Typology of traditional mosques of Khorasan (North-Razavi-South) based on open and semi-open space

Document Type : تاریخ معماری خراسان بزرگ

Abstract

The Holy Prophet's Mosque, which is a simple combination of open and semi-open spaces, is a basic pattern of mosque architecture Which prevailed in the Khorasan mosques. Khorasan mosques were the architectural pattern of mosques in Iran in the two periods of Khorasani and Azeri styles.. In each of these two periods, the open and semi-open spaces play a major role in the mosque patterns. Since the native realization of this pattern in the Khorasan region is significant, the accurate and creative modeling of these samples is important for any type of identity continuity. In this paper, architectural patterns of mosques are studied under the influence of local event, climatic, cultural and religious events. It is also necessary to examine the process of these changes. In order to achieve a suitable pattern for the design of contemporary mosques, the exact recognition of these traditional and indigenous patterns is essential.
Therefore, all mosques registered in the cultural heritage in the Great Khorasan region, regardless of the northern, southern and Razavi boundaries, have been selected as samples. The purpose of the present study which has been done based on a historical interpretation method, is to identify the mosques of this region based on spatial components such as open and semi open spaces, and its physical-spatial form related to it. The mosques are divided into two types on the basis of open space, mosques with courtyard and without courtyard. The courtyard mosques are also divided into three categories: the mosque with a stretch of the courtyard in line with the qibla, the mosque with a stretch of the courtyard perpendicular to the direction of the qibla, and a square-shaped courtyard. The courtyard mosques are also divided into sub- categories. They are presented from the simplest and the most basic pattern to the most complex, respectivelybased on the type of composition of their body parts and their relationship to the types with a simpler precedent.

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