51 quarterly, No. 30| Winter 2021 DOI: 10.22034/jaco.2020.240207.1165 Persian translation of this paper entitled: مطالعۀ رویکرد معماران در طراحی مساجد معاصر )نمونۀ موردی مساجد جندی شاپور اهواز، شیخ بن زائد ابوظبی، مرعشی مصر، کلن، ولیعصر تهران( is also published in this issue of journal. Original Research Article A Study of the Approach of Architects in Contemporary Mosques Design (A Case Study of the Jundishapur Mosque in Ahvaz, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Marashi Mosque in Egypt, the Cologne Central Mosque, the Valiasr Mosque in Tehran) Parima Mirlohi* M.A. of Islamic Art History, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran. Received; 19/07/2020 revise; 23/10/2020 accepted; 26/10/2020 available online; 2021/01/01 Abstract This article studies the approach applied by the architects of the contemporary Islamic world to design and build mosques in different parts of the world. In this research, five contemporary mosques, built from 1968 to 2019, were selected and analyzed to figure out to what extent contemporary architects have used traditional architectural styles, their creativity or contemporary art forms to design mosques, and in case of putting aside traditional practices, what new ideas they applied to maintain the social and spiritual functions of mosques. In this research, the design method of the Jundishapur Mosque in Ahvaz, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Marashi Mosque in Egypt, the Cologne Central Mosque, the Valiasr Mosque in Tehran was studied. The architect’s approach and the designer’s suggestions to replace old methods with new ones and whether it succeeded to fulfill the visual and spiritual functions of the mosque based on the requirements of Islamic mosque design were investigated for each of the case studies. The research data was collected through bibliographical and field studies and was examined using a descriptive-analytical method. Keywords: Contemporary Mosque Architecture, Modern Mosques, Design Method, Architectural Studies. Introduction building with a turquoise dome and two For many Iranians, the very first image minarets. However, the mosques all around associated with the word “mosque” is a the Islamic world do not conform to the * [email protected], +989126223450 52 quarterly, No. 30| Winter 2021 same design method and are a mixture of Islamic Finally, some contemporary mosques have been teachings and local culture which over centuries have compared with those requirements and conventional been combined, and can be recognized as a mosque methods. The results of this research demonstrate with only a glimpse at the texture of each city where how conforming or not conforming to the essential they are located. A mosque is the oldest and the main elements impacts social acceptance and the spiritual symbol of Islamic beliefs of people in a region, and feeling provoked by a mosque building, which could since early Islam, building a mosque has been one consequently help the designers take initiative in of the first measures of Muslims after spreading contemporary mosque design. The research data were Islam in a city. In fact, in addition to the function of a collected through bibliographical and field studies mosque as a place of worship, rituals, and gathering and were examined using a descriptive-analytical location for Muslims and their leaders, it also has method. spiritual functions that are among the most important functions of mosques. An exterior elevation of Research questions mosques in a city has always been an indicator of As mentioned earlier, architects have never been people’s belief in Islam. Therefore, conforming to required to conform to the same method to design an identifiable visual form has been essential to the mosques in different Islamic regions’ historical design and construction of Islamic mosques so that eras, and they have designed mosques by combining they can be easily recognized without explanation in Islamic teachings and their local culture. However, the texture of the city. Also, when it comes to spiritual despite differences, almost all of them have more function, according to Islamic thoughts, it is of or less followed the same visual form using several significant importance that mosques help provoke the special elements, leading to distinguishing a mosque feeling of unity with God, attention to God, sincerity, from other buildings in the texture of the cities1. humility in front of the Adorable, and abandonment Similarly, in the contemporary era, architects are of everything except God. If a mosque is taken as open to being innovative; however, to know what a holy place for worship, a simple roofed space in the outcomes and consequences of using creativity which the direction of Kiblah is shown, even without are is of great importance. The aim of this question special design and just with a simple arrow, can serve is not to support the idea that contemporary as a mosque; and many of this