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... as the most perfect of Sinan's masterpieces, Selimiye Mosque is an example of his talent for covering the whole interior using only a single dome. As shown in Fig. 2, the inside of this mosque is superior to that of any other structure on Earth due to its perfect built that distributes light inside equally over every point. because the structure depends on columns and arches, there are no load-bearing walls, which results in windows that are opened at any height of its walls [7]. The increasing number and size of the windows on both walls and within the dome give the same lighting effect without any feeling of directionality as if it would be impossible for one to guess where the sun is. Illuminance reaches a level of matu- rity in the Selimiye Mosque with the most generous use of light. The notion of 'being united as a whole' comes into existence in this magnificent structure [13]. The interior space is bal- anced uniquely in every direction up to the furthest boundaries so that praying worshippers can feel the presence of divine light at any point within the ...
Context 2
... as the most perfect of Sinan's masterpieces, Selimiye Mosque is an example of his talent for covering the whole interior using only a single dome. As shown in Fig. 2, the inside of this mosque is superior to that of any other structure on Earth due to its perfect built that distributes light inside equally over every point. because the structure depends on columns and arches, there are no load-bearing walls, which results in windows that are opened at any height of its walls [7]. The increasing number and size of the windows on both walls and within the dome give the same lighting effect without any feeling of directionality as if it would be impossible for one to guess where the sun is. Illuminance reaches a level of matu- rity in the Selimiye Mosque with the most generous use of light. The notion of 'being united as a whole' comes into existence in this magnificent structure [13]. The interior space is bal- anced uniquely in every direction up to the furthest boundaries so that praying worshippers can feel the presence of divine light at any point within the ...
Context 3
... as the most perfect of Sinan's masterpieces, Selimiye Mosque is an example of his talent for covering the whole interior using only a single dome. As shown in Fig. 2, the inside of this mosque is superior to that of any other structure on Earth due to its perfect built that distributes light inside equally over every point. because the structure depends on columns and arches, there are no load-bearing walls, which results in windows that are opened at any height of its walls [7]. The increasing number and size of the windows on both walls and within the dome give the same lighting effect without any feeling of directionality as if it would be impossible for one to guess where the sun is. Illuminance reaches a level of matu- rity in the Selimiye Mosque with the most generous use of light. The notion of 'being united as a whole' comes into existence in this magnificent structure [13]. The interior space is bal- anced uniquely in every direction up to the furthest boundaries so that praying worshippers can feel the presence of divine light at any point within the ...
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Citations
... Investigations into the dome skylight's attributes and their semantic transparency have been prominent, with studies delving into the semantic interpretations of mosque components that contribute to a sense of centrality, contrast, continuity, and metaphorical expression within the sacred space [44]. Additional research has focused on the aesthetic and spatial qualities of mosque interiors, emphasizing simplicity, clarity, and purity of light as integral to the aesthetic experience [45]. Concurrently, other studies have addressed the uniformity of light in prayer halls, recognizing its substantial influence on spatial perception [7]. ...
Mosques, revered as sacred spaces, are distinguished by their sustainable architectural designs. A critical aspect of these designs is the implementation of daylighting strategies, essential for ensuring adequate light levels, particularly for reading the Holy Quran. Traditional daylighting typologies in mosques, such as multi-lateral lighting, clerestories, skylights, and shading devices, are widely recognized. However, the potential application of electrochromic (EC) switchable glazing within mosque architecture remains underexplored. This study delves into the effectiveness of various daylighting typologies, assessing their performance before and after the integration of EC switchable glazing in the Al-Shagroud Mosque located in Saudi Arabia. Employing comprehensive radiance simulations in accordance with the LEEDv4.1 standards, the study evaluates additional metrics including useful daylight illuminance (UDI300–3000lux), workplane illuminance (WPI), uniformity index (Ui), and daylight glare probability (DGP) under multiple scenarios. The results demonstrate that clerestory lighting effectively meets LEEDv4.1 benchmarks but exhibits limitations in achieving uniform light distribution, particularly in the men’s prayer hall. In contrast, the women’s prayer hall benefits from a combination of clerestory lighting and shading devices, which improves light quality and mitigates glare issues. However, the use of skylights without adequate shading leads to excessive WPI and high DGP levels, compromising visual comfort. Moreover, managing daylight quantity and quality through the integration of different typologies, including hybrid models, presents substantial challenges. The integration of EC switchable glazing, while maintaining optimal WPI and reducing DGP, offers enhanced visual comfort in prayer areas. Nevertheless, this technology faces difficulties in ensuring even light distribution, as evidenced by lower uniformity index values. This research highlights the critical need for optimizing daylighting in mosques to balance sustainability and comfort, without detracting from their sacred ambiance.
