Islamophonic in Paris - Institut du Monde Arabe

Islamophonic is a Sony-award-winning UK Muslim podcast presented by The Guardian journalist Riazat Butt. Here, she visits the hi-tech Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) in Paris, built 1981-1987, and interviews the Institute's head of Communications and PR.

*Click* 'Watch in High Quality'

The Institut du Monde Arabe is a centre for Arabic arts and culture. The building was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel to be a dialogue between cultures, and it reflects a modern interpretation of traditional Islamic art and architecture.

The Institute's distinctive facade comprises of 240 photosensitive panels which operate like camera apertures. The motor-controlled apertures open and close every hour to control the amount of light and heat entering the building.

This unique design is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Arabic 'Mashrabiyya' - screens of latticework applied to windows in traditional Arabic architecture for privacy and shade. The wall of apertures, which are circular, octagonal and square in shape, also evokes the repetitive geometric patterns found in traditional Islamic art.

The Institute won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989 and was praised for being "a successful bridge between French and Arab cultures".

Architect Jean Nouvel was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2008, often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize for Architecture'.

Watch Part 1 of this video:
Islamophonic in Paris - The Grand Mosque:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZkSLSdvZt8


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Islamophonic podcast from:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/audio

Photos of Paris and the Institut du Monde Arabe are from public internet sources, as are the images of graffiti by Aerosol Arabic.
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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Paris
• Institut
• Monde
• Arabe
• French
• Muslims
• France
• Islam
• Islamic
• Architecture
• Arab
• World
• Institute
• Islamophonic
• Guardian

[osmantan1]

nice institution

[roksancastle]

I wonder whether they'd host an exhibition of Christian art in Saudi Arabia.

[shawnee2014]

the last prophets afer 27000 prophets & messengers mahomet ,im believe too religion zabour propehts david ,& thouratt moise , massih isaie & last prophets mahomet islam =yahve jehovah = god is big

[shawnee2014]

the first linguage talking the christ isaie el imariya ,not jewish or  arab , face to disciple twelve thank yahve yehovah

[aik1ng]

They would, if there was a large christian population in Saudi Arabia.

[coconutgelly]

because saudi arabia doen't care about others, the just interessed by money ...