CREATIVITY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE:

Written by mustapha | 03 September 2010

   Dealing positively with constraints and limitations

Yulia Eka PUTRIE 

INTRODUCTION  

From ancient cultures to modern civilizations across the world, we can clearly see traces of creativity in every human-made object. Creativity has taken an important place in the process of creating new objects, or producing new ideas. Creativity also has affected a large part of our daily lives through innovations and inventions in technology, art, science, etc. Therefore, creativity can be considered as a key to the development of our civilization.

 Despite the importance of creativity, however, the definition of creativity itself is vague and complex. (Robinson, 2008: 3) There is a lack of agreement about what the term creativity means. Torrance (2008: 3) notes that some definitions are formulated in terms of a product, while others are formulated in terms of a process, a kind of person, or a set of conditions. In general, creativity is often described as an ability to make something uncommon, or something common in an uncommon way.  In other words, creativity is an ability to use imagination to develop new and original ideas, or things, especially in an artistic context (Encarta Dictionaries, 2008). According to Webster’s Dictionary the definition of creativity is artistic or intellectual inventiveness. Creativity is marked by the ability or power to create or bring into existence, to invest with a new form, to produce through imaginative skill, to make or bring into existence something new. (Robinson, 2008: 6) Random House Webster's College Dictionary, 2^nd Edition, even stated that creativity is defined as “the ability to create meaningful new forms, etc.” (Robinson, 2008: 6).

Avenue Mosque in Kuwait

Written by Administrator | 25 June 2010

The mosque, Avenues Masjid,  is said to be designed by Zahad Hadid for a commercial area in Kuwait city. No reliable source confirmed such information. It is mostly displayed in some Kuwait websites.

Medinanet open discussion on this project in the light of the Islamic Architecture ethics and principles.

Its  outer form, that is the only part displayed for the public  is very controversial. The design of a mosque dictates a multidirection approach that responds to various requirements such as urban setting, internal functionality, spiritual values, cultural context, etc. 

A mosque is mostly an inward looking space where most activities are taking place in isolation from the outerworld. Material aspect of mosques thus becomes secondary in the design of mosques. Does this formal approach  turn architecture, especially when it comes to religious buildings, into a matter of visual consumption? 

 Prayer in mosques is conventionally made in parallel rows that are set behind the Imam. The length of first rows is recommended in Islam. A columnless space also helps in insuring the continuity of these rows. The Qibla wall is recommended to be opaque and simple. Can such a curved form fit the function of the mosque that is mostly dictated by the mode of the Islamic prayer, conteemplation and spirituality?

In relation to context, most mosques were and still are nodes in the city where roads and streets converge to them. They were entirely integrated in the urban fabrics and only known by their minarets and gates. Their courtyards were surrounded by shops and public open spaces that generated  community life.  Doesn't  this trend of isolated pieces of architecture accelerate  the desintegration of cities and the continuity  of the modernism spirit that is based on competitivity, and hegemony of architects names?

Is creatvity  shifitng architecture to a mere game of forms and subjective play of desires?

Comments are left to readers      

Architectural Design as a Place-Making Process

Written by Administrator | 13 May 2010

 Mustapha Ben-Hamouche

Teaching Architecture; CAAD and the lasting Modernism!

Despite the fall of modernism and the rise of many post modern movements that praise cultural context such as vernacularism, neo-traditionalism and regionalism architectural education is still maintaining a lot of the modern traditions especially in architectural education (Ozkan S. 2005, Frampton K.1986, Steel J. 1997). One major deficiency of modern architecture is its failure to respond to local considerations and context, and the belief of its predecessors in the universal location-less solutions. Factors such as climate, geographic conditions, and culture and tradition ways of living were often neglected. In the Arab Gulf countries the abundance of financial resources and the booming but imported IT made of  the countries large laboratories of unusual forms and bizarre projects that praise “creativity” and disregard the local circumstances[i].

Projects were mostly iconic and were developed at an abstract world that is in the minds of architect and in the design workshop. They are then parachuted on site with a few modifications. Often sites are rather modified or remodeled to accommodate the idea of the architect.

Projects are often made to please the ego of the designers, glorify their names or that of the political leaders. CAAD in this perspective seems to be the most efficient graphical as well as design tool in supporting  the wave of iconic projects trend, and sorting out the desired miraculous projects. Strangeness is thus become a sign of  creativity and success.

The First Built Environment Development Symposium

Written by mustapha | 08 June 2010

Real Estate and Housing sustainability  Organized by College of Architecture and Planning, University of Dammam , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The First Built Environment Development Symposium: Real Estate Development and Housing Sustainability aims to reach future sustainable real estate and housing development which maintains the attained achievements while leading the physical development of the country in a scientific and practical manner away from individual interpretations and arbitrary decisions and resolve the problem of high cost real estate.  The Symposium will take place on  17-19 Zul Qaedah 1431 corresponding to 25-27 October 2010. The events will run in two places: in the College of Architecture and Planning and in Dammam Chamber of Commerce building. For more information see: http://www.bedsym.org/eng

the 4th International Conference on Built Environment in Developing Countries

Written by mustapha | 08 June 2010

The School of Housing Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia will organise the 4th International Conference on Built Environment in Developing Countries on 1-2 December 2010.  The 4th ICBEDC 2010 aims to cover a variety of topics related to built environment in developing countries. Presenters and participants are advised to submit their abstract before June 30, 2010 via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax: +604-6564067. For further information, please email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and refer to conference's website:  http://www.hbp.usm.my/icbedc10/

Rheris Village in Morocco

Written by mustapha | 22 May 2010

The Rheris village in Morocco. This is an example of a low-rise high-density city that grew over centuries. It gives a shape of a carpet like-urban fabric that would inspire architects and planners in their search for a sustainable compact planning.