Context brings the brightest minds to your living room with perspective-shifting online lectures.

Islamic Architecture: Light and Darkness Unveiled with Tiago Neiva

Islamic Architecture: Light and Darkness Unveiled with Tiago Neiva


No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.

Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Light has always been one of the most precious references for architectural practice, both as an inspirational symbol and as a material substance. Beyond its purely aesthetic role, the light also has the ability to formally set the experiences and occupations adapted to certain buildings, creating different perceptions, contrasts, boundaries, hierarchies, and rhythms. In both cases, it models and transforms the way in which we live and how we understand and perpetuate this experience, becoming an exceptionally important element in the design, construction, and enjoyment of space.

This conversation focuses on light and its role, particularly in Arab-Islamic culture. Its unique part as a prismatic element allows a transversal intersection of art, science, literature, philosophy, and religion. Within the context of Arab-Islamic civilization and the framework of the heritage and legacy of al-Andalus (the medieval Islamic Iberian Peninsula), this seminar will examine the dialogical relations between light and the architectonic space, recognizing that between the balance of tension, contrast, intersection, or nearness, each element is a source and a path toward the (re)configuration of the other.

Led by an expert on Architecture and Art History, Tiago Miranda Neiva, this interactive seminar will explore the multiple roles of light in Islamic culture, the main concepts of the Islamic architecture, and finally, the impact of those spatial and luminous typologies on contemporary Islamic architecture. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with a better understanding of Islamic architecture and the use of light to maintain, transform, or modify its forms, contents, and meanings.

Tiago Miranda Neiva was born and raised in Lisbon. He studied architecture in Rome and worked later in distinct offices in Portugal and Spain. For several years he was Professor of Arts and Art History, having a Master's degree in Teaching of Visual Arts. He is currently working towards a PhD focused on the Art and Architecture of al-Andalus: the confluence between the Arab, Jewish and Christian medieval world. In recent years he has been working as a tour guide in his hometown, seeking to show and reveal its most intimate secrets through an authentic and passionate local vision.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
86%
(12)
0%
(0)
14%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
M
M.S. (Secaucus, US)
Incredible insights into beautiful architecture

This was a stupendous session. The slides were outstanding, and the theme of light so interesting. I had never thought of seeing such structures from this perspective.

k
k. (Portland, US)
beautiful dance between spirituality and reality

Tiago goes beyond the obvious architectural features of Islamic style to incorporate the religion and the cultural fabric of privacy. One learns so much about the culture beyond just facts. And Tiago is so enthused and happy to share his knowledge - one cannot help but smile all during the class

D
D.B. (Rawlins, US)
The Light of Islam

Review of Symbolic and Architectural Aspects of Light in Islamic Architecture and Design

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
The nature of beauty

Tiago is moving and talking beautifully about the essence of a achitecture,

K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Illuminating talk

Very instructive, presented with passion and enthusiasm. All in all an excellent presentation of the topic.

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
86%
(12)
0%
(0)
14%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
M
M.S. (Secaucus, US)
Incredible insights into beautiful architecture

This was a stupendous session. The slides were outstanding, and the theme of light so interesting. I had never thought of seeing such structures from this perspective.

k
k. (Portland, US)
beautiful dance between spirituality and reality

Tiago goes beyond the obvious architectural features of Islamic style to incorporate the religion and the cultural fabric of privacy. One learns so much about the culture beyond just facts. And Tiago is so enthused and happy to share his knowledge - one cannot help but smile all during the class

D
D.B. (Rawlins, US)
The Light of Islam

Review of Symbolic and Architectural Aspects of Light in Islamic Architecture and Design

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
The nature of beauty

Tiago is moving and talking beautifully about the essence of a achitecture,

K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Illuminating talk

Very instructive, presented with passion and enthusiasm. All in all an excellent presentation of the topic.