CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF DESIGN PARADIGMS IN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE: A STUDY OF INTERIORITY, VERSATILITY, AND CELLULARITY
Kashef, Mohamad
Kashef, Mohamad
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2025-02-11
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Abstract. This paper analyzes traditional design principles in Islamic architecture, contextualizing them within broader cultural, social and environmental frameworks. The study develops a critical analysis framework that is both interpretative and descriptive, clustering Islamic architectural design features under the three paradigms of Interiority, Versatility and Cellularity. Traditional design elements are still present and can be distinguished across different scales, from individual homes and workplaces to entire neighborhoods and cities. Despite this, traditional design features have often been interpreted superficially, focusing mainly on the distinctive decorative compositions that define the external image of Islamic architecture. The analytical approach of this study shifts the discourse from a focus on architectural aesthetics to an exploration of compositional and environmental design values that remain as relevant in contemporary design as they were centuries ago. It adopts an analytical framework that integrates the basic architectural design principles of interiority, versatility and cellularity. The research examines how these principles have been embodied in traditional Islamic architecture's functional and spatial characteristics. The study highlights the complex relationship between private and public spheres in Islamic architecture, demonstrating how these essential qualities continue to shape and enrich contemporary architectural practices.
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