Citation: Ibrahim, I.; Al Shomely, K.; Eltarabishi, F. Sustainability Implications of Utilizing Islamic Geometric Patterns in Contemporary Designs, a Systematic Analysis. Buildings 2023, 13, 2434. https:// doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102434 Academic Editor: Davide Settembre-Blundo Received: 14 August 2023 Revised: 6 September 2023 Accepted: 18 September 2023 Published: 25 September 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). buildings Systematic Review Sustainability Implications of Utilizing Islamic Geometric Patterns in Contemporary Designs, a Systematic Analysis Iman Ibrahim 1, * , Karima Al Shomely 2 and Fatma Eltarabishi 3 1 Applied Design Department, College of Fine Arts and Design, The University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates 2 Fine Arts Department, College of Fine Arts and Design, The University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates; kabdelaziz@sharjah.ac.ae 3 Industrial and Engineering Management Department, The University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates; u18105673@sharjah.ac.ae * Correspondence: iibrahim@sharjah.ac.ae; Tel.: +971-502485125 Abstract: Recently, scholars have embraced sustainability as a crucial concept deeply ingrained in architectural designs, particularly Islamic geometric patterns (IGP). These patterns hold significance in reflecting Islamic history, identity, and culture. This systematic review explores how scholars have integrated IGPs into modern design, considering the sustainability aspect. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) reporting checklist was used due to its organized structure as a guide to conduct this review (2012–2022). Data was collected through recognized databases (i.e., Scopus and ProQuest) that house a wide array of journals and publications. Selected journals were categorized based on sustainability pillars—environmental, economic, social, and cultural. In addition, case studies from the region are discussed, as studies didn’t explicitly explore the connection between sustainability and the use of Islamic geometric patterns in modern design. Findings indicate that papers predominantly discuss the positive effects on environmental and economic sustainability through IGP implementation. Conversely, social sustainability received comparatively less attention from scholars. Case studies showed that most building designs in the Middle East use IGP to conserve Islamic history and identity, especially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This review sheds light on the potential of geometric patterns as a vehicle for sustainable design and contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable architecture. Keywords: Islamic geometric patterns (IGP); sustainable design; PRISMA; Islamic architecture 1. Introduction Throughout history, Islamic Architecture (IA) has been a tool Muslim architects used to preserve their religion, identity, and values against the cultural invasion of foreign countries. Islamic countries were able to impose their religion and history with the use of Islamic architecture. Art and Architecture play an important role in enriching culture and people’s identity. Therefore, as Islam was widely revealed in the pre-modern period of time, between 800 to 1500 CE, Islamic geometric patterns (IGPs) emerged [1]. Geometry, as a branch of mathematics, played a vital role in the creation of IGPs. IGPs are decorative elements that mainly styled the exteriors and interiors of Islamic buildings (i.e., mosques) and palaces. Albert et al. [2] defined IGPs as “basic decorative elements of Islamic architecture consisting of a pattern formed by a set of small pieces with simple shapes (straight lines and arcs”. IGPs show four recognizable characteristics: symmetry, interlacing, unboundedness, and flow [3]. IGPs consist of a repeated unit, a polygon that holds the base geometry, and a repetition structure that is the product of systematically repeating the seed unit to fill the space [4]. The main elements of Islamic patterns include geometric, calligraphic, and floral patterns [5]. The floral design represents nature, and its motifs are inspired by the shapes and colors of flowers and trees. The calligraphic Buildings 2023, 13, 2434. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102434 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings