Fieldnotes

Compass, Straightedge, and Code

03 Jun 2025

tools used: Tex

I have been playing with tiles again. TeX tiles. The projects page on my website shows a different tiling each time you reload the page.

Tiling on HTML pages can be done using CSS style background-repeat: repeat;. The repeating image has to be a rectangular tile.

I recently received a copy of Islamic Design by David Sutton as a gift. The first chapter explores designs based on seven overlapping circles. It also describes patterns found in the window grills of Cairo’s Mosque of Ibn Tulun, one of Egypt’s oldest mosques. Interestingly, the architect of the mosque was apparently al-Nasrani, not a Muslim, probably a Christian.

A lot of scholars argue that architectural styles should be named after places rather than religions. Most historical sites had diverse religious communities coexisting (peacefully or not), building together (willingly or by force), and so on. But what I want you to care about is this: the patterns in all of these giant buildings can be constructed with just a compass and straightedge. If you try them on paper, that is all you will need too.

I made mine using TikZ.

It’s unfair to enjoy the art and architecture of a region without looking at what’s happening to the art, architecture, and most importantly people in that region. Find out who has access to that window today and who does not. I would therefore like you all to also go see: Destruction of cultural heritage during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

I am still figuring out how to code the comments section; if you have any comments, you will have to write to me. Also, unlike popular social media websites, you won’t be checking my blog regularly. You can leave your email address with me; that way, each time I write one, you will receive an email notification with a link to the new blog post.