SEMANTIC AND SYNTACTIC DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS: THE CASE OF SÜLEYMANİYE MOSQUE

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Çakıroğlu B., Akat R.

JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE, cilt.8, sa.4, ss.1174-1197, 2025 (Scopus)

Özet

In this study, it is acknowledged that sacred concepts influence the formation of sacred spaces and serve as a non-verbal language of expression. Accordingly, the research examines how the concrete manifestations of sacred concepts in Islam are reflected in the design principles shaping mosque architecture. The scope of the study is limited to five sacred concepts in Islam: wahdaniyet (unity), beka (eternity), ilim (knowledge), might, and the hereafter. The effects of these five concepts on the architectural design of the Süleymaniye Mosque, selected as the case study, were investigated. Data were collected through literature review, on-site visual observation and examination, and photography. The semiotic method was employed to conduct semantic and syntactic analyses of the obtained data. As a result, sub-concepts derived from the main sacred concepts were identified, and both the semantic dimensions of these sub-concepts and the design principles reflected in their syntactic dimensions were presented in separate tables. The findings indicate that the fundamental design principles reflected by each sacred concept in the semantic dimension predominantly embody the principles of unity and appropriateness. This study is significant as it provides a reference for the tangible expression of abstract sacred concepts that shape religious buildings, ensuring their design aligns with their intended spiritual functions. Moreover, the proposed analytical model is expected to make a valuable contribution to the literature and to architectural design education by offering a semiotic framework for interpreting sacred meanings, thereby facilitating the design of religious spaces.