REGISTER HERE: Learning from Islamic Architecture - The DNA of Sacred Space

For centuries, Muslim architects, designers, and artists have sought to draw closer to God in every aspect of their work, using art and architecture as a means of ibadah (worship), and bringing the presence of the sacred into every part of their cities. In our modern era, architecture is focused on budget, flashy design, and speed - but it lacks the sacredness of traditional Islamic architecture. What makes Islamic architecture so beautiful and spiritually rich, and how can we learn from the design of these sacred spaces? Join us in a workshop learning the basics of Islamic art and architecture and unlock the beauty of centuries of traditional Islamic design.

When: July 11th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Who: Youth (Ages 13-19) 
Where: Medina Activity Center, 1905 S Haggerty Rd, Canton Township, MI 48188

Itinerary:

• Opening Discussion: To start the conversation, we will ask students to tell us the most beautiful buildings they’ve been to and why they liked it

• Understanding Architecture: Everyone will be given sketching paper, flower foam, and carving tools. They will be asked to design a mosque and model it with the foam.

  • Using the students’ designs, we will discuss concepts such as plan and section, helping them understand how to architecturally represent their designs.

  • Next, we will compare these plans and sections to those of well-known masajid, such as Masjid Al-Aqsa and the Sultanahmet Mosque

• Islamic Architectural Patterns & Proportions: Next, each student will receive a com9mmi999pass, a pencil, and a piece of paper. Using these tools, they will learn to do very basic Islamic patterns that are common in Islamic architecture.

  • Looking back at the images of famous masajid, we will discuss as a group how the patterns they drew take place at different scales - from the ornamentation to the form & proportion of the plans and sections

    • Discussion on proportion & harmony

  • We will discuss concepts such as light, shadow, compression, and expansion that enhance the spiritual feeling within a masjid

• Closing Discussion: To wind down, we will ask the students to discuss what they learned from the event and how these activities helped them understand more about their favorite spaces.