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Housing is the initial nucleus for the emergence of cities, and housing projects can be considered as an important factor of social stability, and the governmental housing projects in Egypt suffer from low occupancy rates, this is nothing but a true translation of the waste of huge national investments and confirms that these projects suffer from many design deficiencies, which led the user to modify the design of the dwelling or to abandon these projects. The research aims mainly to diagnosing and treating the design deficiencies in governmental housing projects in Egypt. To achieve this, the research was divided into three main parts. It begins with a theoretical study in which the research identified the criteria and basics of design flexibility in Islamic architecture besides drawing a theoretical background on housing design in contemporary governmental housing projects in Egypt, then, the analytical study of design deficiencies in governmental housing projects in Egypt, through which the research was able to formulate a methodology to treat design deficiencies in governmental housing projects in Egypt based on the integration between the criteria and basics of design flexibility inherent in Islamic architecture with the data reverse recall methodology from existing housing projects, then the research moves to the applied study, in which the suggested methodology was applied on one of the private housing projects in Minia new city, in order to measure the suitability of the proposed methodology to be a guide for designing future housing projects flawless from design deficiencies, this leads the research to reach its main result, which is that the interaction with the heritage of Islamic architecture is a deep source of inspiration in treating the problems of housing projects through the creation of modern architecture that keeps pace with the present and the future and is not neglected or independent from its ancient past, taking into account our special social nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El-Gendi Fortress is a unique geo-archaeological site in Sinai, Egypt. It reflects the progress of the Islamic military architecture during Saladin's reign (Salah ad-din al Ayyubi), the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty (1174-1260AD). The fortress's location met two major geo-criteria. One is geographical; it is located on a mound 655 m above sea level (a.s.l) and 152 m above El-Tih El-plateau; this elevation contributes to the exploration of the surrounding areas and provides the fortress with a strong defensive position against the Crusaders' invasions of Egypt (1163–1169 AD). The second is Hydro-geological; it provides exceptional access to both meteoric surface (via barrages) and groundwater (through Sudr spring). The latter is from deep aquifers of the Nubian sandstones (Malha Formation) across the fractured carbonates (Raha and Sudr Formations of Cenomanian to Maastrichtian age). Such water was accumulated since the Pleistocene pluvial age until the fortress' most recent use. The barrages' location upstream of a sub-basin "a" at Wadi Sudr, in a similar direction to the deep ditch side, confirms that the priority of their design is to protect the region from flash flood risks and to store water on a relatively flat-lying land. The study reveals that the fortress' geographical location is used to safeguard the Hajj route in central Sinai and to provide facilities for pilgrims' caravans when they travel from North Africa to Mecca. The study concludes that the fortress should be a part of the Sinai tourism itinerary and promoted globally as a geo-archaeological site for Geo-tourism. In addition, the government should implement a strategy for conserving, rehabilitating, and managing the heritage sites, to improve facilities and increase public awareness of these sites to maximize the outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architecture of Masjids has spread in areas with harsh climates and natural conditions. In previous decades, the Masjid's design was a large flat area with an inner courtyard in the middle. This architectural design of the Masjid was appropriate to the nature of the hot climate. Recently, the design of Masjids became closed and flat areas that lack ventilation and good lighting. The research paper is based on an analytical descriptive study to determine the importance of internal courtyards in historical Masjids in Egypt and the elements that affect the significance of the courtyard in contemporary Masjids. The results show the importance of using the inner courtyard when designing a modern Masjid, which achieves many positive results, regarding the climatic and social aspects, by increasing the thermal and psychological comfort of the prayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article has as its main purpose the detailed investigation of the geometric methods of tracing historical structures, using a variety of examples. The design and construction of historic buildings has long been the subject of extensive research. However, the application of geometry to the constructional tracing of basic building elements is a relatively unknown field of science. The methodology is primarily concerned with presenting the broader scientific context and analysing the design and tracing of structures. Through examples covering a wide range of times — from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, Roman times, Byzantium, Islamic architecture, to the western Middle Ages and the Renaissance — it is proven that two distinct methods are historically used in design and construction: the first relates to geometrical