Mathematician in Architecture

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Abstract

Real Mathematicians contribution to architecture creation has been a controversial issue of scientific and architectural studies in Islamic era. According to the related documents, with development of constructive activities and need to mathematics in the first centuries, mathematicians give architects and craftsmen advices in some mathematical problems. Mathematicians, supervision of some government buildings, became the mediators of applying more precious mathematics among those involved in architecture and handcrafts till 4th /10th century. Since 5th/11th century, the architects’ mathematical knowledge increased as well as their crucial role of them strengthens. It was the same time that mathematicians ‘role impressively decreased except in practical use of arithmetic in construction (his?b i abn?ya). This paper presents a descriptive model of mathematicians' role and their mathematical applications in the process of architectural development with regard to historical documents from 2th to 11th century. The model indicates that in the first centuries, mathematicians despite participating in the urban design and planning, water structures, his?b i abn?ya and use of astronomy in architecture, didn’t have any significant role in architectural design and creating geometric patterns during this era.

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