Mosques Changing the British Landscape

The Islamic Forum in association with the Association of Muslim Built Environment Professionals (AMBEP) will be hosting Architect and author Shahed Saleem on the overview of Muslim Architecture in Britain.

Surprisingly the history in South Africa of Muslim Architecture is not very much different. In Britain, Shahed will discuss the key stages of the history from the 19th Century to the present alongside the social history and growth of Muslims in Britain with particular reference to their mosque architecture. He has researched how this new building type has impacted on the urban landscape, socially, culturally and architecturally.

The British Mosque describes the evolution of Britain’s Muslim communities through the buildings they have built. The architectural story charts a course from the earliest mosques formed through the conversion of houses, to other large-scale conversions through to purpose-built mosques and with these the emergence of an Islamic architectural expression in Britain. The future of Islamic architecture in Britain is also considered, and how this will be affected by the growing cultural and social diversification of Britain’s Muslim communities.

Shahed Saleem is a practising architect, teaches architecture at the University of Westminster, and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Bartlett School of Architecture. His particular research and practice interests are in the architecture of migrant and post-migrant communities, and in particular, their relationship to notions of heritage, belonging and nationhood. Saleem has worked with faith communities across the UK in designing and delivering places of worship. His design work has been nominated for the V&A Jameel Prize 2013 and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2016.

The lecture will be held at the Suleman Lockhat Auditorium. Mariam Bee Sultan Islamic Centre, 222 Kenilworth Road on Thursday 11th April. 8 pm and will be of interest to Architects but also to those interested in Muslim History and the development of their communities through the built form especially as reflected in their religious architecture.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *