Religious Buildings Research Articles

Development of Mosque Architecture in Islamic Civilization and Its Context in Indonesia

The mosque is a place to worship Allah SWT. Mosques have an important meaning for Muslims because they have a long history and are inseparable from the development of Muslim civilization. As a religious building, the mosque is a representation of the Muslim community that gave birth to and prospered it. Mosques evolve and develop dynamically along with the growth and development of culture in society, presenting two sides of the coin. On the one hand, this dynamic encourages the growth and adaptation of mosques to social and cultural changes. But on the other hand, it presents a problem in understanding the history of the mosque as a whole. The evolution of the mosque also opens up opportunities for deeper exploration of the mosque in order to understand history. By analyzing the development of mosques from various aspects, such as architecture, culture and social roles, we can gain a deeper understanding of the changes and development of mosques in various historical periods in the world and in Indonesia.

The role of mural painting in beautifying religious buildings, An applied study in the field of mural painting For a mural of free formulations of Islamic decorations ,

The role of mural painting in beautifying religious buildings, An applied study in the field of mural painting For a mural of free formulations of Islamic decorations ,

Operational Energy in Historic Religious Buildings: A Qualitative Approach

Operational Energy in Historic Religious Buildings: A Qualitative Approach

ЗАМЕТКИ ПО ИСТОРИЧЕСКОЙ ГЕОГРАФИИ КУЛЬТУРНОГО ЛАНДШАФТА СЕЛА БАЛТА-ЧОКРАК В ЮГО-ЗАПАДНОМ КРЫМУ В КОНЦЕ XVIII – ПЕРВОЙ ПОЛОВИНЕ ХХ В.

This article presents a study of the surviving elements of the cultural landscape and the reconstruction of the disappeared elements of this landscape using the example of the abolished village of Balta-Chokrak in the Crimean Mountains, as well as a demonstration of the possibilities of such an approach to other rural cultural landscapes of Crimea. The authors developed a classification of the degree of preservation of the historical rural cultural landscapes of Crimea, according to which the cultural landscape of the village of Balta-Chokrak is characterized by a low degree of preservation (due to the destruction of the previous planning of residential development as a result of modern economic activity). Despite the above fact, single elements of the relict rural landscape have been preserved on the territory of the former village. Thanks to documentary evidence and a survey of the territory, the researchers were able to determine the location of various elements of the cultural landscape of the village, such as: a water supply source, colonists’ houses, an agricultural district with arable and pasture lands, small wood forest and areas for stone mining, transport infrastructure, religious buildings and necropolis. It is also important that since the necropolis of the village of Balta-Chokrak is one of the few surviving elements of the cultural landscape. Therefore, a complete catalog of his tombstones and their fragments is also presented.

Optimizing Daylighting Typology in Religious Buildings: A Case Study of Electrochromic Glazing Integration in the Masjid Al-Shagroud

Optimizing Daylighting Typology in Religious Buildings: A Case Study of Electrochromic Glazing Integration in the Masjid Al-Shagroud

Methodological principles of criminalistics characterization of theft of cultural values from religious buildings

The purpose of this article is a scientific analysis of the methodological foundations of the criminalistics characterization of thefts of cultural values from religious buildings. It is shown that the criminalistics characteristics of theft of cultural values from religious buildings is a group (special) characteristic. It, in addition to the forensic signs of theft, must contain special signs relating to the object of the direct attempt - cultural values, as well as their location at the time of the theft - a religious building. It was concluded that the criminalistics characteristics of theft of cultural values from religious buildings can be presented in the form of descriptions, tables, diagrams, graphs, computer programs, typologies, etc. Such a characteristic should be based on probabilistic-statistical and correlational relationships between its elements. In the author’s opinion, for the investigation of thefts of cultural values from places of worship, the most productive presentation will be the presentation of criminalistics characteristics in the form of a description, typology and analysis of the phases of criminal activity, which will make it possible to most fully describe and present the most essential features of the elements of the criminalistic characteristics of thefts of cultural values from places of worship. It is shown that the functions of criminalistics characterization of criminal offenses are more multifaceted than the simple focus on putting forward versions of a criminal offense committed in conditions of non-obviousness. According to the author, critics of the «impracticality» of forensic characterization of criminal offenses need to look at the functions that such characterization performs in criminalistics in general and forensic methodology, in particular. Such functions have already been highlighted, they are: applied (typical signs of elements and connections between them can be used during the disclosure and investigation of criminal offenses); cognitive (information about the signs of a criminal offense helps the subject of its knowledge - employees of the operational unit, the investigator to learn about the object, that is, the criminal offense); substitution (forensic characteristics can be considered as an information model that replaces the «original», helping to know it); informative (criminalistics characteristics not only reflect the original information about the object of knowledge, but also help to obtain new information about it); prognostic (information contained in criminalistics characteristics helps to make predictions about a possible series of crimes, about the circumstances that may accompany them, etc.); organizational and methodical (criminalistics characteristics guide the investigator to choose the most appropriate means of investigating a crime, to the optimal organization of such an investigation).

Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Churches in the Walled City of Famagusta, North Cyprus

There are so many abandoned heritage buildings worldwide and due to the lack of function and maintenance, they are ruined, deteriorate easily, and are forgotten. Similarly, abandoned valuable religious buildings faced vandalism deliberately because of the decreasing demand for use or lack of their communities. Some churches in Islamic countries are left useless and with no function, and North Cyprus is one of them. The Walled City of Famagusta has many historic religious buildings like cathedrals and churches. This research aims to develop proposals for the adaptive reuse of abandoned churches in the Walled City of Famagusta to overcome their current problems. The methodology of this historical research is qualitative and comparative. The data collection techniques are based on literature review and observation. This research will bring new perspectives on these churches' conservation for architects, historical researchers, and conservationists.

Analysis of The Architecture and Decoration of Isfahan Masjid-E Jameh in Syntactic Dimension

In this research, the general architectural features and decorations of the Friday Mosque of İsfahan, Iran, which belongs to the 11th century Great Seljuk State period, one of the most important works of Islamic architecture, are examined. This mosque, which is also called Atiq Mosque, Masjid-e Jameh and Great Mosque today, is among the most important structures that have witnessed hundreds of years of history. This study on the expressibility of the semantic dimension of the structure in the syntactic dimension is important in terms of its contribution to the literature. For this purpose, information about the Great Seljuk mosque architecture and the historical development process of Friday Mosque in terms of architecture is given and the subject and purpose of the researches on this mosque are stated. Then, the method to be used in expressing the architectural structure and decorations in the syntactic dimension is explained. In order to obtain the data about the mosque, on-site visual-observation and examination technique and photography technique were used. Basic design principles were used in the analysis of the data. As a result, the architectural features and ornamental motifs used in this mosque, which is an important mosque of the Great Seljuk period, have been revealed with this method. The findings obtained about the structure and ornaments can be used in religious buildings as well as other architectural structures, ornaments, clothing, furniture and decoration

Finiq riverscape | Green and blue infrastructures among the Finiq municipality rivers

The Municipality of Finiq is part of the District of Vlora. It is located 20 km from the city of Saranda, 7 km from the city of Delvina, 8 km from the shores of the Ionian Sea, and it shares a border with Greece. It consists of 5 ad- ministrative units: Livadhja, Finiq, Dhivri, Mesopotamia and Aliko. It has 58 villages under its administration among which the most important ones are the cen- ters of the administrative units with the same name. According to municipal reg- isters, the population of the municipality is 35,518 inhabitants or 10,103 families while according to the 2011 census, the population reaches 11,862 inhabitants.1 From the ethnographic or anthropogeo- graphic point of view, the Municipality of Finiq consists of three communities: Vurgu, consisting of plain villages; Rëza, consisting of mountain villages; and the intermediate hilly area consisting of vil- lages like Sirakat, Livinë, Llazat, Gravë, Karroq.2 The history of these areas is “written in the stones” of the old settle- ments of Phoeniciae, Butrint and in the religious buildings of Dhrovjan. These historical evidences speak of a glorious past of these areas, but today they are in a state of constant shrinkage3. All of it concentrates in a territory of 441.2 km2. Finiq Municipality spreads between two mountain ranges, one in the west dividing it from the Ionian Sea with an elevation of 100 – 600 meters above sea level, the other one on the west dividing it from Dropull Municipality with an elevation of 800 – 1400 meters above sea level. Both mountain ranges are directed north- west. The terrain of the municipality is composed of 44% plain, located in the middle, 34% mountains and 22% hills. In this environmental complexity, the natural area spreads in 71% of the territory, especially in the east part of the municipality, agriculture area spreads in 24% of the territory, concentrating in the west part of the municipality. Agriculture and nature make up the predominant use of the territory of Finiq. On the other hand, the settlements spread only on 3% of the territory, but they are scattered in the whole municipality. Water and infrastructure make up only 1% of the territory each and connect the various settlements of the municipality together.4 The District of Vlora faces a number of environmental issues that are also a reality for the Municipality of Finiq5. The District of Vlora faces a high pressure from urbanization and new development of touristic structures, which is especially true for the coastal ecosystem but not only. The settlements, with an emphasis on villages, are characterized by the absence of a wastewater management system and solid waste management system, which are important sources of pollution for the land and also for the water. The shrinkage of protected areas is another relevant environmental issue not only for Vlora District but also for Finiq Municipality. The area of protected areas is changing to accommodate strategic public investments. In the case of the Butrint protected area (a Ramsar area6 and also a UNESCO-protected area7), it is shrinking to accommodate the construction of a national airport. In the natural landscape deforestation is a very relevant issue since in the Finiq Municipality on 25% of the original forest remains8. For the rivers, the main threat is the illegal exploitation of the riverbeds but also the mismanagement of the river deltas.

