INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL Of ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Vol. 3. No.1. January, 2011, Part II

EVOLUTION OF TOWERS AND MINARET OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE FROM QABUS TOWER TO MALAYSIAN PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS (KLCC)
Mohammadreza Pourjafar , Ali Pourjafar , Mahnoosh Shahinrad
1 2 1 2 1

Tarbiat Modares University, Payame Noor University, Tehran (IRI)

ABSTRACT Islamic architecture (that many people believe it is Muslims architecture) has been developed very well within a vast geographical world of Islam. Studying the evolution of valuable structure, built during 1000 years ago in various part of the Islamic world indicates that there is a valuable potential in traditional Islamic architecture to be considered in developing contemporary architecture. In this article, first of all, Qabus tower [which was] built (1000 years ago) by Qabus Ibn Voshmgir in Gonbad Qavus of Golestan province and Aliabad tomb in Kashmar city in Iran and Jam minaret which was built in 1194 in Ghoor at Khomdare of Afghanistan have been studied. Then Qutob Minaret which was built in 1193 near Delhi with respect to Qabus tower, Jam minaret and Aliabad Tomb was studied. After that twin towers of Malaysia called Petronas was studied. The study indicates that the towers and tombs built in Iran have influenced the design and construction of Qutob minaret. The authors in this article through comparative analysis have cleared that the plan and faade of Petronas twin towers (KLCC) have acquired their design from Qutob minaret and Qutob minaret also has acquired its design ideas from Jam minaret, Qabus tower and Aliabad Tomb. Key words: Architecture, Aliabad Tomb, Qabus Tower, Jam minaret, Petronas Twin Towers 1. INTRODUCTION The minaret which means the place of light was built as landmark and monumental structure. They were built to help passengers finding their ways and also as a memorial related to the kings and their builders. They were also built as a part of mosques from which Muslims are called to pray. According to some viewpoints some towers like Qabus tower were built as a tomb. Today minarets are transformed to towers with a bigger plan and greater different function like Petronas Twin Towers. In this regard the process of tower design (minaret) from Qabus tower, Jam minaret and Qutob minaret have been studied and their impact on each other has been analyzed, then Petronas Twin Towers have been introduced and finally their relation with each other has been mentioned. Aliabad Tomb - Iran Qabus tower - Iran Qutob minaret India

Jam Minar Afghanistan Fig.1. Location of the 5 building in the world (Authors) 2. QABUS TOWER This tower is the tallest building built in brick in the world and one of the best th structures which was built in the 4 century. According to the inscription on its shaft, the tower was constructed in respect to the order of Amir Shams Ol Maali in 1006. There are several different views about the main goal of constructing this tower but the most probable motive is creating a place as a tomb for its sponsor, Qabus Ibn Voshmgir. The towers great height makes it a landmark and a symbol for Gorgan city. It also worked as a landmark with 70 meters height to help passengers finding their ways in Gorgan plain (Ghezeljeh, Matin, 2009-01-31). 2.1 Construction Details: The total height of the tower is 55 meters (Fig.3). The tower is located on a

Petronas Twin Towers - Malaysia

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Fig.2. Qabus tower http://fa.wikipedia.org

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manmade hill with the height of 15 m. So the height of the tower from ground to its tip is 70 meters (Fig.3). The dome of Qabus tower is single shell with high slope so the rain and snow cannot remain on it and also the birds cannot stand on it. In this way the surface of the tower on the top shall be maintain and it would remain neat and clean and avoid further damage. Qabus tower has a cylindrical shaft with ten angular vertical treatments with an angle of ninety degrees and tower in plan seems as a 10-wing star. The diameter of the shaft decreases proportionate to increasing the height of it therefore the shaft is not an absolute cylinder. The angular vertical treatments along the shaft not only work as structural members, but also emphasis on verticality of the tower and work as architectural design elements. They create more attractive appearance of towers faade. They also avoid monotonous brick work and create a play of shadow and light on overall form of this structure.

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Fig.3. Qabus towers height

Entrance of the tower: Its entrance is opened to southeast where the sun rises. The door is 1/5 m. width and 5/55 m. height. A beautiful archway with exposed brick shaped the entrance.

