This mosque represents many important design elements of Islamic architecture: its square-shaped minaret is similar to minarets of the Muslim West; the walls are decorated with green zellij; and the roof tiles have both a decorative and functional role.

Throughout the Arab and Ottoman world, fountains are important design elements in private and public gardens, courtyards, and public squares. This water fountain was used in Ottoman majlis (councils) in Lebanon. The external walls are covered with a marble mosaic of different shapes and sizes and colours to create geometric patterns, which is a very particular design element of the Arab and Ottoman world.

The mashrabiyya, made from stone, glass or wood and seen throughout the Middle East and Southern Mediterranean countries, represents an important social observation: the separation of public and private space, seen ubiquitously in the architecture of the traditional Arab house.

The form of the garden is notable as is the relationship between the garden and the murals.

Public fountains are among the most important elements of Arab and Ottoman urban design and play a special role in most European cities as well. This elegant example, which has a mosque-like decoration at the top with a dome and two minarets, is made from marble, a material frequently used in Arab and Ottoman architecture.

As so-called “great-scale” elements of urban design, mosque domes and minarets are considered two of the most distinct features of Arab and Ottoman cities. However, they are also the most significant as they determine the texture of the city and its skyline: the curved shapes of domes contrasting with the upright, vertical shapes of minarets, which like elegant exclamation marks stand within the complex mass of the mosque complex and the surrounding city.

An example of the interconnected design elements of traditional Arab and Ottoman art and architecture: the walls are high and windowless to protect the privacy of its inhabitants; a delicately carved, openwork alcove or mashrabiyya projects above the entrance portal, which allows air and light into the room behind it and provides those within the chance to observe outside life discreetly from within.

Public fountains are important urban design elements in the Arab and Ottoman world that are often built by royal patronage to provide a public water source. Fountains hold special significance in most European cities as well, where often they are built through the patronage of a royal or papal procurer.

This glazed panel, decorated with floral ornaments, was used to decorate a mosque. Tiles are significant design elements, not only as part of the building’s fixtures and fittings, but for the motifs used on them as well.

This tympanum was used to decorate the space above a door. Its type, form, material and decoration are all important elements of Ottoman art and architectural design.

This photo, taken by the studio of Abdullah Frères, immortalises the Dolmabahçe Mosque that enriched the Istanbul skyline in the 19th century. It was designed by the famous Balyan family of architects, whose work integrates Ottoman architecture with elements of European Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical and Empire style, and even uses some from the Chinese and Indian traditions.

The Ortaköy Mosque demonstrates the intertwining elements of traditional Arab and Ottoman design and form and European art and architecture: a neo-baroque building decorated with a dome and minarets.