Constructing a Semantic System of Facade Elements for Religious Architecture from a Regional Perspective: A Case Study of Jingzhou

The application of semantics in facade elements mainly involves the association between architectural elements and their cultural, historical, or functional significance. By analyzing the shape, layout, and decoration of various elements (such as windows, doors, decorative patterns) in facades, semantics helps us understand the symbolic meanings and cultural implications behind these design choices. This study selects twenty-eight pavilions and buildings from five temples and Taoist sites in Jingzhou City as the research objects, exploring the composition and patterns of religious architectural facades in Jingzhou through the extraction of structural and decorative elements. The study establishes the “Semantic System of Façade Elements in Jingzhou Religious Architecture”, from which the distinctive characteristics of Jingzhou religious building façades are identified. The study finds that side halls predominantly feature hard gable roofs, while the main halls use double-eave hip-and-gable roofs, reflecting differences in architectural hierarchy. The sack with three arrows pattern is the most widely used in door and window decorations, demonstrating the aesthetic preferences of the Jingchu region. Both side halls and main halls commonly adopt high podiums, with the main hall podiums typically exceeding twenty steps in height, which is closely related to Jingzhou’s climatic conditions and architectural hierarchy. This study provides scientific evidence for the preservation, new design, and harmonious integration of traditional culture and architectural features in regional religious architecture.

Sustainable Architecture Implementation of Mosque in Indonesia (Case Study: Mosque Istiqlal, Jakarta)

Abstract In the context of global dynamics influenced by climate change and environmental sustainability awareness, the implementation of sustainable architecture becomes an urgent necessity in infrastructure development. Mosques, as centers of spiritual and social activities, play an undeniable role in responding to and facing these challenges. This research focuses on Mosque Istiqlal in Jakarta, a symbol of religious and national significance in Indonesia. Mosque Istiqlal, as a case study, becomes a crucial representation of efforts to integrate principles of sustainable architecture into religious buildings. To comprehensively analyze and understand the implementation of these principles, this research aims to detail how Istiqlal Mosque creates a functional and environmentally friendly built environment. By delving into the design and construction of Istiqlal Mosque, this study employs a qualitative descriptive method, involving document analysis, field observations, and interviews with architects and stakeholders. The research results are expected to provide profound insights into the positive contributions made by the implementation of sustainable architecture in the context of mosques and serve as a foundation for the development of more sustainable mosques in Indonesia in the future. With a focus on Mosque Istiqlal, this research is anticipated to offer valuable guidance for understanding and promoting sustainability in the spiritual and architectural aspects of religious buildings.

A New Sanctified British Era of Architecture and Supremacy at Rawalpindi, Punjab Pakistan

This article defines the ‘Church Architecture’ with its genera which was introduced by the British government to the Subcontinent. This architecture is a significant part of the cultural heritage and British Archaeology of Pakistan. ‘Church Architecture’ is still a center of attention for the general public and the Christian community in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. These “churches” were not only religious buildings of the British era but have always been the political and religious epicenters of British authorities. When the British East India Company was expanding its trading activities all over the subcontinent before 1849, simultaneously, ‘Company’ was trying to achieve the political and religious agenda of the British authorities. With combat skills, this trading company was able to meet the existing Sikh ruling powers on the battlefield, and the ‘Regime Change Operation’ ended, and the ‘British Era’ of architecture and supremacy emerged in Rawalpindi, Punjab Pakistan.