Fig. 4. The angular vertical treatment (engmmajidee.blogfa.com)

Fig. 5. Entrance of Qabus tower (architectstyle.persianblog.ir)

Fig.6. The angular vertical treatments work as structural member, (engmmajidee.blogfa.com)

3. ALI ABAD (KASHMAR) TOMB There is a Tomb called Ali Abad (Kashmar) which is designed and th constructed during 13 (A.D.) century. It is the most significant among those buildings built during that time (Hill and Graber, 1996 : 89) in Southern Khorasan Province in Iran. 3.1 Construction Details: This building is located in the village of Aliabad at 42 kilometers away from Kashmar City. It is built in brick and its faade is a combination of 48 angular and circular treatments. There are turquoise ceramics decorations between the main shaft and the dome. Its cone shaped dome is two covered. The height of its dome is 18 meters and the internal shape of its shaft is octagonal one. Its internal perimeter is 22 meters and its external perimeter is 42 meters (http://janotansmith.persianblog.ir/post/2). 4. JAM MINAR Jam minar was constructed among the mountains of Ghor province on the southern coast of the Harir Rud. Archaeologists in UNSCO introduce Jam minaret as one of the most distinguished architectural monument as far as its construction is concerned in the world. Jam minaret is an indicator for traditional and local architecture in an extremely perfection and elegance extent. This minaret was constructed in memory of Soltan Ghias Din Ghory (1163 -1202) in 1194. Jam minaret is one of the most spectacular structures in Afghanistan and it was said that it is the second highest minaret in the world (after Qutob Minar in Delhi) (www.jame1&2 ghor.com ). Besides Jam minaret, there is another minaret in Nimrooz state in th th Afghanistan which was constructed in late 9 century or early 10 century in southwest of Afghanistan. Although it was incomplete but affected the form of the Qutob Minar. (Sahai, Surendra, 2004, 17) Jam Minar with 60 meters height was a monumental minaret which was discovered by A. Marik in 1957 in the capital of Ghorian (Marik & John Vitt , Jam minar,1959, 74).

Fig.7. Aliabad TombKashmar, (Hill and Grabar, 1996: 25)

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Fig. 8. Jam minaret on the southern coast of the Harir rud (www.jame-ghor.com)

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Fig.9. Jam minaret (www.neatorama.co)m

4.1 Construction Details Jam minaret built in brick which is based on an octagonal platform. The height of the base is 18 meters and has been divided into 3 levels. Balconies are projected over the brackets and the minaret has been decorated with a domical cap with opening at its top. There is a little disagreement between experts about the height of Jam minaret but some of them who studied the minaret at its site agree about its 63.3 meters height. The diameter of the minaret of the plan at the base plane is 8 meters. There is a small entrance to the inner space of the minaret which is located 2 meters above the ground level. Ali Ibn Ibrahim from Neishaour (a city in north east of Iran) was the architect of the minaret whom his name is written in two places on the minaret. It was said that he constructed such a great monument in 7 years. (SAPK, publication of cultural conservation association, No.6, Afghanistan) Image of the inner part of the minaret and its faade has been described: there is a spiral stair from bottom to the top of the minaret and its faade has been decorated with bright turquoise relief brick on the cream color and a band of holly Quran inscription. (Jame Ghor website: www.jameghor.com) brick, wood and turquoise ceramic tiles are materials that were used in construction of different parts of the minaret. As it is mentioned before, there is another minaret called Siahpoosh minaret it was incomplete- but it was one of the archetypes for designing of the Qutob minaret. This minaret has detail treatments of stalagmite and its plan is circular with semicircles and angular edges but its construction was discontinued after completion of the first storey. Stuccoes which were used with brick models, made this minaret as an archetype for Qutob minaret (Sahai, Surendra, 2004, 17).

5. QUTOB MINAR Qutob minar was constructed in respect to order of Qut-ub-din Eibak, king of India, in Delhi in 13 century. It was an imitation of Jam minaret in Afghanistan. The first storey of this building was constructed during the lifetime of Qotbodin and maybe the other stories were constructed in respect to order of Iltutmish. Unlike the opinion of some historians who said the minaret was constructed for Azan (calling Muslims for pray), the aim of constructing this minaret was to be a memorial for victories of the king (Zekrgoo, A.H., 1996). Qutob Minar was something more than a place for Azan (calling Muslims for pray). It is an outstanding symbol of new religion (Islam) in India. There is a correlation between this minaret and Jam Minar which has been discovered in Afghanistan recently (Marik & John Vitt ,Jam minar,1959, 10). The design of Qutob minar complex was under the influence of Saljuqs architectural style. th th During the 10 and 11 centuries, the Saljuqs, Turkish nomads recently converted to Islam, ran through the greater part of Arab caliphate to control Iraq, parts of Syria and Iran and westward to Anatolia. The Saljuqs built madarsas (school for religious instruction) to strengthen orthodoxy in Islam. They gave a classic architectural form to the four iwan plan with a courtyard and a monumental domed chamber. The pishtaq acquires a grand appearance. Now gallery zones, engaged corner columns and double dome were added to the square domed chamber of the basic architectural form of the mausolea. The style of the minaret under Iranian influence acquires a grand and ornamental form. The earlier minarets had a square shape in Syria, Spain and North Africa. In Samarra and Fustat, the minaret had a spiral form. The tapering cylindrical form, including the inbuilt single or double staircases, corbelled balconies, three tiered elevation, use of flanges and engaged columns are the typical Saljuq features. The double minaret flanking the iwan is yet another feature of the Saljuq architecture which went on to appear with regular frequency all over the Islamic world. Later on the Ottomans increased the number of minarets at mosques to five or six. When Sultan Ahmad provided six minarets at his mosque in Jerusalem, the number of minarets at the Mecca mosque had to be raised to seven to maintain its prestigious position as the most sacred mosque of Islam. Muqarnas or honeycomb vaulting designed for filling the voids of the arched structure and used as mouldings and covering curved surfaces now becomes a part of the Islamic ornament. (Sahai, Surendra, 2004,9) This minaret is located in 14 kilometers south of Canad Polis (the oldest designed official business center in mastery of England on India) in Delhi (2009-tourism.webindia123.com). Authors believe that according to location of the minaret in the court yard of the mosque and possibility of the access to the top of it, minaret could be used for

Fig. 10. Qutb minaret and Masque of Quwwat ul Islam (http://tourism.webindia1 23.com)

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Azan (calling Muslims for pray), too.

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Fig.11. Ghobatol Islam Masjid site plan www.tabor.me.uk 5.1. CONSTRUCTION DETAILS Qutob Minar was devided into five levels and between each two levels a circular balcony encompasses the minaret. In each level there are some inscriptions of holly Quran and the names of Qutobodin Eibak, Mohammad Ben Sam, etc. This tower with the height of 72.5 meters has 379 steps. The diameter of its base plane is 14.32 meters and at the top of the building diameter was reduced to 2.75 meters. Qutob minaret in primary form had 4 levels and is claded with cream and rosy sandstone. But white marble Fig. 12 Qotb minaret - balcony was used in constructing the upper level while www.asiaexplorers.com renovating which was done in 1368 A.D. The first beneath three levels have three different plan and design. The outline of plan in first level shows that angular and circular grooves were combined. In second level just circular grooves lie beside each other and in third level just angular and triangular grooves were used (Fig. 13). The upper balconies were supported by brackets of arch form which were borrowed from Islamic Iranian architecture (Zekrgoo, A.H., 1996).

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Third
6. PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS (KLCC)

Second Level

First

Fig. 13. Plans of different levels of Qutob minaret. (Zekrgoo, A.H. , 1996 )

