The Enduring Beauty of Strapwork in Architecture

Strapworks in architecture and construction are stylized representations or decorative elements that are applied to the surface of a building or structure. These works are created on ceilings, columns, walls, etc to form intricate designs using materials like metal, stucco, stones, plaster, or wood. 

Strapwork in architecture loosely imitates leather straps that are cut into elaborate shapes or interwoven to form a geometric pattern. They take many forms, including flat or twisted metal strips, carved wooden panels, or stone carvings. These elements are often used to create patterns or designs that are repeated throughout a building, adding visual interest and complexity to the structure.

In addition to their decorative function, strapwork elements can also serve practical purposes. For example, metal straps or brackets may be used to reinforce structural elements or to connect two parts of a building together.

Strapwork has been used in construction for centuries and can be found in many different architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. Today, strapwork is often used in high-end or custom construction projects to add a unique, decorative touch to the building's exterior or interior design.

Girih pattern with inlaid floral decoration from Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Strapwork in architectural concept is defined by the Penguin Dictionary of Architecture (1980) as, " ‘Decoration originating in France (at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau) and the Netherlands c 1540, also common in Elizabethan England, consisting of interlaced bands and forms similar to fretwork or cut leather; generally used in ceilings, screens, and funerary monuments.’

Another version of strapwork is scrollwork, which is less geometric, more organic, and has more three dimensions with more curling effects on the ends of the straps. 

Strapwork Method Showing Construction from Circles to Lines to Stars to Overlapping Lattices, Geometer's Sketchpad

Strapwork designs are performed in different forms from the influence of different countries and cultures. 

Strapworks were considered essential and important design elements for monuments, mosques, and buildings that have very high cultural importance. Strapworks are still being studied and implemented for buildings to bring the historic essence to modern architecture. 

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