"Islamic centers" are one of the most important symbols of the presence of Muslims in non-Muslim countries and are very important in terms of identity. Also, on the other hand, these centers are considered the cultural representative of the Muslim community in the public opinion of the host society. Therefore, how they are designed is of particular importance. The aim of this research is to find principles for the design of Islamic centers that will lead to the preservation and strengthening of the identity of Islamic culture and the improvement of coexistence with the host communities.
This research first identified the dimensions of the problem by examining the previous studies and it was determined that the two concepts of "identity" and "coexistence" are the main issues in this research. Then, the concepts of "identity" and "coexistence" in the architecture of Islamic centers were examined based on the model of place components in the three axes of "meaning", "physical form" and "activity". The focus of this research is on examining the issue of "identity" and "coexistence" from the point of view of Muslim users; Therefore, in order to get a more comprehensive and accurate view, a questionnaire tool was used. Due to the fact that following this research, the researchers wanted to design an Islamic center in England, a questionnaire was conducted among Muslims living in England. This questionnaire includes closed and open questions and was conducted with the aim of identifying and investigating the needs, views and visual preferences of the Muslim community. The results of this research were obtained based on comparative analysis of questionnaire results and library studies and previous researches of researchers in this field.
The result of the research is presented in the form of a strategic model in three axes "Meaning", "Physical Form" and "Activity", which presents principles in each section that can be applied in design to "improve the coexistence of Islamic centers with the host society." and "preserving Islamic identity" help Islamic centers. The results of this research indicate that the use of symbols of Islamic values in design by creating an opportunity to express identity, reduces the feeling of deprivation and increases the sense of acceptance in the society in the Muslim minority, and causes a reduction in cultural tensions and an increase in the sense of belonging. closer to the national culture of the host country. On the other hand, trying to use visual elements and common values will reduce the sensitivities of the host society and better communication with the Muslim population. By using a convergent approach, Islamic centers can play a role both as a religious center for Muslims and as a cultural center for the whole society. This can lead to the strengthening of Islamic culture and the attractiveness and improvement of the image of Islamic culture and Muslim society in the public opinion of the host society. As a result, "identity" and "coexistence" are not two concepts independent of each other, so in order to achieve "stable cultural coexistence with the host society" while "preserving Islamic identity", both aspects should be considered in the design of Islamic centers.