kind of prayer room mosque designers are required to merely conform is built in the contemporary era. However, what is to traditional mosque forms and build mosques important in designing and constructing a perfect similar to the past without any change and creativity, mosque is its spiritual function. If a mosque is to be but this study aims to analyze what measures have truly a place that helps believers focus inside and been taken by contemporary architects to provoke withdraw their mind and heart from the pluralism of spiritual function of contemporary mosques, without the world and its function goes beyond a prayer room, which the building of the mosque could belong to some elements must be considered in its design. In any other places with a variety of functions. Besides, the current study, first, components of mosques in when it comes to the visual function of the building common traditional methods in the history of Islam of a mosque in urban space, it must be noted that along with their definition, usage, and history have how in modern design, contemporary architects been briefly analyzed. Second, the juridical and create a building, through their creativity and artistic social requirements of mosque design that must be paradigms of the contemporary world, that can be taken into account by architects have been discussed. still recognized as a mosque and a symbol of Islam Parima Mirlohi 53 in the urban space. Therefore, two main approaches This mosque did not have any decorative elements, are followed in this research: First, the study and and its roof consisted of palm tree branches. The analysis of the contemporary mosques selected as simple and unpretentious form of this mosque was a case studies in terms of their visual function; second, guide for architects to build the first Islamic mosques the study and analysis of those mosques in terms of (Papadopolo, 1989, 9 & 10). Therefore, the elements their spiritual function. such as dome, minaret, facade, ornaments, and motifs were essential to making the first mosque in Islam Literature Review be considered as a mosque. However, as they did The previous studies on the architecture of not have conflicts with Islam, the elements of pre- contemporary mosques are mainly limited to the Islamic sacred architecture were gradually accepted contemporary mosques located in Iran, and the as the essential architectural elements of mosques focus of studies has not been on the contemporary and based on the local culture and art of each region, mosques outside Iran. Also, the mosques outside different methods and practices for the architecture Iran have not been compared with the ones inside of mosques were developed that were unified by the Iran. Most studies have focused on the drawbacks spirit of Islam and Quran (Ettinghausen & Grabar, of the design of modern mosques in Iran, but the 2017) and categorized into the four main styles as advantages of modern designs have not been fully follows: studied. Therefore, the originality of this study lies in 1. Egyptian style: this method is rooted in the investigating the approach of architects in the design ancient architecture of Egypt and has been common of contemporary mosques inside and outside Iran in Islamic countries of East Africa including Egypt and comparing them with the traditional architectural and Sudan and areas up to the Hejaz. The Mosque methods and the requirements of visual and spiritual of Amr ibn al-As and the Congregational Mosque of functions according to Islamic thoughts as well as the Ahmad Ibn Tulun are among the mosques built based principles of mosque designs. on this architectural style. Stone was mainly used in the architecture of the mosques of this style, which is Theoretical Foundations due to the Egyptians’ historical interest in showing • Traditional Approaches to Architecture of greatness and power in the architecture as well as the Mosques availability of stone as the construction material in The rules and regulations of how to build a mosque this region (Pirnia, 2008, 20). are not specified in the Quran and sayings of Imams 2. Shami style: This style is rooted in Byzantine and the elders of Islam. And, Muslims came up with architecture and has common features with the a form to build mosques based on the narrations and Egyptian style. It was common in Syria, Palestine, avoidance of what was considered inappropriate Lebanon, Jordan, and part of Turkey. The Umayyad (Bolkhari, 2009, 59). In other words, since Muslims Mosque (the Great Mosque of Damascus) was built did not have any regulations to guide them on how based on this architectural style. In Saudi Arabia, to build a mosque, they gradually removed what was this style was mixed with the Egyptian style, and against Islamic thoughts from the sacred architecture buildings such as Masjid al-Haram (the Great Mosque in their local culture and came up with a method to of Mecca) and Masjid al-Nabawi (the mosque of the design mosques.