The study of light,architecture and spaces

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MUHAMMAD ZUHDI BIN ABDULLAH CF190003

THE STUDY OF LIGHT, ARCHITECTURE AND MOSQUE IN THE COMMUNITY OF COPENHAGEN

MUHAMMAD ZUHDI BIN ABDULLAH

1 Barchelorrette of Science in Architecture, Architecture Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Build Environment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM)

ABSTRACT

Light plays an important symbol in spiritual spaces. God is the light of skies and earth. Light function as a reflection and illustration of the essences of God on earth. In Islamic architecture, light represents a world of infinite light, divine wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. Light main fuction is to illuminate indoor spaces. However, mosque can utilize the most perfect use of light in Islamic Architecture. As a place of spiritual belief, there’s no doubt that mosque can give a sense of connection between the presence of God and the believer. Therefore, the usage of light in mosque define for both symbolic and spiritual reasons. The important role that light gives in Islamic Architecture goes to an extend that it plays a role in the aesthetical aspects of the interior spaces of a mosque. With architectural approach through article studies of Islamic Architecture and recent events happening on the neighborhood of Eindhoven, problems caused by the Islamophobic people could be solved through the ideas and approach of architecture as architecture functions to serve the community. This paper study reflects on how aesthetical aspect from the exterior would develop an interested feeling to come to the building and on the interior aspect would develop an understanding of a peaceful, calm and serenity on the inside. This would show how Islamic Architecture would reflect onto their Islamic belief itself.

Keywords: light, mosque, spiritual house, architecture, God, Islamic Architecture, Islamophobia

INTRODUCTION

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With the growth of both technology and infrastructure due time, the function of mosque as a spiritual house also changes to provide a better and much more suitable function as surplus to a spiritual house.

Light plays an important factor in our life whether we realize it or not. The function of light plays a very important role in architecture. Without light, its difficult to portray one of many senses of architectural languages that can be a connection between architectural languages with its user.

Islamic architecture and supernatural manifestation on light put mysticism and meaning together. With Islamic architecture, it shows uniform, formality with its light is above architecture itself. The bright light is uniform and in scale with every room available inside the spaces.

Objective

The objective of this study is to understand how would architecture can be a bridge to connect between Islam and the surrounding neighborhood in this context, European country. European country have been always have a bad perception towards Islam. Other than that, the objective of this study is to be able to understand how would a mosque in European country can works compared to Asian country due to its different culture values and climate.

As architecture main role is to serve the the community and to connect the feeling of its user from the outside and inside of the spaces, this article would help an understanding of the architectural approach on how Islamic architecture works and projects its idea into exterior and interior spaces. A better understanding of what Islam is so that the community would be able to understand and so, act as a bridge between the community and Islam community. As the exterior space would attract interest of people to come while the interior spaces would link between the user and the spaces into a certain mood that would be projected by the ideas of the architect. As interest would come first and then understanding comes later stage. Hence, a person would not be a able to like something if they aren’t interested at first.

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3. LITERATURE REVIEW

3.1 The study of light

Light studies can come from variety points of view. From the point of science, the study of light have come from back in time, it have been attract human attention for its worth. Lights have been part of human’s life since the start. It is been popularly known that the birth of light have been from the beginning of the universe. As time coexisted with light and hence architecture have been evolving together with them.

The older civilization such as ancient Greek believes that lights are made of particles, that it is so small to be seen with the naked eye and with the guidance of lights, the eye can see objects through lights reflecting the object into human eyes. As human interprate informations through light reflects, they learn, adapt and behave through the nature of light.

On modern society, the studies continue to expand the ideas of lights are made of particles that are made of photons. Light is an electromagnetic radiation to be precise. Light or also known as visible light have an ultraviolet of colours when dispersed which shaped our world today.

With lights, human can be able to do daily activities without any problems. With less or no lights, human ability to do activities will be reduce significantly. Most people wont be able to do their work properly. For an example, driving a car in the middle of night can cause problems and harm the safety of the people. Human can decorate through the liking of their colour of choices. Some might love red, blue or even yellow. The colour of spectrum affects human daily basis. For an example, the colour blue give a clear mind while the colour purple give a sense of mystery. Hence, this prove that lights plays a vital role in humans life.

While on the view of architecture, lights is more onto how the light affect the phychological of the behavior of human. The shapes of building, how the positions of mirrow or the height of building would affects the phychological comfort of human. Without

UNDERSTANDING LIGHT, MOSQUE AND ARCHITECTURE

MUHAMMAD ZUHDI BIN ABDULLAH CF190003 any thought or critical thinking of an architects, the comfort of people outside or inside a space can be affected without the notice of the user. A person wont be able to focus properly on their work if the lighting aren’t enough. While some spaces need less lighting for the sake of the function of the space. For an example, a ghost house which function to give a different phychological experience to the user. Compared to the view of science, architectural view of is more towards the mood and phychological experience of the user, to set a tone towards a certain spaces.

