Physical expression of social organization and societal structuring in mosque architecture: Evaluation of contemporary mosques in Ankara, Turkey.

This dissertation examines three "modern" mosques in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, as examples of innovative and authentic mosque architecture, which considerably varies from traditional "Ottoman-type" mosques that heavily dominate the inventory of mosques in Turkey. The Republican period after the Ottoman Empire in Turkey witnessed an ongoing debate and rivalry between "modern" and "traditional" examples of mosque architecture. Although this problem has been considered in different dimensions, it has generally been discussed by classifying the mosques as "modern" or "traditional" in the academy. It is thought that this classification should be based on the different physical characteristics of mosques, which form the repertoire of tradition in mosque architecture. In this study, the exemplar mosques selected for the inquiry were examined according to 18 different factors that were grouped under six categories considering the physical and interior features of the mosques: namely, mass and facade design, spatial organization, interior forms, architectural program, material selection, and ornament details. On the one hand, the research aims to contribute to the discussion on "modern" and "traditional" representation in mosque architecture and clarify the ambiguity in understanding and distinguishing between "tradition," "traditional," and "modern," which are essential meanings in mosque architecture On the other hand, the core of the thesis aims to find out the actors, conditions, and mechanisms that helped these "modern" mosques implemented before "Ottoman-type" mosques that dominate the inventory of mosques in Turkey in addition to recognizing "modern" mosques based on a concrete analytical framework. The thesis study reviews mosque architecture as an enduring built form that reflects patterns of social relations, networks, hierarchies, and various roles that we may categorize as social organization and societal structuring. The actors of the social organization and societal structuring, considered influential in the emergence of mosques and belief structures, are determined as congregations on the user-demand side; and as constructors, religious authorities, charity organizations, and architects-designers on the developer-supply side. In line with that, the actors taking part in decision-making, fundraising, design and planning, and constructing the selected mosques were conducted to understand the social organization and societal structuring behind the emergence of "modern" mosques and belief structures. The research results revealed that the most critical factor contributing to the emergence of mosques and belief structures with innovative forms is the architect of the building. The selected "modern" mosques and belief structures would not have been built if it were asked of the congregations and the imams who are regular users of the mosque. The results also convey that architects confident in their decision to design an innovative, unique mosque and belief structure could convince the decision-makers and the clients, well-educated people with distinguished careers and success stories in the selected mosques. Conducting empirical research has given certain clues in considering how and in which mechanisms parts of the community who hold a liberal stance and do not strictly follow the Islamic faith attend, count up, and may, in some instances, participate and add up a surplus in the construction of mosques and belief structures.