American University in Cairo AUC Knowledge Fountain Theses and Dissertations Student Research Fall 1-30-2021 Contemporary Mosque Architecture in Egypt and Iran (a Comparative Analysis) Hosam Ali [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds Part of the Architecture Commons Recommended Citation APA Citation Ali, H. (2021).Contemporary Mosque Architecture in Egypt and Iran (a Comparative Analysis) [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1592 MLA Citation Ali, Hosam. Contemporary Mosque Architecture in Egypt and Iran (a Comparative Analysis). 2021. American University in Cairo, Master's Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1592 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at AUC Knowledge Fountain. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of AUC Knowledge Fountain. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The American University in Cairo School of Humanities and Social Sciences Contemporary Mosque Architecture in Egypt and Iran (a Comparative Analysis) A Thesis Submitted to The Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts By Hosam el-Din Araby Under the supervision of Dr. Bernard O’Kane The American University in Cairo Contemporary Mosque Architecture in Egypt and Iran: (a Comparative Analysis) A Thesis Submitted by Hosam el-Din Araby To the Department In partial fulfillment of the requirements for The degree of Master of Arts Has been approved by Dr. Bernard O’Kane Thesis Committee Advisor____________________________________________ Affiliation_________________________________________________________ Thesis Committee Reader____________________________________________ Affiliation_________________________________________________________ Dr. (Type the name of the faculty member) Thesis Committee Reader____________________________________________ Affiliation_________________________________________________________ __________________ __________ __________________ ____________ Dept. Chair Date Dean of HUSS Date Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................... iii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ v Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. viii Methodology ................................................................................................................................................ x Literature Review ...................................................................................................................................... xi I. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................................................... 1 • Modernism .................................................................................................................................................. 1 • Regionalism and Traditionalism ................................................................................................................. 4 • Postmodernism .......................................................................................................................................... 10 • Deconstructivism ...................................................................................................................................... 13 • Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 16 II. The Egyptian Socio-Political Background ......................................................................................... 17 • From a Revolution to a Revolution. .......................................................................................................... 17 • Politics and Economics under al-Sisi. ....................................................................................................... 18 • Cities under Authoritarian Regimes. ......................................................................................................... 21 III. Al Fattah al-‘Alim Mosque (A Copied Tradition) ............................................................................. 23 • Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 23 • Background ............................................................................................................................................... 24 • Concept ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 • Plan ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 • Accessibility. ............................................................................................................................................. 26 • Interior ...................................................................................................................................................... 30 • Concept Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 32 • Al-Fattah Al-‘Alim Mosque and Al-Shurta Mosque (Two Mosques Built Under the Same Authoritarian Regime) ..................................................................................................................................................... 33 • Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 35 IV. The Great Mosque of ‘Izbat Al-Nakhl (Form Follows Function) .................................................... 37 • Background ............................................................................................................................................... 37 • The Plan .................................................................................................................................................... 39 • Concept and Massing ................................................................................................................................ 40 • Interior and Materials. ............................................................................................................................... 43 • Ventilation, Lighting, and Insulation. ....................................................................................................... 44 • Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 45 i V. Basuna Mosque (The Revival of Tradition) ......................................................................................... 47 • Introduction and Challenges ..................................................................................................................... 47 • The Concept .............................................................................................................................................. 48 • Background and Site Context ................................................................................................................... 48 • Plan and Massing ...................................................................................................................................... 49 • Innovation. ................................................................................................................................................ 54 • Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 55 VI. Iran’s Socio-Political Context ............................................................................................................ 58 • Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 58 • The Green Movement .................................................................................................................................... 59 VII. Valiasr Mosque and Cultural Center (A Revolutionary Approach) ............................................... 63 • Valiasr Street ............................................................................................................................................. 63 • Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 63 • Concept ..................................................................................................................................................... 65 • Accessibility .............................................................................................................................................