Evolution of Maghrebi-Andalusian Muqarnas Design: Analytical Study of Muqarnas in North Africa and Spain

Muqarnas is one of the most important architectural elements of traditional Islamic architecture, although with great structural and geometrical differences across Islamic geography, leading to the emergence of many muqarnas styles. This paper looks at changes occurring in Maghrebi-Andalusian muqarnas from its beginnings to the form it takes today. This is done by using traditional muqarnas design techniques to draw and analyze models from different periods and settings in North Africa and Andalusia, Spain. We observe changes occurring at unit and plan-design level, seeking a general understanding of these developments.