CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we can gather that mosques are common across Britain through house conversions, non-domestic conversions, and purpose-built with one common theme - to offer an open space that is clean, in which people can face Mecca and offer their prayers. Conversion mosques have become the popular type and a community favorite due to the time efficiency and low costs surrounding the purchase of land, planning applications, architectural fees, and decorations. The communities with the financial means to design and build bespoke purpose-built mosques tend to translate their traditional geo-cultural as well as their theological approaches through the architecture. The Deoband movements approach is that of simplicity and lack of adornments (Birmingham Central Mosque), whereas the Sufi/Barelwi design approach would see expressive aesthetics and decorations (Ghamkol Sharif Mosque).

With the introduction of the Cambridge mosque, it is evident that a new architectural style for mosques in Britain is underway – a combination of architectural influences from the Islamic world, religious functionality, the British Muslim demographic, and the environmental consideration. In the decades to follow, the new generation of British Muslims will slowly adapt and evolve the architectural styles, bridging them under a homogenous umbrella of British Islamic Mosque typology.

This study is a very simplified version due to the wordcount of the submission. There are still several areas to be researched and complexities to be explored within both the theological religious views and the mosque typologies.

Understanding the influence of the Sunni/Shia sect of Islam, the Salafi movement, and the differences these theological ideologies propose on the typology of mosques and their architectural language. Another addition is the exploration of further attachments to mosques in the form of madrassa, schools, markets, community halls, assembly spaces and recreational facilities for families and children.