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Contemporary Arab Architecture: Space, Form, and Function

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Contemporary Arab Architecture: Space, Form, and Function Lonaard Magazine is a peer-reviewed periodical, publication of Lonaard Group in London Issue 7, Volume 2, January 2011, ISSN: 2045 – 8150 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contemporary Arab Architecture: Space, Form, and Function Dr. Waleed Al Sayyed 1 1. Director - Lonaard and Dar Mimar Research and Design Group, London - UK. Sent for evaluation on (07 November 2011), and was approved on (12 January 2012) Abstract This paper focuses on contemporary Arab architecture from three main angles: First it explores the extent to which previous research and studies dealt rigorously with the symbolism of physical form(s) in Islamic architecture. Second it turns to the problematic issue of form versus function in design that is the centre of debate and criticism as far as contemporary Arab architects' attempts are concerned. Third, and more precisely, it looks closely at the theoretical framework of two contemporary Arab architects, Hassan Fathy and Rasem Badran. The scope of the research is limited to the available literature review available in the record first on the so called ‘Islamic’ Architecture, which this paper argues it is a pre-requisite to understand contemporary Arab Architecture for its vital influence on architects. The methodology of this paper is to review, analyze, and discuss various arguments to establish certain standing points for further research. The aim of the preview is to focus on the vernacular, space, form versus function for further research to understand the way contemporary architects may approach design issues. contemporary architects' designs, even when the 1. Introduction urban, regional, or trans-regional context is Two main conclusions can be derived from the believed to be different? paper (Tradition versus Modernity: From Cultural Discourse to Architectural Crisis (Al Sayyed, The questions, notably, bring to the front stage two 2011). First, studies on the controversial 'Islamic main themes that will form the centre of this paper architecture' often depicted a monumental and the opens up the door for further investigation; architecture while ignoring the vernacular side that the form versus function and the vernacular relates to the majority, hence mistaking the special architecture. The first is a problematic issue that for the general. Second, the use of such a broad haunted theoreticians in architecture in general for term has provoked a series of questions that put the ages; an issue that either throws architects to this forms often used under so much scrutiny, stylistic approach or that if they favour the form eventually leading to a major review to main over the function, or makes them obsessed with the concepts as far as tradition and modernity or function as the generator of building form. Islamic architecture are concerned. This provoked However, both approaches were subjected to many questions such as: what determines whether sufficient debate and criticism, and it was not until or not this form is 'Islamic'? Or: What makes it recently that theories began to point to a third legitimate to use this 'Islamic' form in factor in this dual, which is often defined as an Lonaard - Issue 7 2012 | 49 Contemporary Arab Architecture: Space, Form and Function unbalanced, relation between the two. This line of Most of such studies, due to their focus on such a thought was argued by Grabar, Hillier and others monumental architecture, which in most cases as we will see next. contradicted the term 'Islamic', were subjected to a mounting criticism for failing to address core The second is the vernacular side of Arab issues of Islam. In fact, such studies betrayed the architecture, which will be argued in a forthcoming failure of these buildings to meet the terms of the paper within the context of seeking an appropriate pre-designed concept of Islamic architecture. approach to understand the logic of forms used in These are evident in Amra Palace in the Jordanian relation to functions and cultural meanings desert; a palace replete with nude paintings, or in embedded in them. for this, the scope of the the palaces of Granada that contain statues argument in this paper will be as follows: first, we prohibited by Islam1 . will review arguments and studies on Arab architecture within the context of form versus However, some efforts were made by scholars to function, then we will elaborate on the issue from a focus on vernacular architecture within Islamic wider view to bring in context recent thought and context, as they tried to provide symbolic and theories in this regard by hillier and others. Second hidden themes within the architecture that we will reflect on