Coral Stone Mosques of Maldives

Dr. Sr. Yahaya Ahmad and Mauroof Mohamed Jameel have completed a painstaking graphic survey of the now endangered ancient stone mosques of the Maldives, which were built using porite coral stone from the reefs surrounding the island nation. These include exquisitely carved architectural features and detailed lacquer work. Little is known about these mosques, and the purpose of this book was to identify the surviving mosques, their state of condition, the influences in their evolution, and to establish a typology in terms of architectural features. The authors have identified all of the surviving mosques in Maldives and have assessed their condition. They have traced the specific geo-cultural regions in the Indian Ocean that have influenced the evolution of the culture of Maldives and have compared the prominent architectural features of these regions to those of these mosques, defining similarities with structures in the South Asian, East African, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern regions. The mosques have been analyzed to identify typological architectural features that establish that the coral stone mosques of Maldives share a simple rectangular or square prayer hall with a combination of antechambers called Dhaala, a unique mihrab, raised coral stone platform, decorated rising steps, tiered roof, coffered ceilings with a recessed area called laage, a post and beam structure, unique arched sliding doors, diagonal lattice work windows, special coral carvings, lacquer work, and calligraphy. These are all carefully detailed in this invaluable research.

Author: Yahaya Ahmad, Mohamed Jameel Mauroof
Publisher: Oro Editions
Published: 07/01/2017
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 4.10lbs
Size: 12.00h x 9.60w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780986281846

About the Author
Ahmad, Yahaya: - Dr. Sr. Yahaya Ahmad received his Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and his Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Management from Liverpool University in the United Kingdom. He began his academic career at the University Teknologi Mara (UITM) in 1989 before joining the University of Malaya in 1995. He was among the group that established the Department of Architecture and the Faculty of Built Environment at the University of Malaya. He was appointed Coordinator of Architecture (1997¬-1999), Head of Architecture Department (1999-2001), and Deputy Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Development (2005-2007). He then became Deputy Dean, of Higher Degrees and Research, from 2009 to 2011 before being seconded by UM to serve as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of National Heritage.Jameel Mauroof, Mohamed: - Mohamed Jameel Mauroof has wide-ranging experience in design and development and institution management. He has worked on the Hulhumale project to create new landmass in the Maldives to offset the impact of rising seas due to global warming and has served in the Heritage Department of Ministry of Construction and Public Infrastructure, in the Cabinet of the Maldives. He is both an architect and an artist with a Master's degree from the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. His thesis, An Architectural Typological Study of the Coral Stone Mosques of Maldives, is this basis for this book.