Mosque architecture in Malaysia : classification of styles and possible influence

The main purpose of the research is to set up an initial framework of architectural description of Muslim architecture in Malaysia within the context of the architectural concern of ‘style’. The main concern is to elucidate clearly the different architectural styles of Muslim architecture and suggest hypotheses for future studies in relation to the forces which might have been instrumental in the conception of these styles. The research is important in order to project the message that much of what we understand as ‘Islamic Architecture’ in the present literature comes from various artistic and political agendas that have questionable merits compared to an analytical approach of Islamic architecture from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The research is also important for practicing architects to understand that the present syntax of ‘Islamic Architecture’ with its references in Middle Eastern, Mid Asian and African models are not necessarily the best precedence to project the architectural message of Islam. As opposed to the three classification of Traditional, Colonial and Modern styles of mosque architecture, the research has identified seven main styles with a suggestion of the rationale and influences of those styles

A theory of mosque architecture with special emphasis on the problems of designing mosques for modern Sunni Muslim society

The primary aim of the thesis is the development of an architectural framework for planning and designing mosques from the orthodox Sunni Islamic perspective.In the light of the present resurgence in Islamic thoughts towards a return to the fundamental teachings of the Kur'an and the Prophet Muhammad's Sunna, the role and design of mosques have been questioned as to whether they fulfil the eternal values of Islam for Muslims living in the modern world. A survey of the literature on mosques suggests two different concerns about the idea of the mosque and its purpose. One view, which is mostly held by the public at large and professional architects supported by architectural historians, maintains that the mosque is a house of God whose main function is to cater for the performance of prayers. The other view, which is mostly held by Muslim intellectuals, maintains that the mosque's main role should be directed towards the development of the Muslim community in all aspects of life.The thesis adopts the approach that the design of mosques must be based on its eternal idea interpreted within the constraints of the needs of the modern Muslim society. The eternal idea of the mosque is derived from an understanding of the Prophet's conception of the mosque and the historical needs in his life time. The eternal idea of the mosque is also based on the meanings of worship in Islam which comprises the rituals associated with the mosque and the Muslim's individual and social obligations.The first part of the thesis presents the arguments that the past and present works of architectural history concerning the architecture of the mosque are of little value to the aims of the thesis. The second part presents a reinterpretation of the Kur'an, the Al-Hadlth, the meanings of the rituals and social responsibilities of the Muslims related to the initial concept and the eternal idea of the mosque. The final part contains proposals for architectural guidelines for planning and designing mosques in the modern Sunni Muslim society.The final part of the thesis also presents a criticism of present mosque designs within the framework of the prescribed guidelines

Kepincangan perumahan Malaysia: adat dan ritual kaum Cina

Buku ini memberi suatu pengenalan ringkas tentang budaya kehidupan kaum Cina di Malaysia dan membuat fokus terhadap ritual serta kepercayaan berkaitan dengan penggunaan ruang dalam senibina Cina. Buku ini sesuai dihayati oleh para profesional seperti arkitek, jururancang, serta pentadbir daerah dan perbandaran bagi merangka polisi-polisi yang mengutamakan keserasian budaya di Malaysia. Selain itu, buku ini juga boleh dijadikan bahan rujukan kepada orang awam dan ahli akademik, khusus dalam bidang Sains Sosial yang ingin mengetahui tentang keunikan budaya Cina

Reconciling globalization and localization in developing the architectural heritage of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

This study investigated the impact of Globalization and Localization on architectural design evident in the unprecedented building boom in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the relationship between such impact and its influence on the Architecture of these new developments. To date, although research on the stunning architecture in UAE has focused on several aspects, much of the attention has been paid to the descriptions of the mega projects in the contexts of its historical development, documentation of the new developments, and discourse on the role and function of these new developments in relation to social aspects. In contrast, this study aimed to determine: the impact of the coexistence of these forces of change on the built environment in UAE in order to understand the impact of Globalization and Localization, and the rise of Traditionalism and Modernism during this transformation process. This research adopted a multidisciplinary logic of inquiry combining the interpretivist and structuralist paradigms in association with a framework incorporating both semiotics and hermeneutics, in order to interpret the Star Architects’ intentions and associated actions during the creation of these structures. Research data were collected from archival records, books and various electronic sources. Data analysis revealed that there is a dialectic relationship between Globalization and the design of these stunning developments in UAE. This paper therefore, can offer new insights, which is likely to add to knowledge in this field by widening and strengthening the understanding of Globalization, Localization and architectural historical theory in UAE

Conduciveness of women social setting in traditional Iranian bazaar from functional dimension

Iranian traditional Bazaars are not just physical settings for everyday commercial activities. They are places of communal life especially for women and provide the main daily sources of their outdoor recreations. The research hypothesize that there is a serious lack of sensitivity to the cultural values, especially for women within modern Iranian market places. In this regard, the aim of this research was in filling this gap and describing the relationship between women communal life and urban public spaces. To reach the aim, this study was conducted among middle-aged Iranian women within the Iranian traditional Bazaar of Isfahan (as the most public urban space in the Iranian cities). To increase the accuracy of findings, the data collection methods through triangulation were unobtrusive behavioral observation of women communal life within two selected settings, semi-structured single face to face women interviews (n=24), semi-structured focus group interviews (n=5), and taking photographs. In order to analyze the collected data, a qualitative content analysis and descriptive analysis were used. The finding of the research showed that the social settings of traditional Isfahan Bazaar are proper for women communal life functionally

