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Compared with its status in Islamic history, the mosque today has become a distinctive phenomenon, perceived as an identity vessel of contemporary Islamic architecture that conveys sacred metaphysical meanings. Since the advent of modernity Muslim societies has become increasingly secularized; the relationships of the sacred–secular and the divine-based demythologized knowledge have been deformed. The mosque was glossed over as the sole contemporary sacred edifice that bears metaphysical/Islamic connotations with cultural continuity. Its architecture, meanings and function have gone through a process of metamorphosis, particularly the state mosques. The contemporary mosque as such is facing a “semiological deterioration.” State mosques today are symbolic statements and communicative messages of their rulers’ power and national sovereignty, with a subsidiary role for worship, i.e., the sacred has turned into a secular power metaphor. This led to a state semantic confusion accompanied by a loss in the deeply rooted collective cultural codes of the sacred. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the metamorphosis of the semiological connotation of the contemporary mosque, with a special focus on grand state mosques, and its effects on the architecture of the contemporary mosque.

This paper is theoretical research (no case studies included).

The metamorphosis that the contemporary mosque is experiencing today as a religious edifice with symbolic connotations and architectural iconism is but an effect of the changes that occurred in the concept of the scared and its relationship to the secular in contemporary Muslim communities, as a result of modernity. Such conceptual changes led to altering the deeply rooted cultural codes to be replaced by new intentional codes, used today as vehicles of communication in mosque architecture, especially in grand state mosques. Contemporary state mosques with its new symbolism and semantic meanings have contributed to redefining the concept of the contemporary mosque in general.

Mosque architecture today receives a significant importance. Many conferences and awards are dedicated to celebrating this phenomenon. Attempts to define the criteria and style of the contemporary mosque architecture are mounting. However, rarely there are studies that defy such attempts in a critical manner. This research seeks to criticize such approaches by highlighting the essence of the transformation in mosque architecture and its relationship to the concepts of the sacred and the secular, from a semiological perspective.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of the installed photovoltaic (PV) systems on the aesthetic perception of the mosque’s architectural form. It also aims to develop a framework for integrating PV cells with the various elements of the building type.

The study adopted a mixed-method approach comprising both qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection procedures. This includes surveys, literature review, focus groups and an experiment.

The results revealed a negative impact of the building-applied PV panels on people’s perception of the mosque’s architectural form. However, integrating the PV cells with the mosque form was perceived as more aesthetically pleasing. Certain integrating PV strategies integrated more harmoniously with certain mosque styles.

This study is focused on limited styles of one building type. Extra research is needed to explore the differences between the different participated groups.

There is a lack of research that explores the ways the installed PV systems impact the users’ architectural aesthetic perception of the mosque. This study informs the design process and practice and construction industry by highlighting the opportunities PV systems, as a legitimate sustainable energy resource, offers to architects and manufacturers.

This study evaluates the architectural status of circular prototype mosques in Kuwait. The argument is that the once dominant and powerful image of mosques is now merely a repetitive reproduction through the prototype scheme. The study focuses on the circular prototype design, which has been constructed in many of Kuwait's recent residential areas. It evaluates qualitatively the worshipers' experiences of these mosques.

The research methodology is qualitative. The main question is how well the circular prototype mosques are received by worshipers and local communities. Various research methods were used, including walk-through survey and group interview with worshipers and semi-structured interview with key informants in Public Authority for Housing Welfare and Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. Purposive sampling was chosen to select for key informants. Time-location sampling was selected for worshipers' group interview.

Circular prototype presents several weaknesses. The community did not receive the circular design well as it deviates from the traditional and modern rectangular mosque design prevalent in Kuwait. This research highlights the importance of considering traditional design principles, community preferences and functional requirements while designing a mosque. It also emphasizes the need for an extensive evaluation of prototype designs to identify potential weaknesses before proceeding with the final design.

It is recommended that future mosque design projects in Kuwait consider traditional design principles; community preferences; and financial, functional and sustainability requirements. In addition, the findings of this study can be used to inform future mosque design projects in Kuwait and to ensure that they are functional, cost-effective and well received by the community.

This research provides an informative and comprehensive analysis of Kuwait's prototype mosque designs from the 1950s to the present day. It focuses on the current circular prototype, critically examining its advantages and disadvantages. This research is the first to evaluate the history and design improvements over the years. As such, this research offers invaluable information to those interested in Kuwait's religious architecture and cultural history.

The main aim of this study is to identify the prevailing design trends in contemporary mosques in northern cities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It highlights the key elements and features to categorize mosques.

Based on the literature review, four major stylistic expressions were identified, which formed the theoretical basis for a survey conducted to study 50 mosques in each of the four northern cities: Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. The 200 visited mosques were investigated and analyzed based on the four categories. The comparison between these mosques enabled the author to identify the key elements and features that can be adopted in classifying mosques in relation to the four main trends.

The study reveals that there is a strong attachment with local historic styles. In total, 86% of the mosques follow traditional and historic styles. While 74% of Sharjah mosques follow historicism, 64–72% in the other cities adopt local traditional. Almost all investigated mosques follow one layout, but with diverse stylistic expressions. Some major elements are common among all mosques, while other minor elements are found in all congregational mosques. The study identified key indicators that can be used to help classifying mosques in other cities and countries.

This is the first study to categorize mosques in the UAE. There are few studies on mosques in Sharjah and Ajman, focusing on typology and sustainability, with less emphasis on styles. The results of this study can be considered by architects as well as by authorities. It can also be used as a reference for other studies.

This study assesses the level of user importance to the building components of the Great Mosque of Mataram Kotagede Yogyakarta. The building components are the excellence and reliability of the mosque as a cultural and religious heritage in Indonesia.

