Reading the Examples of Modern Mosques in Turkey Through Semiotics

Abstract

In this study, three different mosques built after the modern period in Türkiye are analysed from an architectural point of view. The aim of the research is to make sense of the messages intended to be conveyed through worship structures and to read the messages conveyed through these structures within the framework of semiotic theory. Using the semiotic method, each building is analysed in terms of context and environment analysis, design principles and style, function, plan scheme, spatial analysis, structure, facade character and symbolic forms. In addition, the buildings are analysed in terms of Günther Fischer’s value criteria (location, size-measure, material, form, arrangement) and Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotics. The method will help us understand the multidimensional meanings of architectural structures, and the importance of the study is emphasised by the fact that it provides a better understanding of the place of these structures in the cultural and social context. This research makes an important contribution to the understanding of the approaches followed in modern mosque designs and shows how the messages conveyed through architectural structures can be interpreted using semiotic theory. By shedding light on the design processes of modern mosques, it reveals the decisive role of context in this process. As a result of the evaluation, it is concluded that context is the most influential factor in modern mosque design, while other elements are shaped based on context.