Accommodating Spaces: Adoptive Architecture of 40 Mosques in Berlin (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9789083605258)

A primer on the prevalent practice of architectural reuse among Berlin's Islamic migrant population

This reader spotlights the largely overlooked, community-driven architectural culture of 40 mosques in Berlin, many of which are located in former shops, garages, apartments and factories. Unplanned by city policy, and at friction with Islamic traditions, the practice of architectural reuse evinces human ingenuity and flexibility in the face of necessity.
Through site visits, observation, interviews with the members from mosque communities and remote research, architect Gizem Asici Thiele identifies the spatial characteristics of the mosques, situating them within the greater contexts of mosque architectural traditions and urban development. This primer reveals how various diasporic communities build communal religious grounds to creatively navigate regulations, while honoring diverse cultural expectations.
Gizem Asici Thiele is an architect and researcher. She describes her practice as "flâneur freelancing," drawing on long-term observation and everyday experience as foundations for critical spatial inquiry.