Geometric patterns in egyptian architecture & interior design

This study will examine the role of geometric patterns in selected examples of Egyptian architecture, interior architecture and art. Ancient Egyptian, Coptic, and Islamic periods are the selected historical ages from Egyptian heritage due to the abundance of different works and styles with geometric pattern characteristics during their periods. In addition to the historical periods, the study will demonstrate some selected models from Egyptian contemporary architecture and arts. These models include architectural projects, traditional craft products and artistic works with geometrical characteristics. The study aims, through the extracted information, to increase the awareness about the effective role of geometric patterns as an architectural and artistic capability and to clarify the degree of freedom, flexibility and functionality as an inherent feature through demonstrating the different practices, styles and materials.


Introduction
Geometric patterns are employed by architects, interior architects and fine art artists to create a wide range of designs including textiles, ceramics, metalwork, architectural elements, and manuscripts.It considers one of the main matching points between architecture and arts through providing a variety of shapes, forms, models and formulas."The simple forms of the circle, square, and straight line are the basis of the patterns.These elements are combined, duplicated, interlaced, and arranged in intricate combinations.Most patterns are typically based on one of two types of grid, one composed of equilateral triangles, the other of squares.A third type of grid composed of hexagons in which one regular polygon is repeated to tile the plane" (Fukushima C, 2004)."Geometric proportions in architectural patterns represent a design language, as words do in a spoken language.They determine the frameworks within which elements are arranged into a pattern, a relation between one element and another, and a proportional relation within one element.They address and reflect the natural laws that govern the basic harmonies of nature, being describable by means of mathematics and geometry" (Loai M, 2012).History indicates that the real origins of geometric patterns were found in ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Indian and Greek architecture and arts.Geometric patterns are a common factor in the majority of historical and contemporary architectural and artistic works.Remarkable features showing that in spite of the religious variations between Islam and Christianity, there are many common features in Egyptian society with the same realization and taste in the areas which geometrical patterns work.

Research Methodology
The methodology of this research mainly used a qualitative method based on descriptive approaches including primary surveys and historical tracing of the existence and usage of geometric patterns' works in Egyptian architecture, interior architecture and arts.The research classified the information into two categories, the first classification is based on the chronological series of time for the Egyptian historical selected periods.The Second pg. 2 classification is based on the usage of geometric patterns within each period and how these architectural heritages applied through the time of each period.Data and information collected through multiple refereed sources include books, journals, conferences, and specific official internet sites.More than one source for each element was used to confirm the integrity and consistency of the research.

Geometric Patterns in Anicent Egyptian Architecture and Arts
The great pyramid of Khufu with its sloping façade and other similar geometrical designs of ancient Egyptian artifacts such as Sakkara pyramid are explicit works of ancient Egyptian geometrical skills that demonstrate their proficiency in applying this field.There are many examples of geometrical designs that still exist until today in ancient Egyptian temples, walls, columns, ceilings and many other tools and objects refer to the extensive usage of Geometric patterns during ancient Egyptian periods.These ancient patterns gave birth to many historical and recent geometrical decorations, motifs and illustrations."We can see a source for most of our familiar elements of design in the decoration which was used in Egypt long before any example that is known to us outside of that land.We are logically bound to look at the origin of these motives.If, then, we seek the source of most of the various elements of the decoration which covers our walls, our floors, our dishes, our book-covers, and even our railway stations, we must begin by studying Egypt.As our object is the history and evolution of the various elements of decoration, we may classify these elements.There is the simplest geometrical ornament of lines, spirals and curves, and of surfaces divided squares and circles" (Petrie WM, 1920).These patterns were applied using several materials like wood, marble, rugs, and clay with different styles such as zigzag, chess and other orders and formations.These major geometrical pattern types are found in furniture, ceilings, walls, and pottery."In the furniture of ancient Egyptians, cubism and geometric shapes were the most distinctive characteristics.For the design of the cocktail cupboard, which was fashionable during this period, geometric and cubic lines were dominant.Besides the rectangular, linear, circular or triangular motifs, zigzag and stylized flowers, lines were expanding from the center as the sunlight that constitutes the main features of the designs and they carry influences from the Egyptian art.Cubic volumes and geometrical appearances are the primary outstanding characteristics in armchairs" (Sadikoglu P, 2007).

Geometric patterns in egyptian coptic architecture and arts
In spite of the various designs of Coptic architecture and art with geometric patterns, the design that depends on the Cross as a focal element in the center of the work surrounded with fine ordered geometric shapes is the most common design.Geometric patterns are common between Coptic and Islamic art "It was not surprising to find-out that these came from the church despite their Islamic appearance.The idea of mixing crosses with eight pointed stars was very common and it reflected how artists saw the two religions as being strongly connected.This particular design appeared quite often and is still used today in Egypt to express the unity of religions.It's seen on

Samples from Egyptian Islamic Geometric Patterns
 Islamic geometric patterns, woodwork

Geometric Patterns in Egyptian Traditional Architecture
The traditional residential construction of mamluk and ottoman periods with their architectural and interior features provide additional confirmations about the proficient and extensive use of geometrical patterns in Egyptian culture.Bayt el Suhaymi is a remarkable example of Egyptian residential traditional buildings with geometrical decorations, the geometrically carved wooden dome with its graceful lantern displays traditional Arabesque patterns, Figure 9-1.There are also the smaller domes with geometrically cut colored glass that appear like jewel,

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Clay geometric patterns worksDuring the early times of the predynastic period in Egyptian history and along the ancient Egyptian dynasties, Egyptians used geometric patterns on their works especially in clay works like potteries, vases and bowls, Figure4-1, Figure4-2 present these styles of work that appear with clear, simple lines, and shapes and are very easy to recognize."The systematic clearing of the Eighteenth Dynasty funerary pits and Ramesside tombs has brought to light some objects of exceptional quality and historical interest.These include pottery with geometric designs, for example Prince Baki's vase"(Corzo M, 1993).

