Inclusive Design Principles for Women on Mosque Space: Examples from Contemporary Architecture
Personal Biography
I'm Vera YILDIZ, I graduated from Erciyes University, Architecture School in 2021. After graduation, I had a chance to go to Bologna University with an Erasmus Internship I stayed in Italy for two semesters. In there, I took master's courses and I worked in an architectural design office. During this period, I took some courses about inclusive design and its concept. When I came back to Turkey, I started to Abdullah Gul University Master Course and I decided to work on women's spaces in the mosque space.
Paper Abstract
INCLUSIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR WOMEN ON MOSQUE SPACE: EXAMPLES FROM CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
Mosques are spaces where gender hierarchy is often reproduced in religious contexts. Today, mosques are utilized in a wide range of variations depending on the religious context of the country in which they are located. In contemporary mosques, the boundaries of privacy are sometimes maintained and sometimes reinterpreted in different ways. The position of women in the design of these spaces has always been of significant importance.
The present study examines the women's gallery of fifteen mosque projects selected from across the globe. In addition to an analysis of the architectural layout of mosques, this study also considers the general gender perception of the communities in which they are located, as well as the socio-cultural and political context in which they are situated. The projects were selected based on their construction in the XXI. century and their characterization as contemporary in architectural media. The principal objective of this research is to ascertain whether the formal modernization of the space facilitates a more egalitarian utilization of the space, with an analysis of graphical documents and plans. To facilitate analysis, the inclusiveness of mosque spaces can be categorized into three main groups: The mosques were categorized into three main groups based on the inclusiveness of their spaces and the presence of architectural elements that segregate or unite different genders. The first group comprises mosques where different genders worship in the same space without any segregating architectural elements, which can be considered an example of equality and unity. The second group includes mosques where different genders worship in the same space but are segregated, which can be seen as a reflection of patriarchal norms. The third group consists of mosques where different genders worship entirely in separate spaces, which can be viewed as an example of gender segregation or a space exclusively for women. This categorization is based on an analysis of the selected examples to ascertain whether they provide spaces catering to the physical needs of female users, the positioning of these spaces, and the circulation axes defined within the space. A ten-item evaluation criteria was devised for the selected projects, inspired by Eskandari's (2013) study of mosques in America. Following an explanation of the criteria and the rationale behind their selection, the mosque projects were evaluated. Such considerations include the manner of entry for men and women, the visual connection between the gallery or women's section and the mihrab, the physical accessibility of the designed spaces, the design of the ablution areas, the spatial relationship between the women's prayer area and other spaces, and the use of directional elements to facilitate these spaces. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the potential for new spatial arrangements that avoid the perception of women as secondary in the worship space.
Keywords: Women’s Mosque, Inclusive Design, Women-friendly Mosque, Islamic Feminism, Mosque Design
Note: For the request of the jury, it should be noted that this study is based on the finalized master's thesis entitled "Inclusive Design in Mosque Roots of Women's Spatial Segregation". The case examples discussed in the thesis have been revised.
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