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Mamoun Sakkal

Dr. Mamoun Sakkal is a native of Aleppo, Syria, who immigrated to the United States in 1978. He practices Arabic type design, graphic design, and calligraphy as principal and founder of Sakkal Design. In his master thesis "Geometry of Muqarnas in Islamic Architecture", Sakkal presents his view on pre-designed units. Unpublished work on Armenian muqarnas offers a mix of a theoretical framework and actual muqarnas designs in Armenian churches and monasteries. The next figures are from his work.

This webpage:

Website Mamoun Sakkal:

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Pre-designed Units

Sakkal devoted much time to the octagonal grid. Sakkal distinguishes more than twenty units consisting of an upper part and a lower part. His units cover two tiers. This is in contrast to the work of authors who split the upper part and the lower part and discuss full units and intermediate units, neglecting how upper and lower come together. Figure 57 and figure 60 showcase 24 of his units.

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thesis figure 57

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thesis figure 60

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thesis figure 57

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thesis figure 60

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Theoretical designs

Sakkal devoted much time to the octagonal grid. In his study on Armenian muqarnas, un unpublished report, Sakkal searched for theoretical designs of the muqarnas top tiers. Some of them do exist in Armenia, although some churches and monasteries are in ruins. A regional peculiarity of Armenian muqarnas is what Sakkal calls "subdivisions". These are units of reduced size replacing an upper unit of regular size,

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figure 4

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figure 5

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figure 24

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figure 86

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figure 4

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figure 5

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figure 24

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figure 86

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Instagram

Many of my Instagram stories are devoted to the works of Sakkal.

  • RemarkableBooks Sakkal

    Mamoun Sakkal introduces muqarnas blocks flowing over two tiers. This concept is more fruitful than the approach of rigidly cutting layers. His thesis is a must-read.

  • Sakkal thesis A+A+A

    Sakkal wrote on growth patterns producing muqarnas a big as you want.

  • Sakkal thesis D

    Sakkal made a unique composition. All blocks are feasible. I would like to hear real life examples!

  • Sakkal thesis C

    Another example of Mamoun Sakkal's view on muqarnas domes.

  • Sakkal thesis B

    One more on Mamoun Sakkal. I owe him a lot.

  • Sakkal thesis A

    Mamoun Sakkal wrote an interesting thesis on muqarnas dome design.

  • Nigde Ak Medresse

    Harmsen her dissertation was a false start. I learned so much more from Mamoun Sakkal. I stick to his predefined units.

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Overview of my interpretations of Sakkal's floor plans.

Sakkal offered a theoretical framework for the tops of Armenian muqarnas. Some of them are related to existing muqarnas. Each floor plan links to a seperate webpage.

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plan A

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plan AAA

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plan B

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plan C

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plan D

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plan E

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plan EEE

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plan J

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plan F

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plan FF

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plan FFF

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plan G

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plan GG

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plan GGG

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plan I

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plan II

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plan III

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plan L

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plan LL

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plan LLL

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plan 24 E

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plan 86 B

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plan 86 B

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plan 86 C

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plan 86 D

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Overview of my interpretations of Sakkal's work on Armenian floor plans.

Sakkal investigated Armenian muqarnas. Here are my preliminary examples.

  • GeoGebra Animations

    An interactive book with animations of Armenian muqarnas is available in the GeoGebra cloud.

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Arak

Bagnayr Monastery Gavit, ca. 1200.

Erzurum (Central dome of Great Mosque, Erzrum)

Haghartzin Refectory

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Harich Central dome of gavit

Horomos Central dome of Mausoleum of Vache Monastery, 1229

Horomos Monastery

Hovannavank

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Mnatsakanyan

Selim Caravanserai Central dome of gavit, Geghard

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