... Natural light, in particular, plays an affecting role for user experience within the built environment. In Islamic architecture, the thoughtful use of natural light in mosques, considered sacred places, is a carefully considered aspect [8]. In pre-Ottoman mosques, light was employed primarily in a practical manner, to 6 The Upper Mosque was listed as a historical monument estate due to decree no. ...
... The presence of both light and shade is acceptable and has references in the Holy Qur'ān; As God described Himself as the ultimate light [11], in chapter 24 [Sūrat al-Nur]: "35. God is the Light of the heavens and the earth …", the shade was mentioned in a positive manner in different sūras, 8 and the Paradise [al-Jannah], was distinguished for its numerus, long and thick shades 9 . ...
... Its ceiling is 9.55 m in height, uploaded on eight square-section stone pillars and bears five domes; the central one's height is 5.5 m, whereas each of the rests is 4 m in height (Figs. [8][9][10][11][12][13]. The main prayer-hall contains different types, sizes and shapes of apertures on its walls and domes, which serve as admission sources of illumination ( Table 3). ...
Daylighting and solar availability at urban scale has come to play a crucial role in the perception of discomfort conditions for people, both in outdoor and indoor spaces, and on the energy consumption of buildings. Daylighting and solar analyses are typically done separately. The paper presents a novel method, called the ‘sunlight-daylight signature’ (SDS), which allows the qualitative analysis of urban settings with respect to sunlight and daylight. The method can be used to classify different urban settings in terms of daylight/sunlight access or to test new development proposals by referring to existing locations and confirm whether a certain daylight quality is met. The SDS relies on a new analysis tool, called ‘sunlight-daylight wedge’ (SDW), which combines obstruction (through the vertical sky component VSC) and sunlight access (through the annual probable sunlight hours PASH and the winter probable sunlight hours PWSH). The orientation of the façade at each point is also included as it will affect the times of the day when the sun-hours from PASH and PWSH occur, thus affecting the character of the corresponding sunlight. The SDS approach is based on a clustering technique to subdivide large datasets (in this case, daylight data points across entire cities or major urban areas) into smaller groups, using machine learning by way of the k-medoids clustering technique. This is used to derive typical daylight and sunlight scenarios representing groups of data points with similar conditions. Additional data is included to account for urban density and daylight availability in public areas. Final output of the clustering process consists of a map showing areas with the same daylight signature (SDS), which means areas with the same sunlight and daylight conditions. The SDS can be useful for urban planners and building practitioners to predict the access to both daylight and sunlight of large urban settings to optimize comfort for people and energy usage.
... Masjids, without a doubt, are sacred spaces that exude a strong sense of God's presence. As a result, the use of light in the masjid is significant both symbolically and spiritually [2]. However, to ensure the effectiveness of the place, the light of space and its implications must be considered as they have been adapted in traditional architecture [13]. ...
The term "sustainable building" refers to how a building is designed to be economically, ecologically, and socially beneficial. This research aims to study the daylight performance efficiency between two sustainable masjids in the same Tropical Climate but in different regions. The selected masjid is 1) Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia: Bandar Universiti Masjid 2) Lagos,Nigeria's Abijo Masjid. The performance of daylighting in a building determines the effectiveness of the specific building's space area. Inadequate daylighting in a building can affect both the occupants and the overall performance of the space. Lack of daylight has a number of detrimental implications, including impaired sight, decreased productivity, reliance on artificial lighting, noncompliance with building codes, and other issues. In identifying the level of daylight sufficiency in the selected masjid, LightStanza computer simulation is being used to simulate daylighting for each of these masjid 3D models. The findings of this study show that Abijo Masjid has better daylight performance than Bandar Universiti Masjid. The climate, the building's orientation, the building layout, the material used on the exterior, and the room's depth all have an impact on the space's illuminance efficiency. However, based on computer simulations, the average daylighting illuminance transmitted into both buildings is below a recommended level stipulated by organizations that establish the standards for optimal illuminance for mosque buildings, including 1) Malaysia; MS1525, JKR Standard 2) Leed v4 Daylight. Therefore, it is suggested that the elements mentioned above should be given attention by designers to optimize the use of daylight in masjid buildings in the future.
