Resurgence of eclecticism in contemporary mosque design

Megahed, Yasser ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1972-5429 2025. Resurgence of eclecticism in contemporary mosque design. Presented at: Rethinking Mosque Architecture, Istanbul, Turkey, 4-6 November 2025. Published in: Alnaim, M. A., Al Huneidi, H. M., Küçükmehmetoğlu, M., Dabanlı, Ö. and Pakoz, M. Z. eds. 4th International Conference on Mosque Architecture: Rethinking Mosque Architecture. Istanbul: Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture/Istanbul Technical University, pp. 649-665.

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Abstract

The mosque is a building type with a deep historical and architectural legacy, offering vast potential for symbolic and expressive design. Grounded in centuries of evolving traditions, cultural exchanges, and the movement of ideas, it remains a dynamic space for the exploration of concepts where architects seek to embody the sacred essence of Islamic culture and religion. While many modern mosques strive to convey spiritual and cultural meanings through their design, they often navigate the persistent challenge of balancing modern expressions with the adaptation of historical architectural styles, elements, and motifs to fit contemporary contexts. To address this, mosque architects often turn to past forms as a way of mediating between tradition and modernity. However, these references can sometimes be applied superficially, either within a revivalist framework or as ornamental additions to a more modern design. Consequently, contemporary mosque architecture often emerges as a form of modern architectural eclecticism, reflecting both the creative potential of merging historical and contemporary forms and the critical challenges related to contextual relevance, cultural appropriation, environmental sustainability, and the authenticity of these architectural expressions. The discussions around contemporary eclecticism in mosque architecture resonate with those directed at 19th-century European eclecticism, a movement that also sought to integrate historical elements from various cultures with local architectural vocabularies. Despite being largely dismissed by 20th-century modernist critics for its perceived lack of coherence, authenticity, and contextual sensitivity, eclecticism continues to reappear in modern architecture. Today, it is shaped by more nuanced engagements with history and the complex relationship between globalization and regional identity. Within this evolving landscape, mosque architecture has repeatedly intersected with eclecticism, a relationship that demands renewed attention today as we enter a new phase marked by the emergence of AI image generators like Midjourney and DALL·E. These tools offer unprecedented eclectic creative freedom, capable of emulating, hybridizing, and fusing stylistic references from across time and geography. As such, they introduce both opportunities and challenges for mosque architecture, particularly in negotiating the enduring tension between innovation and historical continuity. Against this backdrop, this paper explores the evolving relationship between mosque architecture and eclecticism, identifying contemporary manifestations of this resurgence and concluding with speculative reflections on the role AI-generated imagery might play in shaping a new era of architectural eclecticism.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item - published (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Architecture
Publisher:	Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture/Istanbul Technical University
ISBN:	978-975-561-757-2
Last Modified:	01 May 2026 13:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/186727

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