The Modern Mosques Design monograph is the latest compilation of mosque (masjid) architecture by ATSA Architects in the year 2017. This 418-page monograph is the produce of our arduous efforts since the year 2014 collaborating with various architects to compile the unique design of modern and contemporary mosques from around the world. This monograph is likely the first attempt to collate the intriguing and inspiring architectural designs of mosque architecture, paved to break from the monotonous and the orthodox symbolism of the existing architectural language in mosque building designs. Highlighting over 50 mosque designs located in various Muslim and Western countries, the featured works proffer a new and unconventional approach to mosque architecture, whether have been built or yet to be built. Some featured works were commissioned, while some others were the entries of several design competitions held globally. Each featured work is presented with pictorial and 3D images, along with design statements and drawings supplemented by the respective architects.

A unique appraisal of the architectual developments of the contemporary mosque.

This survey of the contemporary scene presents projects ranging from buildings commissioned by wealthy private individuals and local Muslim communities to imposing State Mosques serving as symbols of national prestige. Mosques with strikingly modern designs for which the latest materials and construction techniques have been used contrast with examples in regional architectural styles - notably in Southeast Asia and West Africa - using traditional materials.

A prerequisite for mosque design is that the style of architecture should reflect its purpose, and incorporate both the tangible and intangible features. The former includes the main prayer hall, the mihrab (a semicircular niche), mimbar (pulpit), dikka (muezzin s platform), water troughs and various embellishments like arabesque geometric ornaments, colourful tiles and Quranic verses; the latter covers what is regarded as the seven principles of Islamic architecture unity, respect, sincerity, knowledge, balance, modesty and remembrance. An archetype model usually features a rectangular compound with minarets and a central dome topping a main prayer hall facing the direction of the Ka'aba. The shape and size of a mosque is also, inevitably, determined by the limitations of building materials and architectural knowledge. The colossal Masjid - Selected Mosques from the Islamic World is a celebration of the evolution and the refinement of mosque architecture throughout history and the world. The most apparent function of a mosque is as a place of prayer for Muslims, in addition to other multiple functions such as a centre of learning, a school to teach children about the Quran, a library and a place where local people got together and exchanged information, and a sanctuary where weary wayfarers may rest. The early mosques also served as a stronghold for Muslim political power. The word mosque, according to the book's author Azim Aziz, is derived from the French mosque e which in turn is derived from the Spanish mezquita. The Spanish term is a translation of the Arabic masdjid which originated from the Aramaic masgedha. As its title would indicate, Masjid - Selected Mosques from the Islamic World, compiles within its 800-plus pages, the various mosques from around the world, accompanied by hundreds of sumptuous exterior and interior photographs, architectural drawings (including original 3D and CAD drawings), floor plans, satellite maps, histories and architectural descriptions. Many of the mosques were chosen to be featured due to their design relevance in history and their various architectural styles: Arabian, West Africa/Sahara, Fatimid, Moorish, Mamluk, Iran & Central Asia, Timurid, Indian or Mughal, Anatolia and Ottoman, Chinese, Southeast Asia, Early Modern, Post Modern, Late Modernist and Sustainable Green. A total of 112 mosques from around the world are featured, beginning with the earliest, the Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah (Mecca) and concluding with several interesting futuristic models.

Against a backdrop of environmental and societal concerns, best captured by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this book brings together the leading voices on Mosque architecture to make a case for its role as a purveyor of culture, heritage, and sustainability in the modern world. The Mosque, as an institution, continues to serve as the epicenter of spiritual, moral, and cultural life in Muslim societies. Recognizing that the popular understanding of Muslim culture and archetypes is, at best, minimal among the broader public worldwide, this book has two objectives: i.e., (i) to explore Masjid architecture as a carrier of culture, heritage, and the sustainability of Muslim communities; and (ii) to offer a bias-free introduction to the intricacies of Muslim architecture, culture, and heritage today. The papers featured in this collection were presented at the 5th Memaryat International Conference (MIC), held at Effat University, Jeddah. The MIC’s objective is to build bridges between research communities engaged with diverse aspects of science, technology, and innovation, seen as the key levers for attaining the SDGs.

Kishwar Rizvi, drawing on the multifaceted history of the Middle East, offers a richly illustrated analysis of the role of transnational mosques in the construction of contemporary Muslim identity. As Rizvi explains, transnational mosques are structures built through the support of both government sponsorship, whether in the home country or abroad, and diverse transnational networks. By concentrating on mosques--especially those built at the turn of the twenty-first century--as the epitome of Islamic architecture, Rizvi elucidates their significance as sites for both the validation of religious praxis and the construction of national and religious ideologies. Rizvi delineates the transnational religious, political, economic, and architectural networks supporting mosques in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as in countries within their spheres of influence, such as Pakistan, Syria, and Turkmenistan. She discerns how the buildings feature architectural designs that traverse geographic and temporal distances, gesturing to far-flung places and times for inspiration. Digging deeper, however, Rizvi reveals significant diversity among the mosques--whether in a Wahabi-Sunni kingdom, a Shi&8219;i theocratic government, or a republic balancing secularism and moderate Islam--that repudiates representations of Islam as a monolith. Mosques reveal alliances and contests for influence among multinational corporations, nations, and communities of belief, Rizvi shows, and her work demonstrates how the built environment is a critical resource for understanding culture and politics in the contemporary Middle East and the Islamic world.