Twin towers of Malaysia were constructed in Kuala Lumpur on the shore of Pacific Ocean during 1992 to 1998 when that was the time of prosperity of Malaysia in Asia. The need of the national petrol corporation of Malaysia to a seat (headquarter) for developing its performance was a motive for constructing these towers. Because of their special and remarkable architecture style, they have been used a lot in films, TV shows, books and video games (Abasi, Zabol, 2006). There is a bridge on the 42th floor which connects two towers. This bridge has 192ft length and 558 ft height from the ground and two brackets fix it at its position. The outline of the form of these towers is an octagonal star with circular and angular grooves which is common in Asia and Islamic arenas which are considered as a symbol of peace and salvation. A person moving in this complex is one of the most important subjects which attracted designers attention. Someone who wants to go to even floors can use elevators and the others who want to go to odd lower floors can use escalators to go to upper floor and then use elevators. Thus one set of elevator can serve two floors simultaneously. Each tower has 88 floors and allocates about 218 thousands square meters. Seizer Polli and his partnerships are the architects of these towers. They constructed these unique twin towers in the central area of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. This complex with 32 thousands windows and 1483ft (452 meters) height is one of the tallest buildings in the world. The last floor of Petronas twin towers is located at the height of 1242 ft from ground surface and the upper parts of these buildings have cone shape. Because of combination of modern and traditional style of architecture, designing of Petronas twin towers in Malaysia is important. The geometrical plan of these buildings, beside its beautiful appearance, makes proper basis for maximum using of existing spaces and natural lights. The glassy faade of these towers makes them outstanding with splendid appearance. Their corrugated elevations give these buildings a beautiful display (Abasi,Zabol, 2006). - Comparative analysis of Qutob Minar, Jam Minar and Qabus tower: Table 1. Similarities between Qutob minaret and Qabus tower Qutob minaret Qutob Minar

Fig. 14. Petronas twin towers architectstyle.p ersianblog.ir

Qabus tower

The plan shape of both buildings and the treatments of the faade on the shaft of both towers are almost the same. According to this reason, the authors believe that Qabus tower was one of the archetypes for architect of the Qutob minaret. The height of Qutob minaret (72.5 m.) is almost the same as the height of Qabus tower (70 m.= 15m. manmade hill and 55m. tower) too. The founders of these towers as well as Jam Minar are originally from Khorasan province of Iran near Afghanistans border.

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Source: Authors, 2010.

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Table 2. Similarities between Qutob Minar and Jam Minar Qutob minaret Jam minaret

The decreasing of diameter of the cylindrical shaft in both structures is observed. According to the time of their construction and geographical distance between them, we can guess that the form of Jam Minar was one of the archetypes for architect of Qutob minaret. Source: Authors, 2010. Inscription on the shaft of Qabus tower and Jam Minar are very attractive. Inscriptions in Qabus tower are moderate and just in brick but in Jam Minar, architect combined brick and turquoise seramic tiles decorations, beautifully. Professional combination of Quran inscription and stone decoration on the shaft of the Qutob Minar indicate they have previously been experienced in Afghanistan and Iran. -Comparative analysis of Qutob minaret and Petronas Twin Towers: Table 3. Formal similarities between Qutob Minar and Petronas Twin Towers

In both structures, the diameter of the shaft decreases with increasing the height Source: authors, 2010

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Table 4. Similarities between Qutob Minar and Petronas Twin Towers

The plan shape and faade treatments of Petronas tower are almost same as Qutob Minar. Source: authors, 2010 Table 5. Similarities between Aliabad Tomb and Petronas Twin Towers

The plan shape and faade treatments of petronas tower are almost same as Aliabad Tomb. Source: authors, 2010 It is quite surprising that the datail of faade of Aliabad Tomb building is almost similar to that of Qutob Minar and Petronas Twin Towers. The major difference is in use of material. That is; brick use in Ali Abad (Kashmar), stone in Qutob Minar and stainless steel in Petronas Twin Towers. The other difference is that Petronas Twin Towers are highrised but Ali Abad building is lowrise (Table 6). It seems that most probably either the designer of both building (Qutob Minar and Aliabad Tomb) is the same or they were somehow familiar with eachother. It also indicated that the architect of Jam Minar and Kashmar

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tomb both were from Khorasan Province and the time of design and construction of Kashmar tomb and Qutob Minar is also same. -Comparative analysis of all 5 structures: Table 6. Comparison of all 4 structures plans* Petronas Twin Tower Qutob minaret Jam minaret Qabus tower

**
1- Angular grooves are seen in plan of Qabus tower, Qutob minar , Aliabad (Kashmar) Tomb and Petronas Twin Towers 2- Rounded grooves are seen in plan of Qutob minaret , Aliabad (Kashmar) Tomb and Petronas Twin Towers. 3- Declining the diameter of the structures proportionate to increasing the height is seen in Jam minaret, Qutob minaret and Petronas Twin Towers. *plans are in different scales. ** plan of Jam minaret has been drawn by authors with respect to some available images and dimensions. Source : Authors, 2010.

