Mosques in Germany: the culture of architecture and culture of dialogue – Islam and Muslims in Russia and the world
November 11, 2009 – 1:34 am
More recently in Germany, where the constitution guarantees freedom of worship, mosques and prayer houses were full though, but imperceptible to outsiders to exist in residential or office buildings, often in the literal sense of that expression – in the backyard . But it remained in the past.
Today is the greatest possible speed is building several new Islamic religious buildings: the number of mosques in German cities close to 200. Soon they will be more than anywhere else in Western Europe.
This is caused by the construction boom on the one hand, a purely practical necessity, reports Deutsche Welle. Existing mosques and prayer houses have not accommodate all comers. According to various estimates, in Germany today live from 3,8 to 4,3 million Muslims, five per cent of the total population. Almost a third of them regularly attend the mosque.
And yet another objective of pursuing the construction of new places of worship: to consolidate the visible symbols of the fact fledgling identity of German Muslims. Each of the second Muslim in Germany, according to official figures, a German passport. This is not the immigrants, not guest workers, it is – full-fledged citizens of Germany. In accordance with his number (five per cent of the total population!) And the new “quality”, so to speak, the status, the Muslim community in many cities in Germany and decided to postpone the worship service in luxurious temples with domes and minarets.
However, not all indigenous to the Germans, regardless of their degree of religiosity, like the growing consciousness of Muslim citizens and their need to demonstrate it. Germany leads in Europe not only by the number of mosques being built, but the number of civil initiatives, which oppose the construction of new Muslim temples.
It all starts with the specific arguments: the minaret is too high, it spoils the urban landscape, looks out of place next to the Gothic cathedral, and so on. Right-wing extremists are trying to exploit the discontent of the inhabitants for their own purposes.
In the meantime, until a compromise is not too far away. In the new mosque with minarets and domes of the sacred Muslim life becomes visible to the public, that is more open and understandable. It is worthy of support, rather than anathema. On the other hand, Muslims, erecting new places of worship, could show more sensitivity to the surrounding buildings to the mosque did not look very much an alien body in the architecture of German cities.
History knows many examples of how the culture of Muslim architecture adapted to the culture of other countries. Perhaps this is in Germany, is convinced the architect Alain Yasarevich (Alen Jasarevic) from Augsburg. Only room for prayers should be drawn in the direction of Mecca – is, in principle, all that is required from the mosque. “We have to distinguish between tradition and religion”, – says the architect.
Alain Yasarevich was born in 1973 in a family of Bosnians, but in Germany. His dream – to “promote the emergence of new independent Central European-style mosque. Yasarevich not just dreams, but also builds.
in the Bavarian town of Penzberg, in his project to build a rare piece of modern sacred architecture – the mosque, which, according to its architect, opens out his inner world. ” Qibla – the wall facing Mecca – lined with glass, which immerses the interior in a warm blue light, and outside in the dark delights the eye iridescent play of color and light. The minaret is built of steel in a reminder of the mining past of this region. Steel perforated and also transmits light in both directions.
On the background of this architectural marvel alien appear adjacent to the mosque multifamily houses with wooden balconies. However, none of the local residents protested and did not protest against the construction sites. One reason: in this village have long working lives a lot of foreigners. There is another: the city authorities, the Christian Church and the Muslim community has always had good relations with each other. This affected the new mosque, built by the architect Alain Yasarevichem. Mosque blue Qibla rents of premises and includes a multimedia library.
In the cities, where construction of new mosques is encountering strong opposition, the Muslim community, believes the architect, apparently made two mistakes. They are, firstly, not enlisted the support of local authorities prior to the acquisition of land for the construction of the mosque. And secondly, the cause took an architect, who care about the surrounding urban landscape and the views of local residents. “But Islamic architecture – recalls Yasarevich – always responsive to the external world, whether in China, Africa or Asia”.