The architectural heritage of the Malay World

The book presents an introductory survey of traditional mosques in the Malay World with particular reference to those found in Peninsular Malaysia. The work presented here is founded on Measured Drawing efforts of the academic staff and students of the Department of Architecture, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The drawings are part of a vast collection of architectural knowledge housed in Pusat Kajian Alam Bina Melayu (KALAM) or Center for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World. It is hoped that this work would spark interests in further investigation of mosques and Islamic Architecture of the traditional past in this part of the world. In an era where globalization has accepted the Middle Eastern typology of mosques, it is high time that the premise of Islamic Architecture be reexamined and the true vernacular work of the past of specific regions be given its proper place in academic scholarship because Middle Eastern architecture is not a pre–requisite of the Islamic socio–political and environmental agenda

The discontinued traditions of malay wood carvings in modern and post-modern architecture in Malaysia : a failure to develop the discourse on ornamentation in architectural works

The main intention of this paper is to contribute some thoughts on why the tradition of wood carvings in traditional Malay architecture was discontinued at the rise of modern and post-modern architectural works in Malaysia. Although the tradition of wood carvings more or less came to a stop in public architectural works with the development of colonial architecture, this paper seeks to clarify the modernistic and post-modern arguments on the problem or issues of ornamentation. I propose that the main reason why traditional wood carvings never became part of mainstream modern and post-modern architecture and is relegated to the elitist works of palaces and hotels or resorts is because architects, artists and intellectuals in Malaysia failed to develop a working discourse on ornamentation in architecture. Although modernism mainly or seemingly rejected the use of ornaments, there was still a strong strand of its development in the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. The western post-modernist architects such as Michael Graves and Charles Jencks went on to develop a discourse on ornamentation under the area of architectural meaning and linguistics

The mosque as a community development centre: Programme and architectural design guidelines for centemporary muslim societies

In the light of the present resurgence in Islamic thoughts towards a return to the fundamental teachings of the Kur´ãn and the Prophet Muhammad´s Sunna, the role and design of mosques have been questioned as to whether they fulfil the eternal values of Islam for Muslims living in the modern world. This book primarily aims at the development of an architectural framework for planning and designing mosques from the orthodox Sunni Islamic perspective. This book can be used by architects and planners in deriving design concepts of mosque which can better serve the Muslim community. Potential clients such as religious departments in government agencies can also use the book to suggest programmes for the mosque community and design criteria for architects and planners. Academics in Islamic Art and Architecture can benefit from the alternative framework of considering the two subjects from the perspective of the religious sources and the spirit of Islam. Members of muslim community can also use the book as a basis to reform their mosque and community programmes and as guidelines for mosque rennovations to suit a more dynamic Islam society

Housing crisis: back to a humanistic agenda

The main intention of this book is to instil a sense of responsibility to the developers and policymakers as well as create an important awareness to the public about the conditions of our housing estates. We are living in a time bomb or a volcano that has shown ripples of signs of eruption. From issues of children dying of accidents and falling from buildings to health hazards for adults as well as the effects air conditioning might have on community interaction and cultural violations which increase inter–racial tensions, we must re–look at our attitude towards our billion ringgit investment. Malaysia is a country that no longer has a third world infrastructure but can be considered as a modern and up–to–date first world infrastructure. But our housing is still left in the throes of this third world mindset of ‘basic shelter’. We have evolved so far as a nation ironically, our housing attitude has not gone a far. The book presents a series of criticism and thoughts on our housing and community architecture based on a series of articles and seminar papers presented. It is hoped that this book might create a rethinking of the way we live in a radically new way

Identiti seni bina Malaysia: Kritikan terhadap pendekatan reka bentuk

Setelah hampir setengah abad, para arkitek berusaha menjawab seruan kerajaan bagi menghasilkan suatu gagasan seni bina yang mencerminkan budaya Malaysia yang berteraskan ketamadunan kaum dan nilai kebangsaan yang progresif, maka buat pertama kalinya sebuah buku dihasilkan bagi mendokumentasi serta membincangkan pendekatan-pendekatan reka bentuk beridentiti nasional. Buku ini membentangkan latar belakang sejarah dan pemikiran teori reka bentuk Barat yang diadaptasi bagi konteks tempatan. Dalam keghairahan aktiviti pembinaan masa kini pucuk pimpinan negara, orang awam dan para arkitek perlu merenung sejenak pencapaian dan persoalan yang timbul bagi mengolah seni bina yang lebih secocok dengan nilai budaya dan aspirasi negara. Adalah diharapkan buku ini dapat mengisi ketandusan wacana intelektual tentang seni bina di Malaysia bagi kegunaan para pelajar, ahli akademik dan profesional