Integration Theory in Measuring Cultural Diversity in the Western Urban Context: The Case of Islamic Religious Buildings in the Western Urban Context

Integration Theory in Measuring Cultural Diversity in the Western Urban Context: The Case of Islamic Religious Buildings in the Western Urban Context

The uncomfortable truths of adaptive reuse: faith-to-faith conversion of religious heritage buildings in conflict environments

ABSTRACT Despite being regarded as a sustainable conservation strategy for safeguarding the material fabric of disused built heritage, adaptive reuse is an ethically problematic practice when considering faith-to-faith conversions of defunct religious buildings in politically complex environments. This paper aims to explore the scope of the spatial transformations and symbolic representations involved in such conversions, as well as their ramifications on the pre-existing memory and identity of the place. Theoretical explorations are illustrated with empirical data from fieldwork on church-to-mosque conversions in northern Cyprus. The paper argues that faith-to-faith adaptive heritage reuse undoubtedly aids in the protection of the architectural fabric of disused structures from ruination and preserves their original architectural expressions. However, the practice becomes contentious when former users continue to claim rights to the religious site, as the theological principles and power politics shaping the conversion can potentially ignore their religious values and material culture. But more importantly, when sacred and secular merges and nationalist representations emerge on the religious heritage sites, it radically transforms the identity and pre-existing memory of the landscape, aggravating the tension regarding the former and current users’ rights to these sites.

Baroque Architecture in West Siberia

The article shows the main directions of the architecture development in West Siberia in the 17th and early 20th centuries. Research of the last decades devoted to the artistic and decorative interpretation of stone and wooden buildings is summarized. The mutual effect of their ornaments is noted. It is found that the Baroque style, widely used in the architecture of West Europe and Russia of the 17–18th centuries, is not adequately developed in Siberian cities. Siberian Baroque originated at the beginning of the 20th century, affects mainly religious buildings. In construction of stone residential and public buildings, this style is quite rare.The purpose of this article is to analyze the development of this trend in Siberia. The main focus is on Baroque ornamentation. Baroque elements are widely used in wooden architecture of Siberia in the 19th century. Presently, it draws attention from architectural researchers. The article studies Baroque ornaments in terms of Russian traditions, identifies the relationship between the main architectural styles and customs of wooden architecture and ornaments in Siberia.

Muslims of Central Asia in Siberia in the Context of State‑Confessional Policy in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries

The Muslim population of Siberia represented an ethnically heterogeneous community, which included Tatars, as well as immigrants from Central and Central Asia, the Caucasus and other regions. Such polyethnicity and proximity to the Asian region, as one of the centers of Muslim culture, contributed to building contacts between Muslims of Siberia and Central Asia. Expansion of the territorial borders of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th century. and the government’s special interest in Central Asia has influenced the development of relations between the Muslim population of the two neighboring regions. The purpose of this study was to identify the main areas of interaction between the Muslim population of Siberia and Central Asia in the second half of the 19th – early 20th century, as well as to estimate the role of the state in regulating this process. Based on archival material, the author found that one of the areas of interaction of the Muslim population was organizing spiritual life. Despite the fact that the government, in an effort to extend its influence to the Asian region, provided support to the Muslim population in the second half of the 19th century, the same building codes were applied to the construction of religious buildings for Bukharans, as for all other Muslims. The closest contacts between the Muslims of Siberia and the Bukharians were built within the framework of pilgrimage trips, since often the way to Mecca for them lay through the territories of Central Asia. In addition, there were holy places in the region, which the Muslims of Siberia aspired to. This fact was of particular concern to the Government. The reforms initiated in the country aimed at limitation of the rights of the Muslim population have reduced the migration flow from the Asian region to Siberia. The government paid special attention to the missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool for involving Muslims of Siberia and Central Asia in the socio-cultural space of the empire.

Understanding the spatial pattern and structural characteristics of cities in late feudal China: evidence from the local chronicle maps of the qing dynasty (1644–1911)

ABSTRACT Our study analyzes the spatial pattern and structural characteristics of cities in late feudal China based on multiple correlation and geographic information system spatial analysis, using 58 local Chinese chronicle maps of Jiangsu in the Qing Dynasty as research material. The elements in the city map were dominated by the types of official buildings, transportation facilities, and religious buildings. The urban spatial pattern can be classified into four types, such as extraverted and introverted, with each type having an aggregated spatial distribution and a gradual introverted orientation in time. The urban spatial structure can also be divided into four types: traditional, axial, random, and composite. Spatial distribution of each type is relatively stable, with little change over time. The geographic environment and the traditional concept of city building are the basic reasons for the formation of the spatial pattern and structure. The flood disaster, commercial and military factors contribute to the diverse structures. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of quantifying the ancient Chinese chronicles’ city maps. The findings have important value for contemporary ancient city restoration and shaping urban characteristics.