... Other aspects explored include differentiation, emphasis, sequence, repetition, harmony, hierarchy, spatial arrangement, visual integration, transnationality, and directionality [33,38,40,47]. In this context, Arel and Ö ner explored the aesthetic qualities of mosque interiors in terms of simplicity, clarity, and purity by practicing light [36]. On the other side, Rachkova and Khabibulina address the direct concern that increasing unity in the prayer hall where light can substantially impact the perception of space [32]. ...
Visual comfort includes the ability to provide sufficient daylight without exaggeration. When daylight levels are insufficient inside a place or when daylight is intense, inhabitants experience visual discomfort. This study examines visual comfort in prayer halls by investigating the effectiveness of daylighting performance, including daylight amounts, such as illuminance level and daylight factor, and glare, including daylight glare probability, in different mosque morphologies. The evaluation had done by applying a quantitative method via the most recently updated daylighting simulation software using Autodesk-Insight-360 for Revit-2023 and SolemmaClimateStudio for Rhinoceros-6. Results show that mosques with courtyard lighting have reduced glare, and windows placed uniformly along the vertical axis get lots of natural light. The study concluded that levels of visual comfort in the prayer halls, in turn, vary according to mosques morphology. The current research contributes to detecting visual discomfort in mosque architecture based on differences in typological and morphological design characteristics.
... Indoor lighting, especially houses of worship, is sacred, symbolic and spiritual. Lighting especially in houses of worship is considered a very important part for symbolic and spiritual reasons (Arel & Öner, 2017). The use of light in Islam has very significant physical and spiritual implications in man's relationship with heaven, related to religious and spiritual power, and man's relationship with God himself (Erzen, 2011). ...
... Indoor lighting, especially religious building spaces, has a sacred, symbolic and spiritual meaning. Lighting especially in houses of worship is considered a very important part for symbolic and spiritual reasons (Arel & Öner, 2017). Light became a major focus in the world of architecture, both in islamic architecture and in gothic architecture, In islamic architecture the light gives a spiritual (symbolic) and religious side about islam as a decorative tool. ...
... The Great Mosque of Cordoba was one of the grandest mosques in Al-Andalus in the middle ages. The light in the Great Mosque of Cordoba has unique characteristics, because the light in this building is influenced by its elements (Arel & Öner, 2017). Arel & Öner added that the structure in this building intends to give worshippers a perception of privacy and connect with God directly, thus giving a feeling of one orang no higher than the other before God. ...
Light is one of the important factors in human life. Lighting especially in houses of worship is considered a very important part for symbolic and spiritual reasons. Light is the main focus in architecture, both in Islamic and Gothic architecture. The purpose of this study is to summarize the role of light in buildings of worship, especially houses of worship. This study uses a qualitative method of literature study. The results of this study indicate that the role of light in buildings of worship, especially houses of worship, is very important for the congregation, both spiritually and visually. Spiritually, the role of light can provide inner peace and also the closeness of the servant to his God. from a visual point of view the role of light can provide beauty and comfort to the room. From these results, the conclusion is that the role of light in religious buildings in the building of houses of worship is very important for worshippers, in shaping the inner kayakinan both in spiritual terms and in Visual terms
... In addition to other aspects such as distinction, emphasis, sequence, repetition, harmony, hierarchy, spatial organization, visual integration, transnationality and directionality, and orientation have been studied in [65,66,78,79]. Some studies discussed simplicity, clarity, and purity with the aesthetic elements of mosque interiors, as in [74]. ...