constructions based on the use of circles, squares and equilateral triangles (ad quadratum and ad triangulum), while the second relates to pure modular systems with the help of pythagorean triangles for the rectangular tracing of building elements. For the understanding of the two methods, basic tracing and construction control tools are presented and different historical metric systems are analysed. Through the analysis of the examples the basic design principles of historical architecture are revealed and the geometrical methods used by building guilds are inscribed. In this way, the importance of architectural models and the role of particular knowledge of geometry in the construction and the final form of historical structures are crystallised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tell Dibgou, northeastern Nile Delta (Egypt), is a typical type of complex archaeological site that contains ruins from different chronological periods (Pharaonic, Byzantine, Greece-Roman and Islamic), as evidenced by the findings of pottery kilns, pottery shards, fired brick and colored glass. This study aims to image the topmost archaeological layer of Islamic architecture using electrical resistivity tomography and land-based magnetic surveys. Two nearby areas in the northern part of Tell Dibgou were investigated; the first was surveyed using resistivity tomography and magnetics, and the second used total-field and vertical magnetic gradients. Several electrode arrays (dipole–dipole, Wenner Beta, Wenner Schlumberger and pole–dipole) were tested to select the one that provides better resolution. Two inversion schemes were applied where the smoothness-constrained inversion smeared and blurred the archaeological boundaries, and the robust inversion produced models with well-defined and sharp edges. The vertical extent of the topmost archaeological layer of Islamic settlers was imaged using the electrical resistivity tomography; however, the presence of slag debris, collapsed bricks, and pottery shards at shallow depths complicated the discrimination of the closest walls. The interpretation of magnetic data (total and vertical gradients) in terms of depth and geometry was executed using semi-automated techniques such as three-dimensional, Euler deconvolution and tilt angle derivative. The geometry of archaeological targets is interpreted to be closed rooms, water tanks and corridors constructed from fired brick walls filled with clay sediments. The depths yielded from both techniques are comparable and range from >1 m to up to 2 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A number of studies concluded that the assumption about research established in architecture schools is dominated by myth, and research is not taken to analyze, assess, and evolve a new thought and technology. This mythological assumption significantly affected the research output of the architecture discipline globally. In order to mitigate low research yield from the field of architecture, it is essential to carry out a bibliometric investigation to assess the situation on the ground. This study aims to explore the scientific research (during 1976 - 2020) outcomes in the area of architecture in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to explore research productivity and highlight the trends and tendencies besides assessing the gaps to execute future research. Design/Methodology/Approach: An extensive bibliometric method has been implied in published research of GCC to guide researchers in the field of architecture. The research data were retrieved from the web of science and analyses with the help of bibliometric software such as VOSviewer, Bibexcel, and Biblioshiny. Findings: The findings show that 6 GCC countries contributed a total of 335 publications and 753 citations. 2019 contributed the highest research in architecture. The UAE was the most driving force with strong academic contribution (TP: 119), while Qatar was the most cited country (TC: 231). The topmost contributing intuition was Qatar University (TP: 41); Salama AM was the most prolific author and most cited author. KSA and Egypt had the most collaborative research work with 18 publications. While writing research papers, the authors of GCC mostly used the keywords such as architecture, sustainability, urban design, housing, urbanism, architectural design, architectural education, culture, heritage, Islamic architecture, urban planning, affordable housing, conservation, education, and energy efficiency. Originality: This is the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of architecture research produced by GCC countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest of community administrations in geological heritage is now growing worldwide, the Egyptian history is the result of the confluence of many cultures that found their way to the River Nile, and influenced its native ancient civilization; one of th e oldest civilizations in the world. The admix of these civilizations is what makes Egyptian geological and archeological heritage so unique. This paper focuses o n an important geologic heritage in the Islamic period of Egyptian history starting in the seventh century AD. Evidence of the influence of Islamic architecture can be found throughout the city of Cairo. Cairo has a large number of Islamic archaeological sites of particula r importance is the Saladin Citadel and the surrounding streets of old Cairo, these sites is considered as an important unique geosites from the point of geological heritage view. The Islamic age is well documented by historians. Whereas the hundreds of masjids (mosques) as well as the Saladin Citadel tell the story of Islamic Cairo, This article sought