Work

Modern mosque design proposal and investigation of acoustic comfort conditions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • A modern mosque design proposal has been presented that is compatible with the historical traditional mosque design. • The acoustic comfort conditions required in mosque design have been extensively researched. • A revised dome form has been suggested to increase the homogeneous diffusion of sound. • Speech intelligibility and a harmonious perception of the Quran recitation were achieved in the same space using a variable acoustic design. • A new mosque design proposal improves acoustic and daylight comfort conditions. In historical masonry mosques, the dome form was often preferred due to technological requirements. The design of historical mosques with domes has caused city users to identify the mosque with the dome. For this reason, the dome form is frequently preferred in modern mosques. However, the dome form can negatively impact interior acoustics and cause acoustical problems. In this research, a building envelope proposal was proposed without a concave form by modifying the dome form to mitigate acoustic issues. A design proposal has been presented that can be perceived as a mosque by city users, utilizes the possibilities of current technology, and meets the requirements of acoustic and daylight comfort conditions. A variable acoustics proposal has been presented to ensure the intelligibility of speech during the Friday sermon and to promote the harmonious perception of the Quran recitation during daily prayers. By reducing the volume and increasing the total absorption capacity within the space through the use of a movable curtain system, variable acoustics were achieved, and the requirements of different usage scenarios could be satisfied. Reverberation time and speech intelligibility analyses were conducted within the space, and homogeneous sound propagation was examined using the simulation program. It was determined that the proposed revised dome form can achieve positive acoustic results and improve interior acoustics. As a result of this research, it has become clear that worship spaces should be designed from a holistic perspective, considering both acoustic and visual comfort conditions, as well as cultural values.

Source: Results in Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.108142

Author: Tarık Serhat Bozkurt

Institution: Istanbul Technical University

Language: English

Topic: Architecture and Cultural Influences

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,940

Funder: Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi