ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER (BETWEEN LEGITIMACY AND DISPARITY)

Abstract

Despite the cultural background similarity of Arab Islamic architects’ seniors and pioneers, and the existence of
constants representing legitimacy, the final architectural product varies depending on the individual creativity
in relating the architectural elements, either elements that pertain to the identity representation of the
inherited architecture or elements pertain to the identity representation of the Arab Islamic contemporary
architecture product. That created a specific style for each architect according to the degree of their
conclusions, investigation’s strategy of traditional roots in their products and works, which are often
associated with certain values and the ambit of their interest to represent the identity of contemporary Arab
Islamic architecture. In addition to the existence of two main strong motives, the need for affiliation and the
need for distinguishing oneself and diversity, in parallel with the presence of the methodological pluralism for
every Muslim architect.