IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section B

Abstract

Kerala, located in South of India provides opportunities to evolve theoretical models for the study of Indian culture in a much broader sense. The state is an amalgam of different ethnic and religious communities. Each of these diverse groups has evolved a distinct yet harmonious expression of their community through the spaces they inhabit. It is in the design of the sacred spaces that one finds the sublime expression of scale and form. The structure’s found in the southern west coast region collectively known, as Malabar have been the very firsts of the Islamic structures in India. One of the most prominent examples is the Mishkal Palli built by a Yemen trader Nakhuda Mithqal in the late 13th century. It is located at the north of Calicut, Kerala. In comparison to traditional Islamic architecture, cupola domes and minarets are absent. Adherence to local material and craftsmanship dictate all design concerns. The interiors of the mosque has been evolved from Yemen, Dutch and Hindu architecture. It is an interesting case study of how differences can coexist in a harmonious relationship. The architecture of the region had nuanced changes to accommodate this diversity of thought and belief systems. Although the Mosque is an important cultural and heritage monument, very few people in the country know about the existence of the structure. The report is set out to throw light on these little known Islamic mosques in Kuttichara and to bring out the uniqueness of these buildings.