Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture 11 (2020) 12-17 Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture journal homepage: https://uqu.edu.sa/en/jea Characterization Framework of Contemporary Mosques in Islamic Cities Ibraheem N. Al-Bukharia,*, Reem F. Alsabbanb, Ahmed M. Shehatac. a Department of Islamic Architecture - Umm Al-Qura University. b Interior Design Department - University of Jeddah. c Department of Islamic Architecture - Um Al Qura University. 1 ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Contemporary architecture is a reflection of social status in any nation with respect to economy, traditions and Submission date: 02/10/2019 culture. In addition, religious buildings express the spiritual and cultural identity of each society. The mosque is one Accepted date: 25 /11/2019 of the most symbolic buildings of Islamic societies. Unlike historical and monumental mosques, contemporary mosques reflect the available technologies, social and cultural needs, environmental requirements as well as economic status of local society. This study focuses on analyzing the architectural features and communal role of contemporary mosques. Through the study, a framework for classifying and analyzing the design features of contemporary mosques Keywords: was developed. This framework could serve as a base for surveying, identifying, analyzing and classifying information Local Architecture, Contemporary about contemporary mosques in terms of their components, area, number of floors, architectural details and style. Mosque, Islamic Culture, Identity Moreover, links were established between the features of the mosque and its functional, communal and symbolic role in its community. This framework would be useful in developing the main characteristics of contemporary mosques in terms of their social, cultural, symbolic, architectural and constructional technologies. 1. Introduction: are related to the preindustrial period. They are not compatible with modernity. According to Chadirji, the principles of contemporary Despite the well-defined functionality and architectural architecture are justified by western technological advancement. Until iconography of mosques, there are many variations in their the Arab communities catch up with the developed Western world, architectural expressions and functional characteristics. Functions of local Arab architecture has to be shaped through the regionalization of contemporary mosques go beyond congregational prayer (for instance, internationalism. However, Fathy and his scholars spent the last five lessons and edicts are often announced after the prayer). New decades calling for a return to the generative and formative techniques functions and activities in modern periods have led to the creation of of local traditional architectural treatments. They argue that additional spaces and utilities to house these activities. Therefore, it is international architecture is based on western values and is important to define the modern functions of contemporary mosques incompatible with the integrity and specificity of Arab Islamic culture and determine how these functions affect their architectural character (SAKR, 1987). Figure 1-a and 1-b presents two architectural projects and components. that represent the two main streams of contemporary architecture in 2.1. Research Objectives: the Arab region. − Defining the features of the contemporary mosques that play a role As a conclusion to this debate, architecture should reflect its in the local communities. surrounding natural and built-in environment and respond to them. − Developing a contemporary mosque characterization framework Moreover, architecture should also adopt the users’ aesthetic values that relates the architectural features to the mosques’ functional, and fulfill their sociocultural requirements. social and cultural roles. The architectural visual language should employ a developed 2.2. Methodology: version of the local surrounding style. This built-in language To achieve the research objectives this study provides a critical comprises both: 1. a vocabulary of the fundamental forms (minaret, review of previous studies related to the mosques’ design within the dome, prayer hall, etc., in the case of mosques); 2. the compositional historical cities of the Gulf and middle eastern region and the social and topological rules defined by culture (i.e. religious values in the and economic changes that have impacted architectural design, case of mosques). Based on this general Arab architecture, the designs elements, symbology and religious values of mosques. Moreover, an of the mosques should be studied in the light of the human factor, analytical approach was followed, in which an analysis covered key urban context and regional, historical and cultural contexts (SAKR, mosques within the middle east to define a framework that relates 1987). design elements and characteristics of the contemporary mosques to Definition of a Mosque: their communal role and spiritual importance within the local communities. Hillenbrand defines the mosque as the manifestation of the mysteries of Islamic architecture and the heart of it. He believes that 2. Contemporary Middle East Architecture: the mosque’s role is represented in its visual landmarks, such as the Chadirji argued that the identity of modern middle eastern minaret, dome, and pulpit. The goal of mosque architecture is to architecture cannot be shaped in isolation from advanced western present the deepest type of unity of life (HabibAbad, 2015). Okuyucu architecture and its universal models. Science regionalism and Islam defined the Mosque as the place where Muslims gather for worship * Corresponding Author Department of Islamic Architecture - Umm Al-Qura University. E-mail address: [email protected] (Ibraheem N. Al-Bukhari). 1685-4732 / 1685-4740 © 2020 UQU All rights reserved. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture 11 (2020) 12-17 Ibraheem N. Al-Bukhari et al. and prayer, both individually and collectively (Okuyucu, 2016). By and religious features were merged into one innovative modern contrast, Steele argued that the mosque is not just a unique Islamic design. architectural building or place for worship, but that it also has many other social and communal functions. This makes the mosque one of the most important buildings in every Muslim society and one of the local townscape features that provides citizens with a sense of identity and place. However, in addition to the mosque, the marketplace, Governor’s palace, citadel, and residential buildings dominate the Muslim townscape (STEELE, 1996). A B C Figure 2: Three Samples of Contemporary Mosques A: Sancaklar Mosque, İstanbul designed by Emre Arolat Architects, B: Al jabri mosque, Hail, designed by Schiattarella Associati, C: New mosque in the Education City, Doha, Designed by Mangera Yvars Architects. 5.4.1. Types of Mosques: Ibrahim suggested a hierarchy for mosques based on their function and relation to the surrounding urban context. The following identifies the three categories and the criteria of this classification: A. Cluster Masjid (daily mosque): It is the node of the housing cluster. Its serving distance should be walkable and should not exceed 150 A B – 200 meters. It should have a minimum capacity of 200 Figure 1: Two Buildings Representing the Main Streams of Contemporary worshipers. Architecture in the Arab Region - A: Iraq ministry of industry and B. Neighborhood Jame’e (Jumaa prayer mosque): It lies in the center minerals, B: New Gourna Mosque, Egypt. of the neighborhood. It is a landmark whose service distance 3. Contemporary Mosque Architecture: should be walkable as well and must be 250-300 meters. Additionally, it should accommodate all of the worshippers within Throughout Islamic history, the mosque has been the center of its service zone. society. Towns evolved around this central building. Today, in the C. District jame’e (Feast prayer mosques): Should be at the edge of Gulf and middle east region, mosques are found within a walking small towns. In the case of cities with more than 100,000 citizens distance from every resident, making it a simple matter to attend the there might be more than one, and they may be distributed in the daily prayers (Kahera, 2007). district’s centers. It should accommodate 40,000 worshipers or the Mosques reflect the local societies at large. How identity is total number of male worshippers in small towns (Abu-Dhabi, expressed in mosques in the different areas of the world does not Abu-Dhabi Mosque Development Regulations - Volume 1 - depend only on cultural factors only, but also on the regional traditions Planning, 2009). The recently developed classifications adopted of design and construction (KHAN, 2008). by the Bahraini, Abu-Dhabi and Saudi mosque development Mosque design is a sensitive and unique process. It is classified as regulatory agencies follow the same classification. Some an assembly building. Its design should comply with users’ properties researchers like Aazam consider mosques as an object of events and should be convenient to their use. Architects should respect the and social process. He argued that mosque building analyses inherited properties that define the faith symbology and its identity as should focus on their determinants of spatial categories and social a sacred place. The design of this particular type of buildings should practices (Aazam, 2007). Based on these factors, he categorizes achieve functionality,