Abstract:
In Bengal Architecture Dome was used extensively in Mosque and Palaces. Because of the influence of Muslim ruler this is now become our national identity in Architecture. Dome was used mainly in Mosque but now it is also use in other buildings. Dome was dominated for its impression of permanency .The style of the Dome changes in time to time. Because the Muslim use Dome in every building they try to changes the shape, form and style. That’s why we can see several types of dome. At first the influence came from Muslims style and then it came from the rural hut style. Sometime the mosques are categorized by the dome style. The notion of designing Dome has been changing over time, according to the desires of the ruling class and the common people as well. When the Muslims had possessed a highly developed style of mosque architecture, distinguished by the arch, the dome, the minaret , and the mihrab , features common in mosques everywhere. Such architectural features imported by Muslims, together with the prevailing vocabulary of architecture of the region, gave birth to a unique Islamic architectural style. The climate of Bangladesh, available local materials, and skilled native craftsmanship were considered and explored accordingly by the Muslim builders. Since then the evaluation of dome in mosque change the architectural characteristics of Bengal region. Fundamental Principles of Islam and Their Interpretation in the Mosque mostly the dome and this study presents tangible evidence of the changing morphology of dome, and identifies the influencing factors that initiated the development over the ages.
Key Words: Dome, Bengal, National identity, Style, Influence
The proportion to design the dome
Introduction:
The Bengal region (Fig: 2) , which includes the Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, has many architectural relics and monuments dating back thousands of years. Later, when Muslims invaded this continent, they brought a different architectural approach. Muslims built mosques with the use of imported features modified by local culture, climate, tradition, materials, and technology. But they use Dome in their architecture. From that period through the present, Dome in Bangladesh has developed a unique identity in terms of architecture and aesthetic. The architectural relics of that period are basically religious buildings, largely because domestic structures of that time were built of less permanent materials. The orientation, geometric configuration, use of local materials, and sense of proportions prove that, in ancient times, people of Bengal were sensitive to the highest demands of the forms and techniques of building and architecture.
the Bengal region
Most of the time The Dome was dominated .The style of the mosque was identified by the Dome. There are several types of dome. At first the influence came from Muslims style and then it came from the rural hut style. Sometime the mosques are categorized by the dome style. The chronological evaluation of the dome in the mosque of Bengal architecture was separated by several periods as shown in below:
1. Sultanate or pre-Mughal Period (1338 -1538)
2. The Mughal Period (1565 - 1658)
3. Colonial Period (1760 - 1947)
4. Post Independent and Modern Period (1971 -Present)
Sultanate or pre-Mughal Period:
The pre-Mughal period started from 1338-1538.The total number of dated mosques constructed in Bengal during the entire Muslim period almost three-quarters were built between the mid-fifteenth and mid-sixteenth century. During the pre-Mughal sultanate three types of mosque were built and in every type they use Dome for the crowning. They are:
• Rectangular plan with number of dome.
• Square nine-domed.
• Square single-domed.
Mosques built on a rectangular plan are divided into aisles and bays according to the number of domes on the roof. So the size of those buildings is fully depending upon the number of Dome they used. The nine-domed mosques single aisles with bay in each side. The most popular form of mosque in pre-Mughal Bengal was the single-domed chamber. It is likely that this design is developed from the pre-Islamic temple of Bengal. There are two types of dome used in this period and they are:
a) Semi Circular Dome, the central aisles is broken in smaller square units, each one covered by a semi-circular dome which is circular in plan. Round in shape and place in thick walls or columns.
The plan of semi-circular and chou-chala dome. Size of the mosque depend upon total number of Dome
b) Chou-Chala Dome, the central aisles is broken up into smaller rectangular units, each one covered by a chau-chala dome. These cahu-chalas are the miniature forms of the roof found on village huts in Bengal. These domes are composed of four segments which slop down in four directions. Over a rectangle room the longer slopes form a ridge at the top and the end slopes are triangular in shape. The lower edges of the slope are generally curved. This type of dome is rare category and now vanished over the time.
The construction process of the dome.