There are quite a few of examples of how light and architecture works, not only mosque as references but for an example The Church of Light by Tadao Ando. The Church of Light main focus is onto light and audio buffer. The amount of light enters the church are less compared to other public building.

Figure 1.0 The interior element that shows lighting flashes into the building

The main idea of Tadao Ando’s church of light is to implement the philosophical ideas of nature and architecture together through light can create and make a strong perception between the space, user and God. The cross in the building act as a focal point of the church where it act as a centre point, a concentration point for the whorshippers. Through material of the building and the light are also connecting the whorshippers spiritual awareness.

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The simplicity of materials enforces the ideas of Tadao Ando in implementing his philosophical ideas. The concrete material used shows the simplicity of his ideas, direct and nothing to be hide from which to show sincerity.

Figure 1.1 The exterior facade of Church of Light

Other than that, the darkness of the spaces of the church create a certain mood which is down to earth, spiritual place for worshippers. As what Tadao Ando try to implement the ideas of his philosophical belief through light and spaces. Without any critical thinking from the architect and how much he values the concept of light, a certain mood or spiritual connection between the user cannot be implied.

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Figure 1.2 The illumination of light and how architecture manipulate the light

3.2 The study of light in Islamic Philosophy

Islamic scholar believes that light is a references to something bigger which is faith. Light is a figurative element of the manifestation of Absolute sees. In Islamic references, Light is describe as a above and beyond which see everything and anything. Islamic scholar believes that Light will lit the sky and the earth. It is to be believed that, Islamic scholar and a sense of mystery are very dependent by Light and its relation with Quranic verses.

Surah An-Nur - Verse 35

35. “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light, Allah guides unto His Light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth similitudes for mankind, and Allah is All-Aware of all things.”

With the verse stated above, it shows that Allah Almighty is the light that above everything else that in control everything and anything. In Islamic scholar belief, Allah Almighty is the faith. This shows that there's a similarities between reason and light and the relationship have been strengthen through the verse. It shows that life of human needed faith in order to be guided to fulfil the role of human on earth.

3.3 The study of lighting in Islamic Architecture

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Light is the main focus of Islamic Architecture which it shows the overall view of what Islam is. As in architecture, light functions to illuminate interior spaces and to serve the function of the space while in Islamic Architecture scope, the function is to provide people with a spiritual and religious vision of Islam as a decorative tool.

The space inside a mosque is connected to outside space which is the earth, the world created by God. The part of which light connect both outside and inside spaces as it shows how timid a person can be. This shows that light is to be believed above all things. Thus this create a connection between the Islamic faith in his God. This is what the ideology that define Islamic architecture.

Figure 2.0

3.4 The meaning of ligh in Islamic Architecture

In Islamic Architecture, non load bearing wall have always been a popular choice, different type and sizes of glass, oculus opening, coloured glass and carved screens. This enhances and strengthen the character and aesthetic value of Islamic Architecture. Light as a

Image of the interior space of a mosque

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MUHAMMAD ZUHDI BIN ABDULLAH CF190003 medium between the building, illumination of light surfaces the interior that create a certain mood that is suitable for the worshippers as it doesn’t have a constitution, image or figures in the interior spaces of mosques.

Figure 2.1 shows how the large volume is created with large pillar supporting the dome

There are few mosque for an example, Selimiye Mosque that is located in Edirne that have been built in 1568 and the construction finished on 1574 during the Ottoman Empire. The main dome with length of 31 meter in diameter, the mosque rise up to 454 meter above ground level. The pillar known as elephant pillar that are 3.75 meter in diameter withstand the pressure coming from the dome. The upper part of the pillar are combined with walls that strengthen the piers and walls allowing the composition to create a huge internal spaces that highlight the unity and oneness of the internal space. The Semiliye Mosque cover the whole interior with a single dome. The inside of the mosque have a perfect built that distribute lights inside the room equally on every point.

Due to it non load bearing wall, it gives a result that windows are operatable to give light evenly from every angle. Due to this, there are a lot more room to place a different size of windows on all the walls without compromising its load bearing structure. As stated above, the distribution of light are equally on every point it is also reflect back to the meaning of what is Light, what is Light in terms of architecture and what is Light in terms of Islamic Architecture, a connection between human and its God. The extend of this can be understandable with the distribution of light is equal with that to be put into a meaning of all

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of human are all connected to God in every angle. With the main structure of dome implementing ‘unity as a whole’ comes into the experience of the mosque.

Figure 2.2 The illumination of light affects the interior spaces

As the light enters the internal space of the mosque, it shines with coloured glass and double windows on the exterior. 384 window openings in total placed at elevations height. It starts from eye level to that of the drum. The arrangement of the window that are which tall and narrow so that light pours down into the mosque. The daylight coming down from the main dome emphasize the light of God under which the worshiper gather. This resulting a peaceful and homogeneous illumination. As a worshiper enters the building, they are welcomed with homogeneous illumination of light that give a mood of travelling to a different place that significant in peace and harmony.

