Analyzing the hidden geometric patterns in the stucco decorations of Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan

Aali Qapu Palace, one of the prominent buildings of the Safavid era in Isfahan, is significant in terms of architecture and decorations. Despite numerous studies that have been conducted on this building, it still has outstanding capabilities, especially in examining the types of decorations and architectural ornaments. By taking a closer look at the motifs in the plaster decorations of this palace (killed paste), we encounter repeated geometric patterns in the plant motifs. These characteristics were overlooked due to reasons such as: The density of motifs, wear, and fading of the plasters. Therefore, this research intends to analyze and draw the Girih in the stucco decorations of Aali Qapo Palace and to find the characteristics of the motifs used. The main question of this research is: What are the Girih and geometric patterns used in the plaster decorations of Aali Qapo Palace, and how do they interact with plant motifs? The data for this study was collected through field study and library research. The research method was descriptive-analytical. By analyzing the motifs under investigation, it was found that the use of geometric patterns (Girih) is sometimes evident (for example, in the Girihs of the roof tiles and windows) and sometimes hidden in the combination of Arabesque motifs and khatais in plaster of Aali Qapo Palace. These geometric patterns and hidden Girihs include: The Rhombus network, the Square network Qenas, Upside Down Ferfereh Girih, Moj, Hasht and Chahar Lengeh, Sineh-Baz, Sormeh-Dan Qenas, Chahar Lengeh Hasht with Tabl, Shamseh, and Chahar Soli which due to the transformation of broken lines into curves and the concealment of the surface of the Girih by Arabesque and khatais, it has undergone changes in appearance and its visual characteristics have changed.