The single-domed mosques were popular in pre-Mughal period because those are familiar with the climate and vegetation in the Bengali countryside and structurally more convenient to construct it. As it used single dome it is not very large in size. It was more practical to build a small mosque to accommodate the people living in a cluster of huts. Seventeen mosques of this types still exists; all were build in 1457 and the middle of the sixteen century. The multi-domed mosques were larger. There are four of them found in Bengal dating from the fifteen century. The construction systems (Fig: 04) of these types of mosque are, a series of columns formed the vault, which is divided into smaller square and then every square the dome was placed.
Because of the unavailability of the stone in Bengal region brick was used to construct the dome (Fig: 05). And also it enriched the aesthetical sense of the inner-side of the mosque. First the arch was constructed to hold the structure of the columns. And then place bricks over the arch which form almost octagonal shape in plan. Then periodically placing of the bricks one after other it forms the shape of a dome.
The interior of the dome.
The position of the dome.
The Mughal Period:
Mughal architecture in Bengal region emphasize from 1565 to 1658. In this period architecture is not concern only in religious buildings but also in fortress and castles. So in this period dome used not only in mosque but also in other buildings. In this period architecture is concern with design concepts with forms, motifs and building techniques long indigenous to Bengal architecture. Bengali Islamic architecture since long had possessed a marked regional character. It was founded on a well-established Islamic style in Bengal, illustrated by several monuments constructed on the eve of Mughal authority there. Amongst these are the double-aisled six-domed mosque of Kusumba built in 1558-59 and the square-plan single-domed tomb of Pir Bahram in Burdwan, dated 1562-63. The former is an instance of being stone-faced, while the latter is brick-constructed and both, like most pre-Mughal architecture of Islamic Bengal, possessed a prominent curved cornice. Their plan and elevation - even the ornamental brick reflect forms that were at the time several centuries old. From this foundation, the Mughal architectural style of Bengal during Akbar had evolved. But the characteristics of the dome were changed periodically. Sometimes the dome is in octagonal shape with metallic detail on the top and sometimes the shape of the dome is curved gradually with metallic floral details on top of it. Sometimes the dome was slender in shape.
Lal-Bagh Fort in Dhaka
The dome in this period was Lodi style. The main dome was surmounts central space is the most spectacular feature. Its height was same as the length of the base, and it sits on a cylindrical "drum". Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its height. The shape of the dome is emphasized by four smaller domed chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape of the main dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The main finial was originally made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns point heavenward. The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design topped by a gilded finial.
The Lodi style dome.
Another style was followed in this period called Shah Jahan style. The domes are fluted and sit on octagonal drums. Some have claimed that the domical construction technique used in this period initiated the design emphasis on central domes. Each of the three bays are equal in size, however, the diameter of the lateral domes are proportionally smaller. This was achieved by splitting each lateral dome into a half-dome and placing it on a pendentive (A triangular section of vaulting between the rim of a dome and each adjacent pair of the arches that support it).Domes was also used in Minaret too and top was design by lotus design.
The Shah Jahan style dome.
In Mughal period the domes are much more decorated than pre-Mughal period. The interior is also stucco faced, generally plain, although the interior of the dome curved and polychromed to evoke an image of the heavens. In addition to ornamented panels and floral designs, the dome is inscribed with verses from the Quran and sayings attributed to the Prophet Mohammad hadis . The hope of paradise is a principle theme of these verses, a theme that dominated the iconography of the Mughal architecture. The entrance is emphasized by a half-dome, which is decorated with ornamental plaster-cut works. In this period metallic details were created on the apex of the dome. The exterior decorations of the dome are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint, stucco or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy or vegetative motifs.
Colonial Period:
By the middle of the 18th century the British East India Company had established a dominant influence in Bengal .In this period the influence of British was collaborated with the Bengal architecture. They took many details from Europe and try to incorporate with architecture of Bengal. Mainly in colonial period the British try to make a bridge between oriental and occidental architecture.
Ahsan Manjil in Dhaka.
Science faculty in Dhaka University.
