Ablaq

Reception hall of Azem Palace in Damascus, Syria, using ablaq technique (18th century)

Ablaq (Arabic: أبلق; particolored; literally 'piebald'[1]) is an architectural technique involving alternating or fluctuating rows of light and dark stone.[2][3] It is an Arabic term[4] describing a technique associated with Islamic architecture in the Arab world.[5] It may have its origins in earlier Byzantine architecture in the region, where alternating layers of white stone and orange brick were used in construction.[3] The technique is used primarily for decorative effect.

  1. ^ Hillenbrand, Robert (1999). Islamic Art and Architecture. Thames and Hudson. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-500-20305-7.
  2. ^ Rabbat, Nasser O. "10- The Emergence of the Citadel as Royal Residence". Aga Khan program for Islamic architecture. Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Allen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Vermeulen, Urbain; De Smet, D.; van Steenbergen, J. (1995). Egypt and Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk eras. Vol. 3. Peeters Publishers. p. 288. ISBN 978-90-6831-683-4. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2012.