Search of Contemporaneity in New Mosques: The Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The architecture of the contemporary mosque is a popular form of self-expression in Muslim communities. Many societies, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, are divided over the mosque-style dilemma. Today's understanding of mosque architecture is quite varied. Some architects, as well as the vast majority of Muslims, believe that new mosques should always be modeled after popular historic styles. A smaller number of architects and others see the mosque as a modern concept devoid of the past. Yet the number of modern designs in newly constructed mosques is significantly lower. Given that the sources of Islam do not contain strict instructions on mosque design, there is no reason to design a mosque today in the styles of the past. The architectural vocabulary of a contemporary mosque should express the present while adhering to universal Islamic principles. In that sense, contemporary architectural language will best express the cultural identity of Muslim communities. A contemporary mosque, on the other hand, will emphasize the fundamental values of Islamic architectural history in this way.