Contemporary Islamic architecture is redefining perceptions of tradition in a modern global world.
Here are 15 contemporary examples of Mosques from around the world, that highlight innovative uses of forms & materials through context and locality
A thread…
1/ Cologne Central Mosque, Germany
The largest & grandest mosque in Germany. Cologne mosque is now regarded as a symbol of integration & symbol of the birth of German mosque architecture. The futuristic mosque is mainly characterized by the large dome.
1.1/ Cologne Central Mosque, Germany
Completed in 2017, it can accommodate 1200 worshippers. It is the largest mosque in Germany. The main prayer hall is as striking harmonious blend of modern and tradition
2/ Education City Mosque, part of the Hamad-Bin-Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar
The mosque rests on 5 main structural columns, representing the 5 pillars of Islam. 4 streams of water flow in from the surrounding gardens, representing wine, milk, honey & water
2.1/ Education City Mosque, part of the Hamad-Bin-Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar
The interior of the mosque is minimalistic, yet mesmerising.
3/ KAPSARC Residential Community Mosque, Saudi Arabia
In the main prayer hall, wrapping its walls and ceiling is a modern interpretation of an Arabic screen wall (mashrabiya) that glows with natural light from windows and skylights to brighten the modern space
4/ The Grand Mosque of the Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE
This mosque, designed by the RMJM architectural firm combines traditional elements of Islamic architecture, with a contemporary style. The mosque sits harmoniously into cities populated by glass towers
5/ Al Dana Mosque, Abu Dhabi
While the leaning domes of the structure are meant to evoke shifting sand dunes, the mosque transforms into a lantern at night, as the light from the interior emits outward
5.1/ Al Dana Mosque, Abu Dhabi
During the day, the high oculus brings daylight into the space, which are spotlighted across the interior’s floor depending on the time of day, forming a spiritual connection between the “earthy interior and the heavenly skies”
6/ Sancaklar Mosque, Büyükçekmece, Istanbul
Built by architect Emre Arolat. Finished in 2012, it was awarded the Religious Building of the Year Award for 2015 by ArchDaily. The prayer area is truly beautiful
7/ The Flower of Allah Mosque, Kazakhstan
Postmodernism & national motifs influenced the futuristic look of the building. The mosque has the shape of a hemisphere, and the general appearance of the building resembles flowers & diamonds
7.1/ The Flower of Allah Mosque, Kazakhstan
In addition to the interesting design there are alternative energy sources on the roof, such as solar panels & specialized ventilation equipment. Thanks to it the mosque has become an object with zero energy consumption (interior view)
8/ Punchbowl Mosque, Australia
The mosque provides space for 300 men & women worshippers to congregate. It distinguishes a central worship space with a concrete honeycomb structure, which takes visual cues from the aesthetics of Islamic architecture.
8.1/ Punchbowl Mosque, Australia
Streams of daylight extrude through a 30-millimetre hole in the centre of each of the concrete muqarnas. These are designed to illuminate the space throughout the day for the five prayers.
9/ The Astana Grand Mosque, Astana, Kazakhstan
It is the largest mosque in Central Asia and one of the largest in the world. The main dome of the mosque is the largest of its kind in the world.
Video by mamutkhan_t on IG
10/ Dandaji Mosque, Niger
Designed by Atlelier Masomi it sits opposite an old mosque which the architects repurposed into a library to save the building from demolition. The new mosque has been designed to interact with the library, creating a sense of natural movement
10.1/ Dandaji Mosque, Niger
Mechanised ventilation has also been limited in the new mosque with the use of openings that create natural ventilation & regulate indoor temperatures. An irrigation system has also been set up on the site of the mosque to create a cooling effect
11/ Cambridge Central Mosque, Cambridge, England
Completed in 2019. Europe’s first eco-sustainable mosque, its design incorporates local architecture, Islamic motifs & the use of timber to create interwoven pillars, an interior view
12/ The Faisal Mosque Islamabad, Pakistan
It is the sixth-largest mosque in the world & the largest within South Asia. The mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of concrete shell and is inspired by the design of a typical Bedouin tent
13/ Marmara University Faculty of Theology, Mosque and Culture Centre
Marmara Üniversitesi Fakültesi Ilhayat Camii, was built for the Marmara University Faculty of Theology as a mosque and culture centre by Muharrem Hilmi Şenalp of Hassa Architecture in Istanbul
14/ Al Safar Mosque in West Java, Indonesia.
The contemporary mosque design was inspired by the irregular shapes of nature and Japanese origami. It can accommodate 1,200 worshippers.
