After successful completion of the course, students are able to critically assess trends and developments in mosque architecture in the 21st century. They are introduced to the diversity of contemporary sacral architecture in Islamic countries, but also to mosque architecture in the diaspora at the focus of religion, society and politics

Topics and Trends in Contemporary Mosque Architecture

The mosque is a landmark and significant building type in the Islamic world, i.e. in over forty different countries, encompassing one-fifth of the global population. Among the three Abrahamic religions, Islam is currently the fastest growing community. But what should a mosque look like in the age of modernity.

At the beginning of the 20th century, architects in Muslim countries were confronted not only with a series of technical advances, but above all with the advance of "Western" modern architecture. How did they respond to this in their architecture? 

In the last two decades, there has been increased experimentation with the idea of developing a quasi-global "mosque" building type, i.e. free of regional and historical references - not only in Islamic countries, but also in the diaspora. 

However, does this claim find acceptance at all in the Islamic societies of the 21st century?

The students are introduced to the topic in the form of impulse lectures. This will help to give them an insight into the diversity of contemporary Islamic architecture, so that the question of an international modernism or a global architecture can be discussed constructively against the background of Muslim contextualized architecture. 

The LVA sees itself as a "research in teaching" project. Thus, in their presentations and seminar papers, the students deal with selected mosque architecture in comparison and in the context of the results obtained.

• lectures as an introduction to the topic
• further impulse lectures as preparation for the individual work
• literature and database research
• exercises: definition and correct use of technical terms
• exercises: writing an abstract ad an exposé
• documenting (photographically, graphically, textually) and interpreting images
• writing a scientific paper (seminar paper)

f discontinued by end- february, the Presence/Hybrid seminar will take place in Seminar Room 251-1: Stiege 3, 3rd floor, and held each Thursday from 10:00-13:00.  

Written and oral

• Participation, compulsory attendance, active participation in the discussions and exercises
• Completion of a written seminar paper plus oral presentation of the paper

>>> Possible extension to a bachelor's thesis:

If desired and in coordination with the supervisors, the Wahlseminar can be extended by a second in-depth seminar and the seminar paper can be developed into a theoretical bachelor's thesis:

• Wahlseminar paper: 25,000 - 30,000 characters
• Extension to a bachelor's thesis: a total of 50,000 characters plus clear concretisation of the research results