Brick Qabus tower- Jam minaret-Aliabad Tomb

Stone Qotb minaret

Glass & Metal Petronas Twin Towers

Diagram 1. The evolution of dominant materials from Qabus tower to Petronas twin towers (authors, 2010) 7. CONCLUSION Comparative analysis of these towers and Tomb shows that designing the faade of Petronas Twin Towers has been under impression of designing the plan and faade of Qutob Minar in India and Aliabad Tomb in Iran (table 3,4 and 5) and Qutob Minar itself was constructed under impression of Jam Minar and Qabus tower (table 1 and 2). Qutob Minar and the other two towers which affected the form of Qutob Minar are samples of Islamic architecture so we can say that Petronas Twin towers has been constructed as a sample of evolution of Islamic architecture. The outline plan of all these towers are almost circle and as it is shown in studying the evolution of these towers, the faade of Qabus tower has angular grooves, and Jam Minars faade is circular and decorated with projected brick woks (Names of God and verses of Quran). There is a combination of angular and rounded grooves in Qutob Minars facade and Aliabd Tomb. Qutob Minars facade has been decorated with cream and rosy stone (names and verses of Quran). It seems that the form of faade of those towers and Tomb affected designing the faade of Petronas Twin Towers (tables 1, 2, 3, 4 &5). The schematic diagram of the relationship between designing of these towers is shown in diagram 2.

Qabus tower Jam Minar

Qutb Minar Aliabad Tomb

Petronas Twin Towers

Diagram 2. The impression of the form of faade of 5 towers and Tomb on each other, authors, 2010.

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The materials which are used in faade of Petronas Twin Towers are glass and metal (steel and aluminum) instead of brick and stone. These materials are used because of their brightness and consistency and availability (diag. 1). This research has a message to Islamic architects or other architects, who want to design with respect to Islamic architecture, that if they do adequate research about the chronology of Islamic architecture and its design creation in the past, they can do successful design to get international opportunity like the architect of Petronas Twin Towers. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Abbasi, Zabol; 2009; Internet Address: http://www.civilmaster.ir/fa , Access Date 19/July/2009. Ghezelje, Matin; 2009; Qabus Tower, Internet Address: http://bayragh.ir/ , Access Date 11/July/2009 Hill, Derek & Oleg Graber, Islamic Architecture and its decoration, translated to Persian by Vahdati D., Vahid, Cultural & Scientific publication, Tehran, Iran, 1996. Jairazbhoy, R. A., an outline of Islamic architecture, Asia Publishing House, India, 1972. Majidi, Mohammad Reza; 2009; Qabus Tower, the tallest brick work tower in the world, Internet Address: http://engmmajidee.blogfa.com , Access Date 3/August /2009. Minaret of jam, http://www.jame-ghor.com/Ghor-other links / Minaret.of.jam/Minaret%20of%20Jam,%20The%20oldest%20minar%20in%20the%20World.htm. Access Date 23/July/2009. Pirnia, Mohammad Karim, Persian architecture style (Sabk Shenasi Memari e Irani), Sorush publication, April 2008. The PETRONAS Twin Towers Official Website, Inspiration, Architecture, http://www.petronas.com.my/internet/pett/pettweb.nsf/frm_home_hi?OpenFrameset, Access Date 3/August/2009. Qutub Minar Complex, Delhi, India, www.asiaexplorers.com , Access Date 27/July/2009. Sahai, Surendra, Indian Architecture Islamic Period, 1192-1857, Prakash Book India (P) LTD, New Delhi, India, 2004. Smith, Jonathan; 2010; Intrnet Address: http://janotansmith.persianblog.ir/post/2, Access Date 6/April/2010. Zekrgoo, Amir Hossain, Ghobat Ol Islam mosque, proceeding of mosque`s architecture, Art University, October 1997, pp 231-347. http://architectstyle.persianblog.ir , Access Date 11/July/2009. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_large_blank_world_map_with_oceans_marked_in_blue.g if, Access Date 1/August/2009. http://fa.wikipedia.org, Access Date 22/March/2009. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/, Access Date 11/July/2009. http://tourism.webindia123.com, Monday, July 27, 2009, Access Date 1/August/2009.

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