The embellishments and their functional role in the remaining religious and civil buildings of Mamluk Cairo (648-923 AH 1250-1517 AD)

Abstract:
The study of architectural spaces, with the elements they contain, is considered one of the most important architectural studies, especially modern ones. The design of architectural spaces, with their functional composition and aesthetic appearance, aims primarily to achieve benefit. Hence, the idea of ​​studying the blind niches as a topic for this research. Although each of the spaces of religious and civil buildings in the Mamluk period had a different activity, in addition to the difference in some architectural elements from one space to another; however, they have all agreed on the presence of blind niches as one of the elements of their architectural formation. Almost no buildings of the Mamluk period, is devoid of that architectural element. The number of buildings that contain blind niches is estimated at one hundred and twenty-four, and other than that, they are partially extinct establishments. Therefore, this study aims to shed light on the blind niches as one of the elements of the architectural composition of the remaining religious and civil builings in Cairo in the Mamluk period, by defining the architectural and artistic composition. This element and what were the most important functions it performed and the resulting success of the interior and exterior architectural spaces of the remaining Mamluk religious and civil buildings in Cairo.