This research uses the qualitative and quantitative method. The qualitative method was conducted with contextual and conceptual studies on the comparative history of the Great Mosque of Mataram Kotagede. The quantitative method collected respondent perceptions using questionnaire.

The results generate ten building components that the highest important component is the aesthetics appearance of the building, while the least important component is the tomb area. Other components consist of the ornaments and building elements, outdoor circulation, indoor circulation, landscapes and parks, the wall surrounding the mosque and its area, mosque furniture, ablution facilities and lavatories, and access from the mosque area to surrounding areas.

The conservation maintains the sustainability of the physical and non-physical aspects of the mosque building. The physical aspects include aesthetics and reliability of building, while the non-physical aspects consist of historical values, heritage, symbols, socio-culture, local wisdom and religious tolerance.

The general concept of public space in Saudi Arabia is relatively recent; it is the result of an attempt to modernize several conservative traditions and norms, as well as the ambitious vision of 2030, which reprioritized Saudi cities' public spaces by implementing a quality-of-life improvement program. This study aims to investigate the relationship between mosque location and surrounding urban context as a significant urban design issue in order to comprehend the potential for transforming such an element into a multifunctional public space destination in a dense urban fabric.

The study's objectives are divided into two areas: a spatial configuration analysis to examine the urban context and an urban analysis of the mosque site with a study area boundary of a 400-m buffer zone. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were utilized; in addition, a user feedback survey was conducted in which several key insights were compiled, such as the importance of safety urban element factors, aesthetic elements and green areas in the built environment in making mosques places that are active public spaces.

The study’s main finding encourages governmental institutions to change their mindset from “open space around the mosque” to “the mosque as an element within public space,” which will have a significant impact on how the authors approach, improve and redevelop existing mosque locations. Several concepts were presented that should be reconsidered and redeveloped in order to align with the most recent sustainable urban design tools; the mosque to be overlooked as a community gathering place rather than just a place for religious rituals.

This study is limited to sacred mosque sites primarily found in Islamic countries; it focuses on Saudi Arabian urban and planning practices in relation to sociocultural norms. The authors believe that increasing the number of study samples or broadening the scope of the study to include other Saudi regions or other Middle Eastern countries could yield new findings and insights.

The study offers a conceptual design model based on survey results and qualitative analysis and recommending strategies that planners, designers and policymakers can use to design successful mosque places and pedestrian-oriented developments.

Purpose – As one of the development of modern architecture that has a great attention on the characteristics of regionalism, especially grow in developing countries. The Characteristics of regionalism is closely related to local culture, climate and technology in time Suha, Ozka(1985).This regionalism approach only takes and identifies patterns of architectural concepts relevant to the climate, local materials and geographical factors of the many layers of architectural history that clash together and coincide.

Design/Methodology/Approach – According to Wondoamiseno (1991), the method of possible architectural features of regionalism can be seen in several trends, which he calls the unity of the past architecture and the present architecture. Unity in question is unity in architectural composition. The method of analysis is using descriptive qualitative based on primary data by observation and secondary data from the literature study.

Findings – The technique of the main characteristic of regionalism is the unification of traditional architecture with modern architecture. Specific regionalism, as one of the developments of modern architecture that has attention to the characteristics of regionalism, that is related to local culture, climate and Technology,its definition of explicit or implicit results between society and architectural statement, then between the initial conditions of regional expression not only local prosperity but also a strong sense of local identity Regionalism is thought to have developed around 1960 (Jenks, 1977). One of the developments of modern architecture that has a great attention on the characteristics of regionalism especially grows in developing countries. The characteristics of regionalism are closely related to local culture, climate, and technology in time (Ozkan, 1985).

Research Limitations/Implications – The Regionalism Architecture can be seen in Mosque Bujang Salim Krueng Geukuh Aceh.

Practical Implications – The unity is not only visual but also can be in abstract quality, which can be judged from the human response to the building of how the human react either directly or indirectly to the object of the building. To get unity in architectural composition, there are three main requirements that are dominance, repetition, and composition. One of the implementations of Regionalism of Architecture can be seen in BujangSalim Mosque of North Aceh.

Originality/Value – This is the first research that identifies Regionalism of Architecture at Mosque Bujang Salim as a traditional of Aceh Architecture technique in North Aceh.

Valuable historical monuments have important potential in the context of cultural tourism in cities. In addition, for the protection of these structures, in terms of ensuring social and cultural sustainability, it is also important to transfer these values to future generations.

The social and cultural sustainability of Erzurum Great Mosque is investigated by viewing the social and cultural sustainability of the mosque through the factors created by Chan and Lee and the criteria created by Stubbs.

As a result, the social and cultural sustainability of Erzurum Great Mosque is revealed, allowing us to propose what should be done to transfer the values of this structure, which has historical and cultural significance, and the culture it represents to future generations.

This study contributes to the literature as to evaluate a historical building, in terms of social–cultural sustainability.

Since the first periods of humanity, the reflections of emerging cultures have created the living texture and architecture. The continuing accumulations from older periods transfer a history by layering at certain environments. While these environments which appear as the evidence of development and advancement present the artifacts of previous generations; they create a common language by creating a link between past, today and present. The necessity for protection and transfer of architecture which is the physical reflection of this accumulation, history and culture continuing through ages to the future generations is a clear fact. Preventing the disappearance of historical buildings which show the difference of a geography, country or city from others and create its identity is an important issue for sustainable architecture. When sustainability unites with history and tourism, it can achieve the protection, development and transfer of natural and cultural resources from one generation to the other. For this reason, in the scope of this study, Camii Cedid/St Eugenios Church (Yeni Cuma Mosque) transformed into a mosque after the conquest of the city of Trabzon, which has an important historical texture within its geography, will be examined in terms of the sustainable development it created in the region and the changes it went through