My curiosity has taken me back to architecture. In earlier posts I’ve noted four of the more unusual buildings in use today. I’ve also profiled Austrian artist and architect, Friedensreich Hundertwasser whose one-of-a kind works break out as some of the most unique structures standing.
With the North African and Middle Eastern revolutions still in flux, Islam as it relates to politics remains in the news. It’s a great opportunity to leave the news and debates behind, and simply look at the architecture of mosques (and former mosques) and appreciate them as art, engineering and craftsmanship marvels.
These five structures caught my eye: They are beautiful, and well situated to their environments.
1 > The Great Mosque of Djenné :: Djenné, Mali / West Africa (top left)
Many mosques preceded this present one. With its Sahel-style, architect Ismaila Traoré based his design closely on the original structure. As the largest adobe building in the world, work began in 1906 and was completed in 1907.
The Great Mosque is built on a raised plinth of rectangular sun-dried mud bricks – held together by mud mortar and plastered over with mud. It is supported by wooden beams. The massive walls vary in thickness depending on their height and provide insulation from the sun’s heat.
Lauded as one of the most famous landmarks in Africa, it is the center of the Djenné community. An annual festival is held with the primary objective: Repairing the yearly damage to the mosque.
2 > Qol Sharif Mosque :: Kazan Kremlin, Russia (bottom left)
Located in and built to serve the Kazan Kremlin in the 16th century, it was the largest mosque in Russia. In 1552, during the storming of Kazan, the mosque was destroyed by Ivan The Terrible. It is believed that the original building featured minarets, cupolas and tents.
The mosque was rebuilt in 1996 in a modern style and predominantly serves as Museum of Islam, although during major Muslim celebrations, thousands of gather there to pray.
The Qol Sharif complex was designed as an important cornerstone of Kazan’s architectural landscape and includes the main mosque building, library, publishing house and Imam’s office.
3 > Great Mosque of Córdoba :: Córdoba, Spain (center)
This former mosque, The Mezquita (Mosque) of Cordoba – now a Roman Catholic cathedral, is situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba, Spain. Under the rule of Islam, it was built as the second-largest mosque in the world, and is perhaps the most accomplished monument of the Umayyad dynasty. The building is most notable for its arcaded hypostyle hall, with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite.
After the Spanish Reconquista, it was transformed back into a church in 1236, and some of the Islamic columns and arches were replaced. The construction of the Mezquita started in approximately 600 AD as a Christian Visigothic church. Later, the Mezquita was reworked for over two centuries to refashion it as a mosque, starting in 784 AD.
4 > Mosque of Ibn Tulun :: Cairo, Egypt (top right)
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tūlūn is the oldest mosque in the city surviving in its original form. It was commissioned by Ahmad ibn Tūlūn, the Abbassid governor of Egypt. Historian al-Maqrizi lists the start date as 876 AD. The original inscription slab identifies the date of completion as 879 AD.
The grand ceremonial mosque was constructed in the Samarran style: Constructed around a courtyard, with one covered hall on each of the four sides, the largest being on the side of the qibla, or direction to Mecca. The original mosque had its ablution fountain (sabil) in the area between the inner and outer walls. At the end of the 13th century, a distinctive sabil was added in the central courtyard.
The mosque has been restored several times, most recently in 2004.
5 > Baiturrahman Mosque :: Banda Aceh, Indonesia (bottom right)
Designed by an Italian architect and built by the Dutch colonial administration as a token of reconciliation (following their destruction of an older mosque during the Aceh wars), the mosque combines colonial and Moghul Indian influences. There are few traditionally Acehenese features, though this mosque has come to represent the city of Banda Aceh, and the cultural uniqueness of the Acehenese.
Construction of the mosque commenced in 1879 and was completed in 1881. The mosque survived the massive 2004 tsunami which destroyed much of the rest of the city of Banda Aceh.
Images: The Great Mosque of Djenné by Andy Gilham; Mosque of Ibn Tulun by Berthold Werner; Baiturrahman Mosque by Si Gam Acèh / Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Qol Sharif Mosque by Ilya Tsvetkov; Great Mosque of Córdoba by James (Jim) Gordon / Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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I’m so excited. Finally, the United Nations has gotten in on this happiness thing. I’ve been writing about the culture of happiness for over three years now: 
