Abstract
Mosque construction and expansion in the modern world is a significant achievement, particularly in Muslim majority communities. A mosque is a single building that serves as a center for both religious and social activities. Mosques must be designed to reflect religious beliefs, social values, and the local environment. Aside from being a functional location for salah (prayer), it also has symbolic value as a representation of Muslim religious beliefs and life after death. This study is focused on the visual richness of the mosque's architectural design and the identification of those elements that adds fullness to the experiential qualities of the mosques. This research uses a case study approach to evaluate mosque projects in various locales across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Various architectural features of mosques were recognized used for adding visual richness in design and then classified based on their historical significance. A comparison of mosques' design architectural elements is carried out. The findings point to a consistency in the incorporation of functional elements, while the aesthetic elements are more locale-specific. The aesthetic elements need to be treated as an important component of mosque design. This work has further elaborated the need for the re-establishment of the importance of aesthetic values in contemporary mosque architecture and recommended its revival.
Highlights
Mosque architecture's categorized functional and aesthetic elements are compared in the study
The aesthetic features employed in mosques, the mosque interiors, are responsible for the mosques' richness in design
Based on the concept of simplicity and minimalism, this study argues that there is an inclination to overlook the aesthetic components of mosque architecture
Summary
Historical Background: A mosque, or masjid in Arabic, is a gathering place for Muslims to pray. In Islamic architecture, it is a significant architectural type. Mosques are the first buildings to be built in Islamic architecture. It is still a significant aspect of Muslim communities and institutions. Due to its multiple noteworthy architectural characteristics, it serves as a symbol of the Muslim community. From Madinah's first mosque, the Prophet (SAW) Mosque, to the present day, the mosque's core architectural characteristics
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