Ardalan Associates
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      • Price Waterhouse Office Interiors
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    • The Aga Khan Award for Architecture
    • The Architecture, Culture And Spirituality Forum
    • Gulf Research Project
    • Gulf Encyclopedia for Sustainable Urbanism – GESU
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    • Harvard GSD Project on Southwest Florida and Sea Level
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The Sense of Unity

(1968-1973)
Despite its extraordinary richness, Islamic architecture has rarely been studied for its conceptual and symbolic significance. In the Sense of Unity, a handsomely illustrated volume and the first extended work of its kind, Nader Ardalan and Laleh Bakhtiar examine the architecture of Persia as a manifestation of Islamic tradition and demonstrate the synthesis of traditional Persian thought and form. The most fundamental principle of Sufism, the inner, esoteric dimension of Islam, is that of unity in multiplicity. This view sees in every aspect of reality a reflection of a transcendent source which is given symbolic expression through all of man’s activities, most directly and importantly through his works of art.
The authors of The Sense of Unity show how all the elements of the Islamic architecture of Persia from the simplest architectural unit to a complex urban environment are woven around this central doctrine and thus are best understood as multiple manifestations of unity. The Sense of Unity is illustrated with photographs, drawing, charts, and tables which are an integral part of its argument and which exemplify, in abundant and striking detail, the principles discussed in the text. Presenting to the Western reader for the first time the insights of the Iranian cultural tradition, the book also offers a stimulating new way of thinking about man and his relationship to his milieu.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Nader Ardalan
  • Projects
    • Masterplans >
      • PARDISAN, an Environmental Park
      • ALDAR
      • NURAN, City of Illumination
      • Jondi Shahpur New Community
      • Asian Games Sports Center
      • Boston Harbor Cleanup Project
      • Tappeh Eram Residential Community
    • Commercial Offices >
      • The Intelligent Tower
      • DAMAC Headquarters
      • ADMA-OPCO Headquarters
      • Citizen’s Bank
      • Behshahr Offices
      • Al Ain D​ewan
      • Vanak Project
    • Hospitality >
      • Four Seasons Hotel
      • Four Point Sheraton Hotel
      • Royal Meridian Hotel
      • Iransarai Hotel and Shopping Center
    • Educational/Cultural >
      • Iran Center for Management Studies
      • Bu Ali Sina University
      • IT College, UAE University
      • Arab Center For Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology
      • Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
      • Tehran Center for Celebration of Music
      • Sea Palace
      • MAN transFORMS
    • Residential >
      • Pisces Luxury Residential Towers
      • Alfred Residential Tower
      • Saman Residential Towers
      • Museum Towers: Residential Development
    • Interior Design >
      • Price Waterhouse Office Interiors
      • Thomas Lee Office Suite
      • Sheraton Hotel 'Diamond Ballroom'
      • Ardalan Residence Renovation
  • Research
    • The Aga Khan Award for Architecture
    • The Architecture, Culture And Spirituality Forum
    • Gulf Research Project
    • Gulf Encyclopedia for Sustainable Urbanism – GESU
    • Kuwait Green Campus Initiative
    • Harvard GSD Project on Southwest Florida and Sea Level
    • Blessed Jerusalem
    • Mecca Research
    • The Sense of Unity
    • Habitat Bill of Rights
  • News
  • Contact