therefore, indigenous art form is combined with classical art form.
The Byzantine church form travels because of trade. Venice is at the centre of this trade. Furthermore Eastern and Western architecture can be seen meeting and converging in San Marco, Saint Marks. A series of domes and pointed arches on the facade and arcade below the rounded arches can be seen. The interior is centrally oriented. The crossing of the apse and naive comes from Western influence. Domes with pendentives and angels with stories of lives of saints become very prevalent. The Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna is a central plan and the centre has a high dome space holding a square, and shallow dome.
Islam in the near east design impacts European design. Islam is founded in 622 by Mohammad and spreads quickly throughout the near east and moves onto the European continent to Greece, Spain and the Mediterranean coast. As a result, there is an onset of the combining of indigenous, hellenistic and classical architecture and design introduced by the Greeks and Romans. The Red Monastery in Egypt exemplifies this combing of cultures through the structure of columns, niches and the apocalyptic portrait of Christ in the ceiling painted on the surface. The Monastery is still largely adorned in original painted surfaces.
The Minaret in the Great Mosques, we see today are a combining of Assyrian and Egyptian cultures. As there is a strong rectangular form at the base which is also in a winding form. Rounded arches at the base of the structure also exist.
The Dome of Rock in Jerusalem, has a clear geometric hexagon with an arcade of applied columns around it. A clear dome sits at the top. The surface of the building is Islamic as evidenced through the tile work. The white field with blue pattern and script holds Arabic script with intertwining patterning that is inclusive of design and important Arabic verses.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dome-of-the-Rock
The Ottoman Empire moves in and the name of Constantinople changes to Istanbul. At the Topkapi Palace one can see the Sultan’s residence. This residence is a low building which is spread out with garden courts and water features. The residence beautifully integrates the greenery and forestry around it. Thus, the rich and lush greenery in a series of pavilion like buildings creates a type of paradise. Furthermore, the property is immersed in fountains, arcades and balconies thus allowing one many ways of experiencing the interior and exterior space. Lattice work over windows creates shade and allows air and light especially in the lower window. Blue and white tile is used on the exterior of the building. Interiors are richly coloured and decorated. Rectangular plains are filled in with floral motifs. Turkey cultivated tulips, thus these are very often integrated in patterns of painted wall surfaces and in tiles. Interiors have iznik tiles, floral motifs and scripture with important sitting areas covered with canopies. Small, pointed arches act as room dividers. Windows filter light with a screen effect.
Topkapi Palace
Carpet production grows in near east. Very often pattern in all over pattern meant to reflect the sky and starts in the sky with no beginning or end. An interlacing quality gives the tiles the name of arabesque which has a type of tulip motif.
In the early 17th century the Blue Mosque is built in Istanbul we can see it has a strong relation to the Hagia Sophia. Although the inside of the Blue Mosque is different from the Hagia Sophia, the interior is decorated with isnik tiles. The interior has a light sparkly quality due to approximately 200 stained glass windows, the magnificent circular chandeliers which sit close to the floor. On the floor there are 100s of carpets to facilitate prayer.
https://istanbul.com/blog/sultanahmet-mosque-the-blue-mosque/
Islamic culture spreads to Spain and lasts 800 years which results in exquisite architecture and as a result the Moorish style develops.
The Alhambra Palace starts out as a fortress in 1333 and is converted into a palace. One can see a series of pavilion like architecture connected by gardens and water features. There is an intertwining of Western and Eastern design. Rounded arch arcade are prevalent with opulent gardens creating a sense of indoor and outdoor rooms. The Court of the Lions, has a shaded interior created by arched columns, each set close to each other. The centre of the courtyard contains the 12 Lion Fountain and water continues in the 4 cardinal directions, travelling inside the building and on to the other rooms. One can see scalloped interlacing and overlapping arcs with stones. The surface has arabesques with low relief carving travelling all along the walls.
https://www.classicist.org/calendar/events/graphite-grits-alhambra-palace-spain/
Islamic ornament consisted of geometric interlacing and never ending patterns. Abstract floral motifs, represent figures that were forbidden so often one sees plants and flowers as decorative motifs. Interlacing patterns were often surrounded by frames, philosophically representing that one can only look at one part of a never-ending universe.
Information courtesy of New York School of Interior Design “Historical Styles 1” class