design issues and the process of represents Islam. Apart from the studies by Hakim generating design for its pivotal role to understand (1986), and Al Hathlool (1981, 1994) that form, function within a wider context. Third, the subjected the physical built environment to paper will focus on the thought of two prominent theories and values derived from Islam or Sharia'a, Arab architects for their contributions in theory there are many other studies of similar interest, yet and in design; Hassan Fathy and Rasem Badran. with different approaches. For example, Francois This review will prove to be useful to understand Montequin in his article 'The Essence of Urban current thought in contemporary Arab architecture. Existence in the World of Islam', in 1983 aims to contribute to the understanding of the 2. Studies on (form–function) in Islamic environments of the traditional Islamic city by Architecture analysing its fundamental physical and spiritual Within Arab/Islamic architecture, two categories characteristics, and by exposing the major religious can be noticed: The first to do with form and the and social aspects which motivated those architectural style (The mashrabiyya, malqaf, distinguishing urbanistic traits. He claims an urban dome, or arch), and the other to do with space homogeneity and a morphological uniqueness of organisation in the building (the courtyard, Qa'a, the classical Islamic city that should be an example the indirect entrance, or the iwan). It is quite for future planning of contemporary city. Janet striking to note that most studies in the record have Abu- Lughud in her 'Preserving the Living focused on the formal level leaving the other Heritage of Islamic Cities', in 1978 and deeper one needing rigorous investigation. Grabar 'Contemporary Relevance of Islamic Urban writes: 'The second approach would be syntactic Principles', in 1983 questions what is or is not and would consist in studying and explaining 'Islamic' about certain Islamic cities, in her attempt whole ensembles. To my knowledge, no one has to define an approach for what should be taken or attempted to do this in Islamic architecture' left in designing a contemporary 'Islamic city' (Grabar, 1983-a: 31). So what current studies on based on the principles that governed the Islamic architecture are all about and what can we traditional one. On another dimension, Omur learn from such available studies? Bkirer based his study of 'Geometric Aspects of Brickbonds and Brick Revetments in Islamic It is notable that efforts to study Islamic Architecture' on the famous 'Sense of Unity' in architecture were governed by the western 1973 by Ardalan-Bakhtiar, and Critchlow's 'Order conception provided by western scholars, hence in Space' in 1969, and 'Islamic Patterns' in 1976, to arriving at universal commonalities, as Kuban have derive common geometric proportions by argued, to try to meet a pre-designed definition. analysing brick work in Islamic architecture. | 50 Waleed Al Sayyed Based on the same two books, Paul Oliver in his of their buildings, uses and occupiers. They 'Binarism in an Islamic City', takes Isfahan as an evolved from concepts which maintained the city example to investigate what is called 'the hidden walls that defined the cities, positive shapes in dimension' in the Islamic city, based on geometry space and their correspondence to cosmic laws. and proportions. Most famous of all are the two They maintained the concept of a centre as a single Critchlow's studies, which mark his long point in space that moves in time and creates the investigation into pattern in Islamic architecture, line, or the linear element of the bazaar (Ibid.: 89). his concern of order in space, and analysis of three dimensional geometry realized in architecture to Such various approaches that tackle the illustrate the appropriateness of its determining 'vernacular' side rather than the monumentality of geometry to its spiritual function (Critchlow, 1976, Islamic architecture have brought to the front stage 1988). Critchlow's 'Islamic Patterns' is a detailed one important issue; that is, Islamic architecture in analysis of the underlying grids and their its vernacular, as well as monumental side, is development in tiled walls, ceramic panels, etc., replete with signs, symbols and forms that are these 'patterns of integrity', he calls, feature a iconographic or carry certain functions. This in hidden internal geometry. However, his approach turn makes it pivotal in order to understand and is cosmological, based on evidence throughout analyse the interpretations by contemporary Islamic history such as 'the letters of the architects to focus on the issue of form versus Brotherhood of Purity'. function. The fundamental question in this regard is: What makes an Islamic building Islamic? Is it The other 'The Sense
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