Contemporary mosque architecture combines traditional elements of mosque architecture with modern aesthetics, materials and techniques. As a religious sites, mosques date back to the 7th century. Contemporary approaches combine original tradition with modernity and sustainability, reflecting advancements in architectural theory and practice. [1]
Historically, the architecture of mosques has been a reflection of the cultural and social context. Over the centuries, these structures have incorporated various architectural styles, ranging from the simple, modest structures of early Islam to the grand, ornate designs seen in the Ottoman, Persian, and Mughal empires. [2]
In the 20th century, with the global spread of Modernist architecture, the design of mosques also began to change. Architects began to experiment with new materials and techniques, integrating modern aesthetics and functionality with traditional Islamic principles and motifs. [3] [4]
The contemporary period, however, has been marked by an even greater diversity of approaches, with many architects seeking to reinterpret and re-envision the mosque for the 21st century. [5] [6]
While mosques in the contemporary period continue to incorporate key elements like the mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), minaret (tower for the call to prayer), and a large, open prayer hall, they often do so in novel ways.
Contemporary mosque architecture often involves features characteristic to both the traditional and the modern. This can involve incorporating traditional Islamic geometric patterns in a modern, abstracted form or blending regional architectural styles with modernist or postmodernist design principles. [7] Among the examples of such is Sakirin Mosque in Istanbul. Designed by Zeynep Fadillioglu, the Sakirin Mosque combines traditional Ottoman design elements with a modern aesthetic. The interior features a dome made of a semi-transparent composite material and an abstract, sculptural mihrab. [8]
Modern mosque architecture often makes use of new materials like steel, glass, and concrete, as well as advanced architectural technologies. This not only allows for greater flexibility and creativity in design but can also improve the functionality and sustainability of the building. [9] These features can be traced in Al Ansar Mosque, reconstructed in 2015 year in Singapore. [10]
In the contemporary period, many mosques are designed to function not only as places of worship but also as community centers, offering a range of services and facilities. This has led to designs that are more inclusive and flexible, with spaces that can be adapted for various uses.
There is a growing emphasis on sustainable design in mosque architecture, reflecting wider trends in the architectural field. This includes the use of renewable energy sources, natural ventilation and lighting systems, water conservation measures, and materials that reduce the building's environmental impact. [11] These principles are reflected in Sancaklar Mosque, designed by Emre Arolat Architecture, which is notable for its minimalist design and integration with the natural landscape. The mosque is built into a hillside, with a terraced courtyard that leads down to the prayer hall. [12]
Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Islamic world encompasses a wide geographic area historically ranging from western Africa and Europe to eastern Asia. Certain commonalities are shared by Islamic architectural styles across all these regions, but over time different regions developed their own styles according to local materials and techniques, local dynasties and patrons, different regional centers of artistic production, and sometimes different religious affiliations.
The Blue Mosque, officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. It also attracts a large number of tourists and is one of the most iconic and popular monuments of Ottoman architecture.
Mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a mihrab appears is thus the "qibla wall".
The Süleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. An inscription specifies the foundation date as 1550 and the inauguration date as 1557, although work on the complex probably continued for a few years after this.
The Selimiye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque, located in the city of Edirne, Turkey. It was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and was built by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan between 1568 and 1575. It was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture as a whole and Ottoman architecture in particular.
Ortaköy Mosque, formally the Büyük Mecidiye Camii in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, is a mosque situated at the waterside of the Ortaköy pier square, one of the most popular locations on the Bosphorus. It was commissioned by the Ottoman sultan Abdülmecid I and its construction was completed around 1854 or 1856.
Sacral architecture is a religious architectural practice concerned with the design and construction of places of worship or sacred or intentional space, such as churches, mosques, stupas, synagogues, and temples. Many cultures devoted considerable resources to their sacred architecture and places of worship. Religious and sacred spaces are amongst the most impressive and permanent monolithic buildings created by humanity. Conversely, sacred architecture as a locale for meta-intimacy may also be non-monolithic, ephemeral and intensely private, personal and non-public.
The Green Mosque, also known as the Mosque of Mehmed I, is a part of a larger complex on the east side of Bursa, Turkey, the former capital of the Ottoman Turks before they captured Constantinople in 1453. The complex consists of a mosque, a mausoleum known as the Green Tomb, a madrasa, a public kitchen, and a bathhouse. The name Green Mosque comes from its green and blue interior tile decorations. It is part of the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stucco decoration in Islamic architecture refers to carved or molded stucco and plaster. The terms "stucco" and "plaster" are used almost interchangeably in this context to denote most types of stucco or plaster decoration with slightly varying compositions. This decoration was mainly used to cover walls and surfaces and the main motifs were those predominant in Islamic art: geometric, arabesque, and calligraphic, as well as three-dimensional muqarnas. Plaster of gypsum composition was extremely important in Islamic architectural decoration as the relatively dry climate throughout much of the Islamic world made it easy to use this cheap and versatile material in a variety of spaces.