In this period they use Doric, Ionic column in every building and also use dome extensively. They take the essence of medieval period to established Dome. Traditional Mughal forms such as arches and domes, believed to have entered the Islamic world from the west, were most favored. The Curzon Hall in Dhaka, constructed in 1904 is an example of the Indo-Saracenic style at its best as in mosques the traditional material of construction was brick, and only occasionally stones. Also they made Dome with brick in this time. They also use miniature dome in Kiosk to use detail like in Taj- Mahal. Although the Dome were of a remarkable variety of design, shape, and size, their styles were generally defined by the method of detailing, mostly rooted in the indigenous architectural tradition of Bengal. Compared to the 18th, the domes are smaller, had simplified, and collaborated with Bengal style with British style. The domes are less decorative and no true expression of the material. The surface of the dome was colored.
The Supreme High Court in Dhaka, (Built for British Governor in 1904 and the converted it to supreme court after the partition in India in 1947) the dome was designed from the influence of Mughal period of Bengal architecture. The central dome which emphasizes the central hall and chattris are the same which was used in the Mughal period. But the four chattris was design for the beautification of the building. It cannot have any access and also it’s not the placed in the minarets for cornice decoration. But details of the dome also have the British influence too.
Post Independence and modern period:
After end of the British colonial period, there was a huge change done in architecture in this region. Sometime the dome was used to as a prestigious issue. The dome was day by day disappearing from the Bengal architecture. The situation of this region in that time was very tough to contribute in architecture because of the political upliftment. After the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country in 1971, the issue of reiterating and establishing the national identity of a predominantly rural-based agrarian society took new dimensions. Architects then had to face the focus on the pressing needs of reconstruction building rather than search for identity. That’s why the use of Dome only seen in some Mosque.
The atrium space in Bashundhara complex in Dhaka.
In recent years, some architects have designed buildings that recall several established architectural notions of the past. But in some buildings they only use the Dome in an atrium but not took the essence of the Dome. Some of them can not see from the outside. The huge glass dome use in Basundara City center in Dhaka is a catastrophe. The dome used in this building can be feeling from inside the atrium but it cannot be seen from the outside of the building. This huge glass dome consumes huge energy which is not climatically sound. So this huge glass dome is not economically viable. In early period the dome was the most emphasize feature in Bengal architecture but now the architect works only the sense of a dome. Now the dome used in this building consume huge energy and said to be an un-sustainable design in Dhaka city. Nowadays the missing of the dome in buildings is because of the construction of high-rise building. In the early period of Bengal architecture the forms, the proportions and the volume was very pure in aesthetics. The dome was pure in form, in scale and the geometry was more proportionate. Every detailing was related to each other. Every building had a grand setback to feel its grandness and its beauty. The heights of the building were more or less 2-3 storied. But today the question is about constructing tall building in the city for mixed-use development. After the liberation war, Dhaka high-rises were primarily concentrated in one area, Motijheel which is a business point of this city. People from other city came in here to change their luck. Furthermore the increase of population in this city there is an emergence of construction of building to fulfill the accommodation. Today the city is much more decentralized, with at least half a dozen or so important clusters of high-rise offices. Nowadays this tall buildings are not only utilize for offices or apartment but also utilize for shopping mall, institution etc. The tall buildings are constructed for mixed-use development. Taller buildings in Dhaka are typically almost 20 stories, with several dozen in this height range and several dozen more under construction. There are of course many more in the 10 - 20 storied range. More significant than individual height are the numbers and density of these buildings. It’s very difficult for architects to hold the traditional and aesthetical feature which was unique in the past. This is happening because of the cost of the land. So for above all these reasons the entire feature was disappearing day by day whereas in previous period the dome was used as a national identity for Muslim architecture and also used as a more aesthetically sound manner.
Conclusion:
The evolution of Dome in Bengal Architecture is become more mature day by day till colonial period. But since the post independence and modern era it is neglected. Some architects use it in wrong ways which hamper the culture and tradition of the Bengal architecture. We have glorious past and aesthetically significant Dome architecture. We should keep researching how to make this symbol be more incorporated with our modern architecture and in that way it become again our national identity for architecture. There are still many opportunity to research on this area and conserve our national treasure which is dome. A place like Khalifatabad is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage. There are many mosques and mausoleums still remain to flourish our past. Those buildings become ruins day by day. We should conserve and restore those Domes to keep our past history and glory.
Bibliography:
The graphical images are from (Banglapedia- Mosque architecture, Architecture of Mughal India-part 1,volume 4 from chapter Sultanate Mosques and Continuity in Bengal Architecture), the 3D images personal.
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