A STUDY OF LIGHT HIERARCHY IMPACTS IN MOSQUES: A CASE STUDY OF MASJID WAZIR KHAN, LAHORE

Abstract

Light has always been an icon of magnificent and mystical interplay with architectural spaces. Our built monopoly utilizes natural Light in such a manner that specifies meaningful experience to the spatial design. Light is a supreme element in Islamic architecture that symbolizes supremacy and knowledge, forcing humans to relate to spiritual experience just by being in sacred spaces. The built environment, however, should indicate this worldly Light as depicting paradise, a believable phenomenon even mentioned in our religious manuscripts. Usually, the focus was on the design elements of spatial planning of these built structures, yet other modifying design elements are used better to attain ecstasy and Light is one of them. Almost every religious building in the world has some wonders and depiction that makes them beautiful and recognizable across the globe. Hence Pakistan also has many beautiful buildings with glorious Islamic backgrounds focusing on Light. The Mosque, a perfect symbol of Islamic architecture, has a beautiful play of Light inside that reminds of the holy verses. This study focuses on the play of lights used in mosques as the best manifestation of Islamic architecture based on investigations through descriptive and explorative data for analyses. The study was carried out through a case study of the Wazir Khan Mosque, which is beautifully articulated with hierarchical lighting used to enhance Light's impacts for exploring the lighted spaces. The research findings are that the light display in the various parts of the mosques is beautifully intricated in such a manner as not only those parts keep the Mosque well lit for the Devoutes like the central courtyard, Inner chamber that uses Light in a way that the identification of a place that leaves the user with sense holiness. Keywords: Mosque, Light, Islamic architecture, Pakistan, Lahore, Masjid Wazir Khan.