Architectural school of Nakhchivan

Architectural school of Nakhchivan (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan memarlıq məktəbi) – is one of architectural schools developed in the territory of modern Azerbaijan in medieval ages. The architectural school of Nakhchivan was founded by Ajami Nakhchivani in the 12th century. Mausoleums of Yusif ibn Kuseyir (the first in 1162) and Momine Khatun (the second in 1186), constructed by him in Nakhchivan and are a classical type of constructions of this school.

History and peculiarities
Small feudal states were established in the territory of modern Azerbaijan because of weakening of the Caliphate. At that times, in such cities as Barda, Shamakhi, Beylagan, Ganja, Nakhchivan and others were appeared different architectural schools, among which were observed a general similarity of architectural style: styles of Arran, Nakhchivan, Shirvan-Absheron and also Tabriz, which was developed later in the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan.

The first dated monuments of Nakhchivan School belong to the 12th century. Among them were tower-shaped mausoleums and also memorial constructions erected for glorification of wealth and power of feudal. Origination of architectural type of the Caucasian tower-mausoleums is dated to ancient times, but it hasn’t been studied sufficiently yet.

Unlike the tower-mausoleums in the southern parts of Iran and some regions of Middle Asia the tower-mausoleums in Azerbaijan have a many-sided and cross-shaped underground mausoleum in terms of burial vault. Such burial vaults have a low and smooth arch. Underground part consists of socle built of a faced stone, the main volume of the tower and a cone-shaped or pyramidal ceiling. The inner part of the towers has the high, frequently many sided space covered with cupola.

Styles features
The Nakhchivan-Maragha architectural school has reached the highest level in terms of the application of the most perfect construction structures of the era, the technical structure of the building and the tectonicity of its artistic solution.

Atmatakh ceiling construction of the roof part of the Goy Günbade tomb in Maragha The great services of the architectural school of Nakhchivan-Maragha, especially the well-known representatives of this school, Ajami Abubakr Nakhchivani and Ahmed ibn Eyyub al-Hafiz Nakhchivani, were in the process of evolution of the memorial architecture of Azerbaijan.

The upper part of the two-storey buildings (underground roof and tower) consisted of a cylindrical, cube or prism-shaped body and was covered with a double dome. The two pieces reached by Ajami Nakhchivan are the prismatic burial tomb. Ahmed ibn Eyyub al – Hafiz Nakhchivani has created round cylindrical tombstones.

Buildings belonging to the architectural school of Nakhchivan-Maragha (Yusuf Kuseyir oglu mausoleum, Tomb of Mami-Hatun, Barda tomb, Red Daybase tomb, Blue Daybade tomb and others the optimistic appearance of their divisions, and the inclination of the ornament ornaments.

Ornamentation
Nakhchivan-Maragha architectural school was based on accurate mathematical calculation methods. The monuments were constructed on the basis of precise calculation and accurate measurement of measurements, planning, accommodation, ornaments and inscriptions. One of the ornamental facade columns of the Red Gunbade tomb in Maragha was the modular system of monuments, the structure of contrasts, the structure of the arches and dome, the precise dimension of the eight-faced surfaces was impossible without mathematical calculations. Representatives of this architectural school, with deep mathematical knowledge, have solved the problems of the monuments, the complicated structure of the arcade, dome, ornament and decoration with the precision of the jeweler.

It is typical for the Nakhchivan-Maragha architectural school to incorporate brick masonry, brick-built structures, the use of various brick bricks, and the architectural ornaments of colorful tassels and ghost elements to escape the bricklaying of bricks.

In the composition and volume of the buildings, the Nakhchivan architects create and implement the most prominent methods in the overall architecture of the city. The monumentality of Nakhchivan architectural compositions is also striking. included in the architectural and construction methods created within the school.

Source From Wikipedia