Figure 4 - 1 : 3 4- 4
Figure 4-1: Pottery, Predynastic period Figure 4-2: Pottery, Predynastic period  Gaming boards with geometric patterns design Gaming boards with geometrical designs were found in both the predynastic period and the first dynasty with different features according to the rules of gaming with several illustrations and colors.Figure 4-3 shows a gaming disk found in the tomb of chancellor Hemaka at Saqqara during the predynastic period (2935-2975 B.C), Figure

Figure 4 - 4
Figure 4-3 Gaming disk, Predynastic Period.Figure 4-4 Board game, New Kingdom  Kha's protractor, rose of direction and coffin A unique style of geometric patterns employment at the time of king Amenhotep is the protractor of the architect kha 1 , which was discovered in his tomb in 1906, at Deir el-Medina in Egypt near the Valley of the Kings."Note that the modern tool has the same shape as the object found in the Kha's tomb.To conclude this discussion, let me propose a comparison of the decoration of this Egyptian item with that of a compass rose of directions.We can go back from the compass rose to the Kha's rose, with small adjustments.Perhaps the origin of the design of the compass rose is in the ancient Egyptian tools" (Slyke V, 1991).Figure 4-5 introduces a comparison between contemporary compass rose of directions and Kha's rose of direction.This protractor is considered one of the pioneer devices for angles measurement.Figure 4-6, demonstrates this device as it is in Torino Egyptian museum.Other examples that belong to Kha with geometric patterns designs are Kha's rose of direction Figure 4-7 and Kha's coffin Figure 4-8.

Figure 4 -
5 introduces a comparison between contemporary compass rose of directions and Kha's rose of direction.This protractor is considered one of the pioneer devices for angles measurement.

Figure 4 - 6 ,
demonstrates this device as it is in Torino Egyptian museum.Other examples that belong to Kha with geometric patterns designs are Kha's rose of direction Figure 4-7 and Kha's coffin Figure 4-8.
Heba-Talla Hamdy Mahmoud / The Academic Research Community Publication pg. 5 public buildings in Egypt like on the doors of the main entrance to the Palace of Arts in Cairo" (El-Akkad T, 2013).One of twenty panels with geometrical decorations that was discovered by archaeologists belongs to the period within the 6th century AD and the 7th century AD which was presented at Coptic museum in Cairo, Figure6-1.The Coptic marble works are distinguished with their high level of accuracy and professionalism, Figure 6-2 shows a marble water fountain in the Coptic Museum.Many Bookbinding covers are decorated with historical geometric patterns such as Gospels from the Monastery of Holy Mary Mother of God at Perkethoout in Fayum during the period within 7th century and 7th century AD which was purchased by Pierpont Morgan in 1911, located now in the museum of Morgan library in New York, Figure 6-3.The stained glass with geometric pattern decorations in attractive colors is a demonstrative type of Coptic geometric patterns, Figure 6-4 shows a glass window in the hanging church in Cairo.The woodworks of the hanging church in Cairo are known for the accurate geometric pattern works, Figure 6-5, Figure 6-6.Coptic textiles are distinguished with their antique shape, Figure 6-7 is an example of this type of art in the Coptic museum in Cairo.

Figure 9 - 2 ,
windows on the upper floors besides those in the halls and rooms covered with colored glass, Figure 9-3, and the Ceiling is decorated with many shapes of geometric patterns, Figure 9-4, these are some explicit examples from Bayt el Suhaymi.Al Sinnari house presents other clear examples of these traditional sites that have many geometric patterns works."The entrance block façade consists of two intertwining arches.The frame of the outer arch etched in zigzag shapes and geometrical decorations, surrounded by with hexagonal decoration, above which there is a circular ornament at the center of the arch.The doorframe is surrounded with geometrical decorations on stone.Both sides of the door and the entrance façade are decorated with geometrical decorations in round square and rectangular shapes, Figure 9-5.The ceiling has been decorated with wooden boards made of square-and rectangular-shaped geometrical forms and rosettes" (Mahmoud, 2014).Khan el-khalili district, Al-Sayeda Zeinab District, Al Moezz Street, Ghouriyya complex are examples of Egyptian zones and buildings that have wide varieties of geometric pattern designs.

Figure 12 -
Figure 12-1Ahmed Mustafa's painting Figure 12-1Ahmed Mustafa's painting  Abdel Rahman El Nashar's works Abdel Rahman El Nachar, born in 1923 and died in 1999, obtained his PhD in 1978 from the Budapest Art Academy.He participated in numerous exhibitions and was awarded the 1st prize in painting at the Cairo Salon, and later the 1st prize of the 4th Biennale in 1992.In the early stages of his artistic career, most of his art works style were a combination of both expressionism and surrealism.During the last 10 years of his artistic life, most of his works were subjected to geometric pattern abstraction art, Figure 12-3, Figure12-4 are samples of El Nashar's painting with geometric patterns.