Community Identity and Place: Islamic architecture and community for a New Zealand context

Abstract

Situation and proposition: For a migrant population, establishing community and identity is an important part and parcel of integrating into the new environment as well as interacting with others. Even more so for the identity of a Muslim population whose sense of identity is linked by common threads which goes deeper than external appearances, and is not limited by temporal or geographical boundaries. In New Zealand, the Muslim community is one that has been growing for some time; having originated from a migrant population, not from one particular country, but from all over the world bound by a faith. With the migrants having settled, a new generation of Muslims emerge, connected to both a migrant and local culture, which at have the potential to become overemphasised, drowning out the true essence of a Muslim identity within the individual and community. This is manifest in the built environment through the community's need for key facilities such as masjids, which were often the purchase of existing buildings and converting its use to suit the purpose of a masjid as best as possible, often leading to neglecting part of the use of a masjid and a degradation of the quality of the environment for those who use it. Thus, in order to develop purity of identity, a place is required which brings together the community facilities necessary for learning and growth for both the individual and community. Methodology and investigation: The topic of Islamic architecture can be vast, including many aspects, and spanning across multiple civilisations in an ever expanding trend. This is due to Islam being an inclusive way of life which took on board and allowed each civilisation to flourish with its own culture as long as it stayed within the limits of the core principles and beliefs. As a result of its vastness, it must be acknowledged that it is not possible to capture, portray, and include every value in one single design nor is it possible to convey all its meanings in a single piece of research such as this, as the analysis of the cultures that Islam spread to and the product of its influence alone requires in-depth researches to be done. With this understanding, the methodology employed will be one that explores some of the core beliefs and principles in Islam in order for them to be incorporated, addressed and reflected in the design of a place for the community in the context of New Zealand. In all Muslim societies the masjid is the most significant building type in the community, being central to one's spirituality as well as accommodating secular activities, acting as a community hub and providing a sense of identity and place. The approach taken to the architecture and building type in question will thus be an internal one, of attempting to bring out the values and principles embedded in the teachings of Islam as well as the practice of the Prophet and his companions, which in turn speak more volume in forming identity than the shape of an arch or the size of a dome. The investigation will explore the principles in the faith and the functional requirements of a masjid which form the primary identity shapers, as well as formal developments and architectural expressions which, although varied stylistically over region and period, was unified by key features which remained universal and formed part of a global identity for the building type concerned. Project initiative The design will explore the needs of a growing population within the Muslim in New Zealand with an emphasis on the idea of community identity, looking to provide a community centre and associated facilities to cater to the typical and specific needs of the population, in order to create a community hub within a New Zealand context that helps establish, develop and strengthen individual and community identity, place and interaction of the community within a positive environment.