Courtyard Design Status in Formation of Modern Mosques

Despite the extensive deployment of various styles, techniques, and materials in the construction of mosques in different Islamic countries, historically, the central courtyard or the mosque courtyard has been one of the unique architectural cultural unification factors. Although the central courtyard of the architectural culture existed before Islam, it has found a new meaning in relation to the Islamic religious studies. However, such important environment has not been absolutely identified and investigated. As there is a lack of research and documents about the courtyard in the mosques in relation to the literature of the mosques (most research and literature are available in relation to the building features, construction methods, and decorations) and the practical, symbolic, and spiritual context is lacking.For this reason and the other arguments on the modern societies, i.e. maximum land utilization, road rapid access to mosque seraglio, and the unrecognized significance and meaning of the mosque courtyard; the new mosque designs are often limited. This essay further identifies the courtyard space of the mosques, quality and functional aspects and evaluates the basic patterns of the mosque courtyard evolution, the spatial qualities, the corresponding function-form and similarities of the courtyards of the mosques in relation with the Islamic gardens. The data collection approaches include documents, field study, and the research has descriptive analytic approach with the relevant case studies.The research findings indicate that the complex principles and concepts of the Iranian traditional architecture are the same on the small and large spaces. For example, the encompassment and manifestation scheme of the major and minor axes in an urban square has the same form in the mosque courtyard and both have common similar scheme, while unfortunately today's mosques less rely on these schemes.

کلیدواژه ها:

courtyard ، mosque ، mosque design ، courtyard performance ، Valiasr Mosque in Tehran