The Islamic Home - a design guide

The Muslim community in Cardiff has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. Over the generations, Muslims have contributed to British society, immigrating from British colonies, serving in the merchant navy and in the World Wars. However, despite their long-standing presence, many Muslims still feel the need to re-define or adapt their values due to the fear of discrimination. One expression of such discrimination is mainstream housing, which is primarily designed to cater to the majority population, indirectly impeding on Islamic values.

This means the Muslim community need to make extra efforts in the home-making process, making it that much more difficult to establish a sense of ownership. This thesis aims to address this issue by first celebrating the Islamic values and principles taught in the Quran and demonstrating their integration into a non-Islamic urban environment such as Grangetown, as well as providing avenues to align with values of the wider Grangetown Community.

These values dictate an exemplar project, contextualised through the Love Grangetown Survey, as well as a conversation with Serenity co-housing, a co-housing development company founded by Muslim Women from Grangetown. The design guide resulting from these efforts acts as a communication tool, bridging the gap between non-professional Muslims and non-Muslim professionals. The design guide delves into how the teachings of brotherhood and peace can be embodied in the creation of safe neighbourhood squares, providing spaces for play and travel. It also emphasizes the importance of neighbourliness, ensuring that neighbours have access to light and air while designing courtyards that are functional and inviting. To address the need for privacy, various strategies are explored, including utilizing material and level changes to establish a transition from public to semi-private spaces. Winding circulations are implemented to safeguard the privacy of home entrances, while lattice windows and greenery are employed to enhance privacy within internal areas. Furthermore, the thesis explores the teachings of purification, which inspire the inclusion of entry porches dedicated to removing footwear and cleaning any contaminated clothing. The concepts of tranquillity and rest, as taught by Islam, are integrated into the design by creating multipurpose spaces that accommodate congregation and prayer, as well as rest and

Additionally, the principles of humility, beauty, and moderation are investigated to shape homes that are not only functional but also environmentally sustainable, ensuring responsible resource usage and minimizing waste. The success of this thesis lies in its ability to use architecture as a tool for celebration. By instilling a sense of pride in the Muslim community and addressing the fear of discrimination, the design guide serves as a means of communication, expressing the values and aspirations of the Muslim population without seeking mere acceptance but instead asserting their voice.