Drawing Inspiration from Mashrabiya: A Basic Design Studio Experience

The mashrabiya is a permeable architectural element with a lattice-like decoration, considered an important part of Islamic architecture and is usually found on the second or higher floors of buildings. Although it is an important cultural heritage and facet of Islamic architecture that should be passed down from generation to generation, it does not have sufficient recognition within design education. While the mashrabiya is discussed extensively in texts on historical Islamic art, climate change, and energy management, it is not a topic specifically addressed in Eurocentric architectural curricula. In light of this problem, the aim of this article is to reveal the use of the mashrabiya as a trigger in the design process with the goal of raising awareness among young designers about this architectural element. This article demonstrates how student engagement with the mashrabiya in a Basic Design Studio course provided a rich educational experience, fostered innovative design solutions, and emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity and heritage preservation. The findings from this experiment can contribute to a deeper understanding of how traditional architectural elements can be effectively integrated into modern design education and practice, enriching both the learning process and the resulting designs.