Mun's Gardening Blog » Famous Gardens

Islamic Gardening Website Resource

Munawar — Sun, 30 May 2010 20:00:39 +0000

I was searching around the net looking for resources on Islamic Gardens, and found this great treasure chest of information, including a bibliography and “suggested” reading area.

A great find:

http://www.reep.org/resources/islamic-gardens/

Book Review: Gardens of Delight

Munawar — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:27:02 +0000

Gardens of Delight: The Great Islamic Gardens

Gardens of Delight: The Great Islamic Gardens. By Christa Van Hantelmann

This is a field I’ve always had a mild curiosity over, and this was my first foray into Islamic Gardens and Architecture. The book is a very simple yet good primer on Islamic Gardens. It includes 100+ large photos of current day Islamic Gardens in Spain, Syria, Morocco, Pakistan and India.

Typically sampling 5 of the biggest in each area, the author provides a very simple explanation of what, where and why of the gardens. It was great for me, as I have such little understanding of the gardens.

On the negative side, there was some mis-information throughout. Such as bad translations of the Quran, misunderstandings of basic Islamic Garden principles and the like. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.

A great book, and a steal under $20.

Islamic Gardens and Landscapes

Munawar — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:47:00 +0000

I have a curiosity about Islamic Gardens, especially their symbolism and design. Unlike western gardening concepts, Islamic Gardening hedges on sacred worship. Many of the greatest gardens were built to symbolize Paradise, and they included items referenced in the Quran. Quite amazing if you think about it. The best example would be the Taj Mahal,

It’s unfortunate that so many of these wonderful gardens have fallen into disuse due to a lack of interest. Among the few Western books on the subject, I found a few worth looking at:

Islamic Gardens and Landscapes. An explanation of Islamic Gardens. The symbolism used, History and current status. Basically a text explaining these types of Garden. Quite hard to find, and expensive.
The Art of the Islamic Garden

The Art of the Islamic Garden By Emma Clark. An in depth look at Islamic Gardens, their theory and practice.
Gardens of Paradise: The History and Design of the Great Islamic Gardens

by John Brookes
Gardens of Delight: The Great Islamic Gardens

By Christa Van Hantelmann . A look at existing Islamic Gardens. Their history, layout and analysis of design.
Underneath Which Rivers Flow: The Symbolism of the Islamic Garden By Emma Clark. The second book by Emma.
Gardens, Landscape, and Vision in the Palaces of Islamic Spain

by D. Fairchild Ruggles. Another theoretical book about Islamic Gardens in Spain.
Islamic Aesthetics: An Introduction

An interesting book that looks at Islamic Art from the aesthietic point of view. Not religious point of view.

Islamic Gardens and Landscapes