to demonstrate the first Islamic Geosite inventory in the old Cairo, Egypt, and to elucidate its value throughout the ages. Method: field and sample investigations used to recognize the geosites in the islamic age. The paper are showing unique segment in this age, converting the archeological Islamic sites into geosites and geological heritage value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important body of scholarship has explored the salience of Sufism ('mystical Islam') in Senegal. Approaches have emphasized its social and political dimensions, while little attention has been devoted to the symbolic yet important role of Sufi-affiliated pop musicians, especially mbàllax singers, in the grassroots negotiation of faith and religious tolerance in the country. Using the documentary, Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love (US, 2008), and observation, the study examines what it calls 'cultural friction', here a metaphor for the transient conflicts emerging as classically oriented Sufi Muslims condemn and protest against the encroachment of "obscene" practices on religious spaces and symbols. The study approaches the film as a music documentary following N'dour during and after the making of his Grammy-winning yet controversial album released in Senegal as Sant Yalla ('God Be Praised', 2003) and internationally as Egypt (2004). It analyzes cultural friction as part of a Senegalese artistic modernization, but also as a contemporary phenomenon speaking to the historical role of the Wolof 'griot' (bard) in the peaceful appropriation of Islam. Finally, the study portrays N'dour as a pop singer whose liberal Sufi perspective on music promotes his legitimacy to perform in the Islamic religious space as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central district of any Islamic city is the location of the most distinctive architectural and urban features. This district includes the important architectural monuments such as Friday mosques, bazaars, Khans and Madrasas. To analyse the image of the Egyptian city during the Islamic period, it is important to understand how Egyptian Muslims conceptualized and represented their cities and to clarify the forces and underlying causes that underpin the distinguished visual appearance of such cities. It is investigated here how the aspects of the Islamic version of the image of city centres in Egypt can be translated to certain concepts and codes which can be considered in the development of the image of contemporary city in order to regain its identity and achieve the visual sustainability. To achieve this aim, Lynch analysis is applied here to investigate the five components of the image of Islamic Egyptian city centre, and then it is evaluated against certain criteria. This paper aims also to identify the positive and negative aspects of the visual image of Egyptian city during the Islamic era by focusing on the overhead image as a method of city perception at the present. It is concluded here that the visual quality of the Islamic image of Egyptian city centre is affected by some negative aspects such as; shortage of accessibility, absence of legible streets network, closed fields of vision, and similarity and monotony of landmarks. But on the other hand, these aspects which can be interpreted to be negative are justified in terms of the religious, cultural, and social contexts of the Islamic era. The main principles of designing the Islamic city have been derived and clarified as certain concepts such as community-based city design, the balance between visual exposure and privacy, and design for climate. It is confirmed here that, to create a link between the design of the city image during the Islamic era and the contemporary version of the city image, these principles should be applied to the design of contemporary cities using the available new techniques in order to meet the different needs of users and to investigate these principles deeply to go beyond merely using the Islamic styles in buildings facades in order to achieve the resilience of such image to the different changes and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the middle of the 20th century, Islamic writers and intellectuals in the Middle East and particularly in Egypt were actively engaged in the call for Islamic literature. Several Arabic books, including major works of Sayyed Qutub, Muhammad Qutub, and Naguib Kilani, were written on the subject and immediately rendered into Malaysian and Indonesian languages. Among all these writings, Muhammad Qutub's book "Manhaj El-Fan El- Islami" has had tremendous impact on modern Malay writers such as, Ahmad Kamal Abdullah, Shahnon Ahmad, Muhammad Kamal Hassan, Ismail Ibrahim, Muhammad Bukhari Lubis, and others who produced several theories of Islamic literature. In this paper, a new theory of Islamic literature is proposed which is based on the concept of Al-'Alamiah (Universality). In the first part of the paper, existing theories are reviewed whereas in the final part, a number of issues are discussed such as the concept of Islamic literature, its message, and seven basic features that distinguish Islamic literature from other world literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minbars (pulpits), one of the sections of mosque architecture, had an important role in performing some functions in Islamic history dating back to the time of the Prophet. It can be said that he did his actions while he was alive, not only as a prophet, but also as a president and a political leader. The Masjid in Madīna was a place of worship for muslims, as well as their meeting place, education-training center, courtroom, military camp, hospital, prison, guesthouse, and