Zeyrek Mosque or the Monastery of the Pantokrator, is a large mosque on the Fazilet Street in the Zeyrek district of Fatih in Istanbul, overlooking the Golden Horn. It is made up of two former Byzantine churches and a chapel joined together and represents the best example of Middle Byzantine architecture in Constantinople. After Hagia Sophia, it is the largest Byzantine religious edifice still standing in Istanbul.
The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is an 18th-century Ottoman mosque located in the Çemberlitaş neighbourhood of Fatih district in Istanbul, Turkey, which was inscribed in the Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey in 2016.
Şakirin Mosque is a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The building is located at one of the entrances of the historic Karacaahmet Cemetery in Üsküdar. It was built by the Semiha Şakir Foundation in memory of İbrahim Şakir and Semiha Şakir and opened on 7 May 2009. According to newspaper reports, it is the most carbon-neutral mosque in Turkey.
Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu is a Turkish designer and owner of a Turkish architecture and interior design company. She designed the interiors of Istanbul's Şakirin Mosque in 2009 to wide international acclaim, possibly becoming the first woman to design a mosque.
Umayyad architecture developed in the Umayyad Caliphate between 661 and 750, primarily in its heartlands of Syria and Palestine. It drew extensively on the architecture of older Middle Eastern and Mediterranean civilizations including the Sassanian Empire and especially the Byzantine Empire, but introduced innovations in decoration and form. Under Umayyad patronage, Islamic architecture began to mature and acquire traditions of its own, such as the introduction of mihrabs to mosques, a trend towards aniconism in decoration, and a greater sense of scale and monumentality compared to previous Islamic buildings. The most important examples of Umayyad architecture are concentrated in the capital of Damascus and the Greater Syria region, including the Dome of the Rock, the Great Mosque of Damascus, and secular buildings such as the Mshatta Palace and Qusayr 'Amra.
Currently the largest mosque in Turkey, the Grand Çamlıca Mosque is a landmark complex for Islamic worship which was completed and opened on 7 March 2019. The mosque stands astride Çamlıca Hill in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul and is visible from much of the centre of the city. The complex incorporates an art gallery, library, and conference hall. It can hold up to 63,000 worshippers at a time.
Chandgaon Mosque is a mosque in Chittagong, Bangladesh, completed in 2007. Designed by Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury, it was shortlisted for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2010.
Ottoman Baroque architecture, also known as Turkish Baroque, was a period in Ottoman architecture in the 18th century and early 19th century which was influenced by European Baroque architecture. Preceded by the changes of the Tulip Period and Tulip Period architecture, the style marked a significant departure from the classical style of Ottoman architecture and introduced new decorative forms to mostly traditional Ottoman building types. It emerged in the 1740s during the reign of Mahmud I (1730–1754) and its most important early monument was the Nuruosmaniye Mosque, completed in 1755. Later in the 18th century, new building types were also introduced based on European influences. The last fully Baroque monuments, such as the Nusretiye Mosque, were built by Mahmud II in the early 19th century, but during this period new European-influenced styles were introduced and supplanted the Baroque.
Early Ottoman architecture corresponds to the period of Ottoman architecture roughly up to the 15th century. This article covers the history of Ottoman architecture up to the end of Bayezid II's reign, prior to the advent of what is generally considered "classical" Ottoman architecture in the 16th century. Early Ottoman architecture was a continuation of earlier Seljuk and Beylik architecture while also incorporating local Byzantine influences. The new styles took shape in the capital cities of Bursa and Edirne as well as in other important early Ottoman cities such as Iznik. Three main types of structures predominated in this early period: single-domed mosques, "T-plan" buildings, and multi-domed buildings. Religious buildings were often part of larger charitable complexes (külliyes) that included other structures such as madrasas, hammams, tombs, and commercial establishments.
The architecture of Tunisia began with the ancient civilizations such as the Carthaginians, Numidians, and Romans. After the 7th century, Islamic architecture developed in the region under a succession of dynasties and empires. In the late 19th century French colonial rule introduced European architecture, and modern architecture became common in the second half of the 20th century. The southern regions of the country are also home to diverse examples of local vernacular architecture used by the Berber (Amazigh) population.
