Analyzing and Design of a Mosque in a Multicultural Society With Cultural Approach : Analyzing and Design of a Mosque in a Multicultural Society With Cultural Approach

This project attempted to detennine cultural factors in architecture and include these factors in architectural form and function. This work also aimed to determine the influence of certain contexts on architectural design specific to a certain region with a unique culture. This research focused on new identity, prestige, contexts and demands of contemporary Islamic architecture rather than design of novel, complex and eccentric forms in this new area. The present study conjured a sense of balance in the complexity, confusion and imbalance of new fonns. Some contemporary architects solely emphasize the past Islamic designs and ignore new contexts. On the contrary, others only focus on new contexts and neglect the past. Neither one is true. New designs should be based on the available space and context with regard to past fonns. In other words, the past heritage of architecture can influence the contemporary architecture if the new space and context can be fitted to the past. If not, new context is entirely unique and specific to the new space. Nevertheless, the preliminary principles of Islamic architecture should be preserved. The present project made some efforts to detennine the influence of different cultural and multicultural contexts on Islamic architectural designs (e.g. mosque). It sought to include other cultures in Islamic architecture. However, future studies are needed to clarify this issue