finally a state administration center. In early times when the mosque was the center of state administration, his minbar was the place where the administrative, military and political issues of the Muslim community were discussed, but it was also the place where the caliphs receive their allegations from people. In the ongoing historical process, it is certain that these practices in the Prophet’s and the Rightly Guided Caliphs’ periods had an impact on the acceptance of Minbar as one of the signs of sultanate. The spread of minbars outside Ḥijāz corresponds to ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (r. 13- 23/634-44) era in terms of the actualization of great conquest movements. In this period, large Masjids (al-Masjid al-Jamīʿ) for Friday prayer (ṣalāt al-jumʿa) were built or existing buildings converted into mosque in the conquered cities of Iraq, Dimashq, Iran and Egypt. According to the general opinion, which is included in both the source works and the contemporary studies, the second minbar established after the Prophet’s minbar is the one which was founded by ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ in al-Fusṭāṭ on the territory of Egypt. However, the account that ʿUmar addressed a speech to the public on the minbar of Basra after the conquest shows that the second minbar recorded in Islamic history may be in Iraq district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The utilization of building information modeling (BIM) has become a necessary endeavor for the architectural, structural, and constructional informatics of traditional Islamic buildings. The architectural and structural data of historical Islamic buildings have thus been digitally classified and categorized in the Islamic architectural style (IAS's) Library. The IAS library guides and aids architects in understanding and analyzing the architectural and structural components of traditional buildings, prior to designing preservation projects and developing or enhancing new projects either before and during the design phases of the project. This paper concentrates on reviving the use of parametric three-dimensional architectural components and the informatics data of the Ottoman Islamic architecture style and character. This research focuses on the regions of the Hejaz, Egypt, and Sudan Islamic Architecture Characters (HIAC, EIAC, and SuIAC) of components used on the exterior and interior of buildings during the architectural design and documentation phase of a project. The intent is to integrate the Hejazi Islamic Architecture Character (HIAC), Egyptian Islamic Architecture Character (EIAC), and Sudan Islamic Architecture Character (SuIAC) libraries and the process of BIM to provide parametric BIM generated architectural and structural components to designers' various architectural and structural parametrical elements based in a software application. The BIM library of Islamic traditional buildings strives to ease the use of the HIAC, EIAC, and SuIAC BIM architectural components to assert the optimal accuracy in design and data through the use of digital application library. The application of BIM-Islamic architectural style (IAS) plug-in has been demonstrated through various projects from the Middle East for leading architectural offices and firms and clarifies how this IAS digital library could be applied to a project's design in a real-world setting. The Ottoman Islamic architecture style library is the first step toward initiating and creating a comprehensive BIM library for Islamic historical building architecture components that can then be used to facilitate design conservations and develop many traditional Islamic facilities around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyzes mathematically and graphically the two methods used historically in the transitional zone between the circular base of the dome and the square top of the cube where the dome is supported. The time frame of this work is the distinguished historical buildings of Islamic Cairo built between the ninth and eighteenth centuries. Ten samples were chosen out of a total of thirty. A set of mathematical expressions has been derived to relate the different parts of the squinches/pendentives to the cube with a side of length l. The equations derived were validated twice, first by generating 3D graphical sequences for both squinches and pendentives for the selected domes using CAD software based on the values obtained from the driven equations, and second by executing physical models using a 3D printer for two examples of squinches and pendentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses historical Islamic architecture in Cairo, Egypt. Urban layout became firmly established after the flight of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, Saudi Arabia; Congregational mosque and the governor’s residence at the heart of the city; Market and thoroughfare; Religious buildings; Houses; Public fountains; Koranic schools.

Focuses on the Islamic architecture in Cairo, Egypt. Efforts of the government in transforming the urban artifact; Information on the Historic Cairo Restoration Program; Significance of preserving the cultural heritage of the region.

Five minarets in Upper Egypt traditionally have been attributed to the patronage of the Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali. They were thought to symbolize his reassertion of Fatimid power in the late 11th century. A re-examination of their formal, functional, and physical contexts suggests instead that these structures were the products of local patrons who found their models not in Lower Egypt, but in the Hijaz region of Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]