Human thought and the environment interact to create a synthesis of visual quality. Spatial characteristics of space affect human perception and indoor visual components. To review a wide range of knowledge, a systematic review of visual comfort assessment and recent developments in mosque architecture was conducted. Apart from effective-physical design and socio-emotional aspects related to visual comfort in mosque buildings, the most relevant methods, techniques, and measurement tools were examined. Current research identified all eligible studies through systematic searching as an essential component of a systematic review. State-of-the-art reviewed the latest knowledge, methodologies, tools, and techniques related to the research topic, highlighting priority areas, visual comfort standardization, and their importance to mosque architecture. The research found knowledge gaps about the complicated relationship between mosque typo morphology and the visual comfort of worshippers. Thus, exhaustive and in-depth methodologies and comparisons between previous studies can help bridge knowledge gaps on such crucial topics.
... Light in mosques is a principal element that influences spiritual symbolism and adds ambiently to the tranquility of mosques' interiors and exteriors. This is by ensuring a functional adherence of individuals to sense the place of worship (Arel and Öner, 2017). Several active and passive strategies can be used to meet requirements of light performance aspects, in which daylighting techniques are considered as the most effective, and sustainable approach, that is adopted historically in mosques (El-Darwish and El-Gendy, 2016). ...
Mosques are religious and cultural facilities that are used as a place of worship, social gatherings, and religious events by Islamic communities. The built environment in these facilities should meet certain technical, functional, and behavioral requirements for worshipers. Mosques could endure critical defects and inadequate performance, with gaps in knowledge, of appraisal tools for their overall performance assessment. Therefore, this research was motivated by the need to identify and purpose an exemplary systematic process upon the conduct of post-occupancy evaluation, owing to the fundamental need for satisfactory conditions that need to be met by mosque facilities. Thus, this paper presents an exemplary post-occupancy evaluation of mosque facilities in Saudi Arabia; as a religious built environment. A triangulation approach of data collection and assessment methods were followed and discussed in this research. A case study mosque was selected, following a review of literature. Interviews and walkthrough inspection identified 34 performance elements. Users’ satisfaction survey data were collected and analyzed. Recommendations were proposed towards improving performance of the case study mosque as a religious built environment that demands satisfactory occupancy conditions. The findings indicated that worshipers were strongly satisfied with the conditions of the built environment in the case study facility; including acoustical comfort, spirituality, and aesthetic performance elements. This paper expands the boundaries of knowledge in terms of identification of mosques’ performance elements
... However, meanings of light differ between cultures and religions, but it's always related spiritual and mystical beliefs. [41] When designing a building or a space, architects take decisions in regard of the light, shadows, and the interplay between them. For instance, sacred spaces must have sharp contrast in lighting in order to throw behind the attachment the materialistic world and evoke spirituality. ...
... It can highlight the vulnerability, relativity, and imperfections of human-beings as well as the divinity, beauty, absoluteness, and perfection of Allah. [41] ...
... The structure of mosques must put the light at its heart in resemblance of the light in the heart of Muslims. [41] Architects are always in search for inspirations from the broad concepts of God, the spiritual world, and the physical materialistic world in order to create a spiritual space. As discussed in the previous section, light is symbolizing a lot of concepts in Islam. ...
The profound impact of daylight on users is broadly recognized in the fields of architecture and lighting. In particular, the interplay of light with the architectural surrounding is a central design element; the diversity of daylight in space is widely acknowledged as a source of interest and stimulation that enriches our spatial experience. However, there is limited knowledge available on how light and specifically daylighting
affect occupants. Moreover, we have limited knowledge on the impact of space function and of regional differences on human perception.
This thesis investigates the effect of light and specifically daylighting on users’ experience, and the human responses in the context of Mosques. The investigation is carried out using the theoretical and analytical approaches to research in order to contribute in the substantial aforementioned knowledge gaps. The theoretical part consists of three chapters; Architecture and Psychology, Light and Architecture, and The Philosophy of phenomenology.
While the analytical part is divided into two chapters; Chapter 5 analyzes international and national precedents in which light was the main protagonist and design influencer based on a set of criteria. Through the first two chapters of the literature review, we have drawn out the criteria of evaluation of the comparative analysis of the international and national precedents.
