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A lovely 1855 mosque in Ortaköy.
A lovely 1855 mosque in Ortaköy.
Men meeting at the Fatih Mosque in Amsterdam photographed by Dick Barendsen.
Men meeting at the Fatih Mosque in Amsterdam photographed by Dick Barendsen.
The Essalam Mosque in Rotterdam photographed by Christian van der Kooy
The Essalam Mosque in Rotterdam photographed by Christian van der Kooy
The El Mouhssinine Mosque in North Amsterdam photographed by Dick Barendsen.
The El Mouhssinine Mosque in North Amsterdam photographed by Dick Barendsen.
The Mevlana Mosque in Rotterdam, photographed by Christian van der Kooy
The Mevlana Mosque in Rotterdam, photographed by Christian van der Kooy
The House Café evokes colonnaded patterns of mosques, albeit in a secular manner.
The House Café evokes colonnaded patterns of mosques, albeit in a secular manner.
Site of the Western Mosque in Amsterdam photographed by Christian van der Kooy.
Site of the Western Mosque in Amsterdam photographed by Christian van der Kooy.
The interior courtyard is a simple cave-like space with slits and fractures along the Qiblah wall that allow daylight into the prayer hall.
The interior courtyard is a simple cave-like space with slits and fractures along the Qiblah wall that allow daylight into the prayer hall.
Emre Arolat’s 2012 design for the Sancaklar Mosque outside Istanbul challenges the Turkish capital’s ubiquitous soaring domes and patterned minarets. Instead, the firm built the 13,000-square-foot mosque into the side of a hill and clad it in natural stacked slate.
Emre Arolat’s 2012 design for the Sancaklar Mosque outside Istanbul challenges the Turkish capital’s ubiquitous soaring domes and patterned minarets. Instead, the firm built the 13,000-square-foot mosque into the side of a hill and clad it in natural stacked slate.
The scene on the balcony of the famed Pierre Loti Cafe near the sacred Eyup Mosque.
The scene on the balcony of the famed Pierre Loti Cafe near the sacred Eyup Mosque.
Devout Muslims and Western-style tourists congregate outside the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet district.
Devout Muslims and Western-style tourists congregate outside the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet district.
Mosque Detail, Djenne, Mali Photo courtesy Museum for African Art. © Enid Schildkrout
Mosque Detail, Djenne, Mali Photo courtesy Museum for African Art. © Enid Schildkrout
Although the exterior of the Blue Mosque (technically the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is gorgeous, many say that it’s not Sinan’s masterwork: the sightlines inside are obscured by a number of columns. This is not a problem for the magnificent Hagia Sofia (in background), which sits directly across from the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet Square.
Although the exterior of the Blue Mosque (technically the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is gorgeous, many say that it’s not Sinan’s masterwork: the sightlines inside are obscured by a number of columns. This is not a problem for the magnificent Hagia Sofia (in background), which sits directly across from the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet Square.
In terms of exterior ornament, the crown has to go to the Hassan II mosque. Built right on the edge of the sea—over the top of what used to be a grand public bath—this mosque was completed in 1993 and was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau for King Hassan II. It's the biggest mosque in Morocco and only one of a few that non-Muslims can visit.
In terms of exterior ornament, the crown has to go to the Hassan II mosque. Built right on the edge of the sea—over the top of what used to be a grand public bath—this mosque was completed in 1993 and was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau for King Hassan II. It's the biggest mosque in Morocco and only one of a few that non-Muslims can visit.
Sandstone facade of the mosque.
Sandstone facade of the mosque.
The entrance courtyard of the mosque.
The entrance courtyard of the mosque.
The Sancaklar Mosque is a privately funded mosque built on the outskirts of Istanbul for the clients’ extended family and the local community. As you can see above, this structure by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture has been radically imagined.
The Sancaklar Mosque is a privately funded mosque built on the outskirts of Istanbul for the clients’ extended family and the local community. As you can see above, this structure by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture has been radically imagined.
Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown, Project for the Competition for a National Mosque of Baghdad, 1982, Baghdad, Iraq
Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown, Project for the Competition for a National Mosque of Baghdad, 1982, Baghdad, Iraq
A Counterspace design for a mosque in the Johannesburg suburb of Brixton added a colonnade to a building that had originally been a Dutch Reformed church.
A Counterspace design for a mosque in the Johannesburg suburb of Brixton added a colonnade to a building that had originally been a Dutch Reformed church.
Autoban’s graphic whimsies, where silhouetted animals interact with furniture, also allude to the decorated surfaces and colonnaded patterns in mosques.
Autoban’s graphic whimsies, where silhouetted animals interact with furniture, also allude to the decorated surfaces and colonnaded patterns in mosques.
Visiting Abuja, Nigeria, Adjaye notes: "The architecture of the public buildings is intended to present Abuja as the country’s symbolic Center of power. Key government buildings, the cathedral and the main mosque occupy conspicuous sites in the center of the city."
Visiting Abuja, Nigeria, Adjaye notes: "The architecture of the public buildings is intended to present Abuja as the country’s symbolic Center of power. Key government buildings, the cathedral and the main mosque occupy conspicuous sites in the center of the city."
With their east-meets-west twist on mid-century classics, the duo behind Autoban has jump-started their hometown’s design scene. Their House Café evokes colonnaded patterns of mosques, albeit in a secular manner.
With their east-meets-west twist on mid-century classics, the duo behind Autoban has jump-started their hometown’s design scene. Their House Café evokes colonnaded patterns of mosques, albeit in a secular manner.
Looking at Istanbul’s old city from the trendy neighborhood of Beyoğlu, one can see the Hagia Sophia at left (rebuilt for the last time in the 6th century) and the 17th-century Sultanahmet (or “Blue”) Mosque with its six minarets at right.
Looking at Istanbul’s old city from the trendy neighborhood of Beyoğlu, one can see the Hagia Sophia at left (rebuilt for the last time in the 6th century) and the 17th-century Sultanahmet (or “Blue”) Mosque with its six minarets at right.
The maquettes of Casablanca illustrate how the cell grid reproduced the courthouse model, which echoed tradition but allowed for evolution – both horizontal, and vertical. They were also innovative in their creation of ‘centralities’, a closely-knit collection of shops, mosques, schools and homes that integrated life by good design.
The maquettes of Casablanca illustrate how the cell grid reproduced the courthouse model, which echoed tradition but allowed for evolution – both horizontal, and vertical. They were also innovative in their creation of ‘centralities’, a closely-knit collection of shops, mosques, schools and homes that integrated life by good design.
Resonant Surface 01 by Christine Yogiaman and Ken Tracy While it was first displayed as more of an architectural abstract than an actual addition to a minaret, Yogiaman and Tracy, who have also done extensive work in Indonesia, are exploring the idea of designing a mosque and integrating this design. Photo by Juan Roldan
Resonant Surface 01 by Christine Yogiaman and Ken Tracy While it was first displayed as more of an architectural abstract than an actual addition to a minaret, Yogiaman and Tracy, who have also done extensive work in Indonesia, are exploring the idea of designing a mosque and integrating this design. Photo by Juan Roldan
Detail of the mosque located within the University of Baghdad masterplan, both designed by Walter Gropius. It's presently not in use as a religious center to minimize political conflict between the Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups. Walter Gropius, TAC (The Architects’ Collaborative) and Hisham A. Munir, University of Baghdad Campus, 1957-, Baghdad, Iraq.
Detail of the mosque located within the University of Baghdad masterplan, both designed by Walter Gropius. It's presently not in use as a religious center to minimize political conflict between the Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups. Walter Gropius, TAC (The Architects’ Collaborative) and Hisham A. Munir, University of Baghdad Campus, 1957-, Baghdad, Iraq.
I think this is my favorite of all the tile photos I took. Without looking closely you almost lose the sense that this is made of tile and plaster at all. And the great bursts of green and blue on the mosque offer such a tight, expressionistic bit of filigree up against the light marble of the structure. My guide told me that the structure cost some $800 million and was one of the last big building projects of Hassan II's life.
I think this is my favorite of all the tile photos I took. Without looking closely you almost lose the sense that this is made of tile and plaster at all. And the great bursts of green and blue on the mosque offer such a tight, expressionistic bit of filigree up against the light marble of the structure. My guide told me that the structure cost some $800 million and was one of the last big building projects of Hassan II's life.