Cairo Projects of the Italian Architect Mario Rossi and their Influence on Mosque Architecture in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Abstract
The Italian architect Mario Rossi (1897-1961) had a huge impact on the development of mosque architecture in the 20th century. He introduced a whole new approach based on an effort to combine stylistic references to the previous architectural traditions of the Islamic world (especially the Mamluk tradition) with modern technical and spatial solutions.
This article is the result of long-lasting field research in Cairo. It presents the architect's personality and focuses on four case studies of his mosque designs in the Cairene environment, which are usually neglected in comparison with his most famous and biggest project of Abu al-ᶜAbbas al-Mursi Mosque in Alexandria.
The article describes Rossi's innovative technical, decorative, and conceptual solutions and demonstrates the changes in his style over time and how his work influenced further architectural production.