The criteria are Geometry, Materials, and Light. After the analysis of each precedent on its own, we came up with a matrix that analyzes them together in order to reach a final conclusion as well as the prototype on which we will conduct the Empirical study. The conclusion we’ve reached is the necessity of integration of architectural and psychological aspects in order to create a building that is user centered and fulfils the physical and psychological needs.
Finally, the Empirical study was conducted which is considered the core of the study. The analysis is carried out using the interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). IPA is qualitative research method that aims to examine the lived experience in a certain context to provide a detailed examination of the phenomenon. In order to adapt this method, certain procedure took place.
The first phase of the empirical study involves data gathering where the mosque will be documented. The second phase was an online survey which was conducted to investigate the main research questions regarding the phenomenology of light in mosques. From this survey we were able to cutdown the number of participants which we carried out the interviews with -which is the main part of this phase of the empirical study. Documentation of the interviews will follow the IPA method for documentation.
The third phase of the study which was the analysis of the data collected from the interviews and through which we have reached a transcript that puts into consideration the participants point of view with respect to the previous literature review. The conclusion we’ve reached through the analysis is that Lighting design in mosques is capable of affecting the users physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Hence, when designing a building it is only proper to carry out an investigation of the building typology, the needs of its users (the three levels of needs), and the context in which the building will be sited. This will ensure the complete functionality of the building on the three dimensions.
The city of Ḥamā, located in the middle of Syria, is considered one of the oldest still-inhabited cities in the world. The Great Mosque of Ḥamā, also known as the Upper Mosque, is distinguished for being the oldest extant place of worship in the city as it was initially built as a temple in ca. 9 th century BC, converted into a church, then finally converted into a mosque. This paper aims to evaluate the current use of daylight through analyzing it in order to measure visual comfort. To achieve these results and objectives, a descriptive-analytic method is used to study the considerations and conditions of reasonable indoor daylight in mosques, the usual tasks of mosques, climate data of the case study's location, and the geometrical features and optical properties of existing building materials of the mosque based on documents and previous site visits. Then, to assess the existing natural light condition, it's necessary to simulate the seasonal and daily variation of daylight in the building, using dynamic metrics based on the data above. Daylight performance of this building is evaluated in terms of daylight factor, luminance, illuminance level, uniformity, space proportions, and glare index. These calculations are conducted by computer simulation using DIALUX EVO 8.1 software. A comparative analysis is applied to test simulation outputs to determine to what extent the outputs match requirements. Finally, strategies and recommendations are proposed that mainly aim to: enhance daylight uniformity within the prayer hall, improve daylight level, and increase thermal comfort as needed.
This dissertation proposes a holistic, multi-dimensional approach for analysing task performance by understanding the psychological, physiological and cognitive performance-based changes with respect to various lighting quality factors. The main objective was to observe and integrate these three categories of potential affecting variables into the evaluation of overall task performance of video display terminal (VDT) users. In the existing literature, specifically in daylit offices, human behaviour and physiology are not sufficiently considered while evaluating task performance, or vice versa, performance changes in VDT users are not often taken into consideration while behavioural and psychological processes are analysed.
This PhD dissertation describes different stages of conception of this holistic method that includes objective performance measures coupled with ocular and behavioural responses, in order to overcome the limitations associated with the subjectivity and individuality aspects of lighting effects for analysing occupants’ task performance. The assessments were done in a series of experiments in a mock-up office setting under different (day)lighting conditions where participants’ ocular behaviour as well as their subjective assessments were recorded while monitoring photometric quantities including vertical illuminance at the eye and luminance data. In the first experimental phase, an initial study was made for proper integration of the adopted methods and techniques regarding ocular behaviour into visual comfort assessments. Development of several algorithms and tools to identify and translate the ocular behaviour in order to derive the actual luminous distribution perceived by the participants were needed to achieve this goal. In the next comprehensive experimental phase, the impact of daylight illuminance and luminance on various physiological, performance and psychological measures during visual display terminal work was explored. Additionally, the results from the relationships between photometric variables and physiological and subjective responses as well as performance measures are presented. The developed approach demonstrates the need to integrate ocular patterns and human behaviour into task performance assessments, which move us beyond the existing rigid and rough design approaches towards a holistic, human-centric lighting design in computerized offices.