Kajian Eksistensi Bangunan Cagar Budaya Di Jl. Dr. Cipto Kota Semarang

The city of Semarang is rich in a multitude of cultural heritage. In accordance with the Decree of the Mayor of the Regional Head of Level II Semarang No. 646/50/TAHUN/1992 concerning Building Conservation, Ancient/Historic Buildings in the Semarang Level II Regional Municipality Area, several Cultural Heritage Buildings have been designated. The types of buildings determined consist of socio-cultural buildings, religious buildings and business buildings. Jl. Dr. Cipto was the development of the Dutch city area after the Old City was full so that Dutch and Chinese people living in Semarang began to occupy this area along with the emergence of supporting buildings. Research related to the existence of cultural heritage buildings cannot be separated from the role of trusted sources who understand or understand the object being studied. This research aims to obtain comprehensive facts, data and information related to the existence of Cultural Heritage Buildings which are the object of research. The primary survey in this research was carried out to obtain primary data or information, namely data or information obtained directly from the field. Field survey with an argumentative and persuasive approach to dig up information to strengthen institutional data and complement existing data. The technique for obtaining this data is observation, measurement and interviews. Apart from that, the survey was carried out using literature studies, reports related to previous Cultural Heritage Building data. The analysis results show that the Cultural Heritage Building on Jalan Dr. Most of this Cipto has strong characteristics of modern architecture, a style that was popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Some of the buildings are not multi-storey, and there are parts of the core building that resemble multi-storey towers. The building orientation tends to be west. The foundation of a building made of stone that supports the main structure. Until now, the building still looks sturdy and well maintained. The existence of cultural heritage buildings in the Old City area, especially on Jl. Dr. Cipto Semarang has an important meaning in supporting the existence of the region from its inception until today. The existence of a cultural heritage building on Jl. Dr. Cipto demonstrated the consistency of function and transformation of the building's function according to the needs of the time but did not change the shape/facade of the existing building. The role of building managers needs to continue to be improved by increasing cooperation between the Government, Building Management Organizations, Building Owners and Investors. The Semarang City Government needs to continue to play an active role in efforts to maintain the existence of cultural heritage buildings in the Jl. Dr. Cipto is mainly related to policies to support the existence of cultural heritage buildings so that they continue to exist.

Monastery heritage as a tool for reconciliation pre-post earthquake: The case of Saint Simeon Monastery

Preserving heritage ensures it is passed to future generations, cultural heritage is crucial in shaping community’s identity through this journey. Religious heritage has huge importance in continuation and give sense of belonging within religious communities. Monastery heritage has a crucial role in safeguarding the rich past and traditions of monastic communities, with a focus on their religious and societal significance. Antioch is a city, a home of coexistence. Beside the city’s rich culture, the city is known as central point promoting reconciliation through three main monotheistic religions. The city has faced several earthquakes in history, it was completely destroyed and later rebuilt again. Unfortunately, recently an earthquake occurred and destroyed not only the historical religious buildings but the greatness of coexistence. Reconciliation is the key of healing after the disaster by fostering unity, comprehension and collaboration. Saint Simeon Monastery in Antioch is a significant example of resilience, rebirth, and reconciliation, as evidenced by the references to its response to challenges in its history. Preservation of the monastery should include physical and psychological strategies so that the place can welcome everyone, heal, and coexist with its values and characteristics post-challenge. The research aims to create a framework to increase cultural awareness within the community about the importance of Saint Simeon Monastery as religious heritage site. This will promote to build the bridge of reconciliation post-earthquake. Method of the study includes both quantitative and qualitative research to examine the significance of Saint Simeon Monastery’s religious history brings communities together in Antioch after the earthquake.

Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Modern Religious Buildings in Terms of Materials and Construction Techniques: The Turkish Mosques Cases

Religious buildings are cultural symbols of societies in urban life. Mosque architecture, one of the religious structures that entered Turkish history and architectural culture with the acceptance of Islam by the Turks, developed over time and reached its peak in terms of architectural formation during the Ottoman period. Although religious buildings are thought to be less affected by social change throughout history, unlike other architectural structures, mosques are seen to be affected by the social and cultural structure that changes over time. Religious buildings, apart from being places of worship in social life, are also meeting points and social sharing areas. This situation shows that it will not be possible for religious buildings to remain indifferent to the changing needs, building materials and living standards over time. The aim of the study is to explain the use of developing and transforming materials and construction techniques in mosques in Türkiye. Within the scope of the study, the reflection of traditional and modern architecture in mosques was discussed and the transformation of buildings in different periods was examined. In this context, examples of traditional and modern mosques built in different periods were discussed with the comparative analysis method. By examining how the classical, iconic elements of mosque architecture were handled in a modern style, their changes in terms of materials and construction techniques were questioned. As a result, it is aimed to be a reference for future studies by looking at the architectural variations of changing religious buildings from past to present.