15/ Mosque of Light' in Al Quoz, Dubai
This beautiful contemporary mosque was designed by Dabbagh Architects founder @sumayadxb making it one of the first mosques in the UAE to be designed by a woman architect.
Join us for a fascinating online event exploring the past, present, and future of Islamic architecture.
Thursday 20 July
1:00pm - 2:30pm BST
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Muslim civilisations played a major role in inspiring the growth of the glass industry from the 8th century onwards. Mosques & cities were transformed into beautiful spaces richly decorated with glass.
Here are 24 Islamic buildings & mosques, with stained glass…
A thread…
1/ Stained glass window at The Şemsi Pasha Mosque, Turkey
Designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan in 1581 for Grand Vizier Şemsi Pasha. It is one of the most attractive mosques in the city & a celebrated example of the chief architect's skills.
2/ Stained glass windows at The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Iran
Constructed between 1876 & 1888, during the Qajar dynasty, which ruled Iran from 1785 to 1925. It has been dubbed the “Pink Mosque” due to the plethora of pink-colored tiles blanketing the ceiling
In Islam, Hajj is the annual pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the ‘House of God’ in the city of Mecca. The Kaaba is covered in a Kiswah — a black silk cloth, exquisitely embroidered in gold
Every year, artisans work on creating a new Kiswah
A thread on the art of making the Kiswah
1/ The Kiswah is the cloth that covers the Kaaba. The term Kiswah means ‘robe’ & is also known as the ‘Ghilaf’. Hanging the Kiswah, a huge piece of black silk embroidered with gold patterns & verses from the Quran, over the Kaaba symbolises the start of the Hajj pilgrimage season
2/ Meaning cube in Arabic, the Kaaba is a square building unlike almost any other religious structure. It is fifteen meters tall and ten and a half meters on each side; its corners roughly align with the cardinal directions.
‘Traveling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller’
- Ibn Battuta
The most famous explorer in the Muslim World, Ibn Battuta, travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history - around 117,000 km!
A thread on the 14th century explorer Ibn Battuta…
1/ Ibn Battuta was born in 1304 CE in Tangier, Morocco. His travelogue the Rihla is his most important work. His journeys in the Rihla lasted for a period of almost thirty years, covering nearly the whole of the known Islamic world & beyond.
2/ Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, surpassing Zheng He with 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo with 24,000 km. His total distance travelled was approximately 117,000 km (73,000 mi) (15,000 mi).
The Qur’an was first revealed during the month of Ramadan. This blessed month is also known by Muslims as the month of Fasting
To celebrate the arrival of #Ramadan here are 24 beautiful Qur’anic manuscripts found in museum collections across the world #RamadanMubarak
A thread…
1/ Folio from a Manuscript of the Qur'an
Iran, Shiraz, 1550-1575
Ink, colors and gold on paper
@LACMA #Ramadan
@LACMA 2/ Double Folio from a Qur'an
c. 1330-1350, Central Asian or Turkish
Early Muslim settlers from central and western Asia carried Islamic book traditions into India, especially in the form of Qur'ans, such as the one from which these pages come
Shah-i-Zinda is one Samarkand’s most beloved sites, which contains some of the richest tile work in the world. The magnificent architecture draws inspiration from multiple periods & styles, taking you back through time & across cultures
A thread on the beauty of Shah-i-Zinda…
1/ The Shah-i-Zinda ensemble includes mausoleums, mosques & other ritual buildings of 11-15th & 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning The living king) is connected with the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is buried here
📷 Ash Diler
2/ Shah-i-Zinda is a world-famous example of a continuously constructed historical site. Over 1,000 years ago, it was founded with a single religious monument. Between the 11th & 19th centuries, mosques & mausoleums were continuously added
From Spain to Azerbaijan, to Germany to Bosnia, Europe has some of the finest mosques.
The presence of Islam in Europe is not a new phenomenon, with Muslims residing in the continent as early as the 8th century.
Here are 24 mosques across Europe #JummahMubarak
A thread…
1/ Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque, Mostar, Bosnia
Dates back to 1617 & features numerous multicolored windows, a minaret with a lookout spot & a courtyard with several tombs. Although the original Ottoman mosque was heavily damaged during the attacks of the 1990s it has been restored
2/ The Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking, England
This is the first purpose built mosque that was built in the UK.
It was built in 1889 by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, an orientalist of Jewish descent from Hungary. Money was donated by Begum Shah Jahan, the Nawab Begum of Bhopal.