ABSTRACT
Karbandi, a type of dome with a recognizable geometric design, is used to cover many types of spaces from monumental buildings to domestic interiors, showing that along with its structural function, the decorative role is also of importance. This paper presents ongoing research organized into three parts. The first one will address the fieldwork in the Bazaar of Tabriz - a geometric survey of a karbandi dome. Second, the study of the different geometries of simple karbandi will be presented. And third, a comparison between Iranian karbandi and the crossed-arch dome of Spanish-Muslim influence will be made. The study will show that, in the Iberian Peninsula, the definition of karbandi is somehow different from the ones in ancient Persia, mainly in the way the relation between architectonic layout, decoration and constructive roles are mastered, but also in the role played by geometry.
