The Islamic garden's physical characteristics and importance in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Md Jani, Haza Hanurhaza, Harun, Nor Zalina, Mansor, Mazlina
• Format: Proceeding Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus 2023
• Subjects: HM621 Culture
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/109968/1/109968_The%20Islamic%20garden%27s.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/109968/; https://huso.psu.ac.th/collega2023/

The Islamic garden, with its deep historical roots dating back to the 7th-century Persian Garden, is facing a gradual decline in relevance as modern garden designs take precedence. This decline threatens the preservation of this traditional garden concept. The primary goal of this study is to identify the physical characteristics of Islamic gardens, pursued through two objectives: determine the chronology of the Islamic garden design and categorizing the physical characteristics of the garden according to the level of its importance. To achieve these aims, three research methods are employed: document analysis, site studies, and semi-structured interviews, with data analysis conducted using Atlasti and Microsoft Excel software. The results are focused on two key areas: (1) the evolution of the Islamic garden concept in response to the history of Muslim civilization, and (2) the list of the physical characteristics of the Islamic garden. These findings provide an in-depth understanding of the fundamental elements of Islamic gardens, which can be incorporated into garden designs in Malaysia. Additionally, the study incorporates insights from the National Landscape Department (NLD) to shed light on the direction of garden development in Malaysia, specifically concerning the Islamic garden concept. This input is essential in assessing the current level of adoption and adaptation of the Islamic garden concept, particularly within Malaysia.