EXPRESSIONS OF ISLAM IN BUILDINGS bor stone gesoxe Mecinrinc anu Cun COM US)EXPRESSIONS OF ISLAM IN BUILDINGS Proceedings of an International Seminar Sponsored by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and ‘The Indonesian Institute of Architects Held in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia 15-19 October 1990 Published by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture on behalf of The Aga Khan Award for ArchitectureContents Foreword ‘The Issues Chapter 1 Introduction Contemporary Expressions of Islam in Buildings: ‘The Religious and the Secular Ismail Serageldin Comments Adz Esmait ‘Mohammad al-Asad Discussion Chapter 2 Islam and Modernity Islamic Cultures, Developing Societies, Modern Thought Mohammed Arkoun ‘Comments Soetjipio Wiroasardjono Discussion Chapter 3 Women and Architecture ‘Women and Space in Muslim Societies Afaf Mahfouz and Ismail Serageldin ymments Hayat Salam Discussi Chapter 4 The Mosque ‘The Architecture of the Mosque, an Overview and Design Directions Hasan-Uddin Khan 10 nl 23 28 31 48 49 6s 69 8 9 7 102 108 109‘Comments Dogan Kuban 128 Rasem Badran 135 Discussion 142 Chapter $ Space and the Practising Architect 154 “Brother in Islam, Please Draw us a Mosque” Muslims in the West: A Personal Account Gulzar Haider 155 ‘Comments Raj Rewal 167 Darmawan Prawirohardjo 171 Ali Shuaibi m Discussion 176 Chapter 6 The Indonesian Experience 187 Expressions of Islam in Buildings: The Indonesian Experience Yuswadi Saliva Hariadi Gunawan Tjahjono 188 Discussion 197 Chapter 7 General Discussion 203 Closing 218 International Participants 231 Indonesian Participants 232Foreword ‘This volume records the proceedings of the International Seminar Contemporary Expressions of Islam in Buildings held in Indonesia in October 1990. The opening ceremony took place in the Jakarta State Palace, while the seminar proper was held in the historic city of Youyakarta. Throughout the seminar, the position papers and ensuing ‘comments and discussions focused on a key theme: the exploration of the interaction between Islam, as a social and cultural phenomenon, and the built environment of Muslims. The specific topics addressed included a wide range from the more expected themes. Of tradition versus modernity or the architecture of the mosque to the less frequently studied but equally important topics of women and architecture and Muslims in the West. From the opening speeches in Jakarta to the last farewell in Yoayakarta, two key concepts dominated the seminar and left a lasting imprint on the participants: the need for itihad or innovation in all our endeavours and the “tolerance” evident in Indonesia as aan example to other nations. Certainly, the Indonesian dimension of the seminar enriched all present, both through formal contributions and through visual stimulation. Al participants left with the feeling of having learned and profited from the discussions. It is to be hoped that these published recordings. will convey not only the information accumulated but also some sense of the interaction of ideas and arguments that took place. As in past volumes of the series, priority has been given in this publication to the excitement of the deliberations and the spontaneity Of the debates, even if at times this had to be done at the expense of syntax and grammar. In this way the reader will be better able to share in the seminar experience. ‘The diversity of the contributions and the constraints of time and space have made the editing of this volume a challenging if not always easy task. Frangoise Lombard and Danielle Chouet deserve special thanks for their unfailing optimism while typing and retyping the many versions and revisions. Hayat Salam EditorExpressions of Islam in BuildingsThe Issues Integration and Interaction in Islamic Culture ‘Syahrul Syarif Chairman, Indonesian Institute of Architects Religion, Diversity, and National Development His Excellency Soeharto President, Republic of Indonesi Faith, Tradition, Innovation, and the Built Environment His Highness the Aga Khan Opening Ceremony ‘The State Palace Jakarta, 15 October 1990Integration and Interaction in Islamic Culture Syahrul Syarif Chairman, Indonesian Institute of Architects 1 would like to express our deep gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Indonesia, for inaugurating this International Seminar, Contemporary Expressions of Islam in ‘Buildings, conducted with the cooperation of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the Indonesian Institute of Architects. This cooperation is «continuation of a long relationship established not only with the Indonesian Institute of Architects but also with Indonesian scholars and statesmen by means of seminar participation, Master Jury membership, and consultancy. With five Aga Khan ‘Awards received in the last four eycles, Indonesia is also listed as one of the top countries in terms of Awards received. ‘Your Highness, on behalf ofthe Indonesian Institute of Architects, 1 would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome you to Indonesia and to express our appreciation for your presence at this important architecture seminar. Likewise to all participants who have come from outside Indonesia, I would also like to extend my best and warmest greetings and sincere wish that you will enjoy your stay in Indonesia, especially since next year is a special one for Indonesia, i being “Visit Indonesia Year”. 1 am happy to report that this seminar will be attended by approximately one hundred and thirty participants from different parts of the world. They have been selected because oftheir expertise ‘and professions, rather than because of their nationality or ereed. ‘The seminar is scheduled to last for four days, starting 16 October, ‘and will be conducted in Yogyakarta, which is one of the cites in Indonesia possessing a rich and evocative history and cultural development. Daring the seminar, the participants will be given the opportunity to visit several buildings and built environments where Islam has successfully blended into the local culture, such as Kampung Kaman, Kampung Ledok Ratmakan, Mesjid Agung or the Great Mosque, and Kota Gede. ‘The seminar is geared to review, collect, and compare several examples of the integration and interaction of Islamic faith by the people and followers into everyday architectural buildings and built environments in several parts of the world. ‘The seminar will then study how the numerous differences and similarities have become a wonderful string of world culture, especially of Islamie culture, [As a country where the majority of its people embrace Islam, and where the number of Islam’s followers is the greatest compared with people of other countries in the world, Indonesia is indeed a most interesting country to observe, especially as a country where Islam has beautifully and harmoniously interacted with and become incorporated into an indispensable part of the people's traditions and culture, For the benefit ofthe seminar, itis especially interesting to study how this interaction has moulded the architecture and built environments where the ordinary people spend their daily lives.The Issues For us, architects of Indonesia, this seminar is of special interest in that it becomes part of our activities commemorating the fortieth year of formal architectural education in Indonesia, which takes place this year, in 1990. I have deliberately emphasized the word “formal” because prior to the introduction of such education, the Indonesian people have for a long time known “informal education in architecture”, which has given birth to so many great architects who have created many great architectural works It is therefore our sincerest hope that this seminar will complement the review of our forty years of architectural education, which has produced so many architectural works of importance. It is within ‘his spirit that we are now paying serious attention to sharpening. ‘our awareness and appreciation in the fields of documentation, study, and preservation of those architectural works that have enriched and enhanced our culture. That should become the torch and guiding light for our future works. Finally, 1 would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the Minister of Religious Affairs and his entire staff for their guidance, advice, and support in this event. Inow humbly invite Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Indonesia to present his address and to simultaneously declare officially open this International Seminar on Architecture.