The contemporary mosque

the long version

The Contemporary Mosque features over 70 mosques designed and built since the 1950s throughout the Islamic world and for Muslim communities in other countries. This survey of the contemporary scene presents projects ranging from buildings commissioned by wealthy private individuals and local Muslim communities to imposing State Mosques serving as symbols of national prestige. Mosques with strikingly modern designs for which the latest materials and construction techniques have been used contrast with examples in regional architectural styles - notably in Southeast Asia and West Africa - using traditional materials. Color photographs of the mosques and of their richly detailed interiors are complemented by architectural plans and drawings and a text outlining the individual design briefs and solutions, together with a background history for each project.