3.4 Islamophobia in Eindhoven and European country

Islamophobia in European country have been an issue for a long time. With the Islamophobic people believes that Islamic culture is related to terrorism which is violent and

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MUHAMMAD ZUHDI BIN ABDULLAH CF190003 barbaric. With international news didn’t bring a better and clear understanding of what Islam is, this not only worsen the ties between Islam and European country.

There are reports related to Islamophobia with European people discriminating Islamic culture. There have been reports of attacks on Muslim community. This have been increasingly worrying since 9-11attack. With a recent study shows that Islam are part underclass of European culture. In a country like Germany shows that unemployment for Turks decedents have a 21% of unemployment. While on some other European country, like Italy have seven percent of unemployment of Muslim people in their country. However, this country shows a different angle of suppression on the Muslim. Majority of the muslim have a substantial education.

Other than that, the Anti-Muslim group, Pegida rally on 14th January 2021 demonstrating in Eindhoven, Netherland. This is because of the unease feeling of the group towards Islam. They believed that Quran should be deceased publicly in order to show their intent and hatred towards the false ideology of Islam.

4. METHODOLOGY

This study relies upon literature and recent event news. Methodology is a method to understand what is significant understanding in their respective field. With the main focus is on the study of how would light be affecting the behavior of user in a Mosque and how would it be a bridge in connecting between the user and God. With this review, the issues of what are the upbringing in European country towards muslim can be reduce and in a good way to attract interest in non-muslim believer towards Islam. With proper understanding of what are the best way to know the standards or guidelines that can improved the bond of muslim and non muslim with a good way to implement the ideas of how light would attract non muslim to come to the mosque and understand Islam better.

Based on the literature review, the overall ideas and suggestions are reviewed together through a conclusion that will acknowledge this whole study. The criteria are identified through architectural viewing standard and compared to view weather it is either

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good or bad in which would be a good indicator of how a mosque that can be accepted in European country.

There are a lot of architectural approaches that can be accomplished, interviewing the corresponding resident, reading through journal and studies that already finished or even doing questionnaire that can give an input of informations so that a better approach in order to lessen the gap between locals community and the Muslim community and hence make an acceptance of Islam in European country.

ANALYSIS ON SUITABLE DESIGN APPROACH IN EINDHOVEN, NETHERLAND

Eindhoven is the fifth largest city in Netherland. Its location is more down to the south of the country. Eindhoven used to placed at the confluence of Dommel and Gender and now its located at province of North Brabant. Its population rises to two hundred thousand of population which is the highest in its area.

APPROACHES ON HOW TO LINK BETWEEN MOSQUE, LIGHT AND EINDHOVEN COMMUNITY

European country have always been blessed with great architects as they are the best among the best. For an example, Norman Foster who are born in United Kingdom, Renzo Piano in Italy and the most recent Bjark Ingels. They are the pioneer of architecture with deep understanding of each elements in architecture. Throughout history, architecture in European country have been develop into a masterpiece for an example, The Colosseum, located in Rome or the Eiffel Tower in Paris or The Big Ben in London. These are among all other famous building in Europe.

Since there are less famous Islamic architectural building in European country, there are no specific approach on building a mosque. However there are other approaches that we can get from. For an example, the concept that Tadao Ando brings into his architectural ideas of light for an instance.

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Other than that, we can go through of designing a mosque itself. For an example, how Islamic Architecture and mosque are related together. How the construction of its pillar would not only construct the dome but also allowing natural lighting to be able to come inside the building. The main building hall can be open with a large space so that it can sustain a space for multi-function purposes too since a mosque in European country have different approaches.

Architectural mosques have always relating its worshipper and its creator. With this it show s the link between the user and God. Without any proper architectural manipulation of spaces, the concept cannot be attain. When an exterior building is attractive and it gain the attract interest on the surrounding community, it will invite an open mind towards what the real value of Islam is. Then on the interior side, the building will show the lighting showering the inside of the building and the large volume of space will show the value of peace and serenity.

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion to this study, building a mosque or a community engagement requires a solving problems and issues related to the community and in this case is Eindhoven community that are Islamophobic towards Islam community.The ideas of linking architecture, Islam and Eindhoven community is a good way to be a bridge in order to bring a better understanding what Islam really is.

REFERENCES

1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light

2.https://www.britannica.com/science/light

3.https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.904.9984&rep=rep1&type=pdf

4.https://www.witpress.com/Secure/ejournals/papers/HA010315f.pdf

5.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

274712065_Lighting_Analysis_in_Mosque_Architecture_in_Malaysia

6. https://issuu.com/mahalakshmi2/docs/final_report2_online

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7.

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329982880_The_Meaning_of_Natural_Lighting_on _Altar_Case_Study_Cathedral_Church_and_Church_of_the_Light

8. https://www.archdaily.com/101260/ad-classics-church-of-the-light-tadao-ando 9.http://www.antoniocasella.eu/nume/Cesari_2006.pdf

10.https://iqna.ir/en/news/3473791/anti-islam-group-pegida-plans-to-demonstrate-ineindhoven-desecrate-quran

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