How is contemporary Islamic culture represented in architecture today? V&A+RIBA Architecture Partnership presents a season of discussions to challenge preconceptions about what Islamic architecture is, investigate how traditional ideas are reused today, and consider possibilities for the future.

Collecting Islam: Architecture talks and object handling sessions
Experience original drawings, prints, photographs and paintings up - close in these one hour lunchtime talks exploring different aspects of Islamic architecture:

Abraham Thomas (V&A) will talk about the Alhambra, Cordoba, the Alcazar, and other examples of designs for Spanish Islamic ornament.

Contemporary Islam
17 October 2006 at 13:00 V&A+RIBA Study Rooms, Admission Free

Abraham Thomas (V&A) will talk about Zaha Hadid’s Strasbourg Mosque, Bernard Khoury, The Ismaili Centre and The London Markaz.

Critical debate: Architecture and…Contemporary Islam
1 November, 19:00 - 20:30 Seminar Room 1, V&A
The Alternating Currents season culminates in this important debate on how contemporary Islamic culture is expressed through architecture. This is an opportunity to join a distinguished panel of architects, academics and cultural commentators to identify current preconceptions of Islamic architecture, and discuss the ways that architecture can articulate Islamic culture today and in the future.

Garden Architecture
21 November 2006 at 13:00 V&A+RIBA Study Rooms, V&A
Talk presented by Fiona Orsini, RIBA Trust

A Closer Look at Lasdun
12 December 2006 at 13:00 V&A+RIBA Study Rooms, V&A
Talk presented by Barnabas Calder, RIBA Trust

Architecture Now
On the Threshold: The Changing Face of Housing
12 December 2006 at 18:30 V&A+RIBA Study Rooms, V&A
Talk presented by Rob Wilson, RIBA Trust to coincide with the exhibition

‘On the Threshold: The Changing Face of Housing’, V&A+RIBA Architecture Gallery from 2 November 2006 - 11 February 2007.