ISSN: 2717-4417

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

 Mosques are one of the most obvious faces of Islamic societies and play a fundamental role at both the spiritual and superficial levels. Moreover, in the history of Islamic cities, the three basic elements of mosque, bazaar and mahala  have had fundamental and determinative roles in the development and evolution of cities. Amongst the different types of mosques that exist, local mosques, as public spaces with social, economic and political dimensions, have had a great effect in representation of cultural values and Islamic traditions. As in western cities- based on the Peri theory regarding the mahala units- schools have a determinative role in the center of mahalas and residential zones and the local mosque is on the same level of importance as cultural and religious centers. The other amenities and facilities, such as educational and commercial facilities are on a lower level in the center of mahalas. In addition, these local mosques have helped raise the identity of small as well as large mahalas. However, contemporary mosques have many shortages and negative aspects including their location in unsuitable areas and their omission in the identity structure of mahalas as places for residency. In the process of modernity, local mosques are considered to be on a lower level in comparison to the other elements. The scale and position of local mosques does not suit new conditions and does not respond to  the diverse demands of users in such a way as to decrease the sense of dependency on its function.
This research attempts to assess mosque selection site of  based on the locating index of efficiency, compatibility and comfort (these indexes are more suited to the aim of this research, and other location indexes are omitted) and the accessibility of mahalas to the identity structure as a residential place. ). Thus, a conceptual model based on the  comparison between the locating indexes and criteria of creating identity in mahalas is proposed.
This paper can be categorized as applied – development research. The method of this research is descriptive – analytical and uses both primary and secondary data from a mix of qualitative and quantitative methodology of research. The existing secondary data studied was based on two parts: firstly, the location of religious sites and mosques in the past and the effective indexes of creating identity in the residential contexts. The research is based on a case study approach focusing on the twelve zones of Mashhad city.  The primary data gathered were  firstly from direct observations via site visit of the case studies and secondly questionnaires completed by  mosque users and local residents with a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. Then, the primary and secondary data was analyzed using SPPS, EXEL and ARC GIS softwares.
In the findings section, the selected local mosques was analyzed based on the conceptual model for each of the locating indexes qualitatively and quantitatively. This research demonstrates the degree of influence of the criteria of identity in locating local mosques by determining the level of consistency of selected local mosques with the conceptual model. In conclusion, the authors propose that in the contemporary period, mosque locating be based on the three mentioned indexes (efficiency, compatibility and comfort) .

Keywords

Main Subjects

Ahmadian, M. (2014). Comparing investigation role of mosques in the social structure of neighborhoods-comparing between high and low level neighborhoods – case study zone 5 and 9 of Mashhad municipality. [in Persian]
Barton, Hugh (2003), et al. "Shaping Neighborhoods ", Spon press, New York. P: 71.
Bahreini, H. (1999).modernity and post of modernity in urbanism .Tehran. Tehran University. [in Persian]
Behzadfar, M. (2011) identity of city – the view of identity in Tehran. Shahr e Nashr institute. [in Persian]
Campbell. E. J. R; Henly, D. S; Elliott; K. Irwin, (2009), “Subjective Constructions of Neighborhood Boundaries: Lessons from A Qualitative Study of Four Neighborhoods”, Journal of Urban Affairs, Vol. 31, No.4.PP.461-490.
Ceghatoleslami, A. Amin Zadeh, B. (2011).comparing investigation the concept and principle of Iranian mahala and western neighborhood units .Hoviyat e Shar .volume13. No7.spring [in Persian]
Dehkhoda, A. (1957) .dictionary, volume 9.siroos publisher. [in Persian]
Ghasemi, M. (2004).Where I am from? Identification of residential context. Rozaneh .Tehran. [in Persian] 
Haghighat naeeni, Gh. (2000)."Analysis of locating and model of lodgment for new mosques (case study 6 zone of Tehran)". Second international conference of mosque architecture – future view. Tehran. [in Persian]
High council of architecture and urbanism (2008). Rules and regulations of mosques locating in town development plans. [in Persian] 
Naghizade, M. (1997)."Mosque as dominant skeleton in Islamic complex"   .Conference of mosque architecture – past, now, future. Isfahan.  [in Persian]
Naghizade, M. (2000)"The role of mosque in authentication of Islamic identity" .Second international conference of mosque architecture – future view. Tehran. [in Persian]
Naghizade, M. (2008).the concept and identity of mahala in Iranian culture .Andish nameh, the series of interdisciplinary articles if city and architecture, study and research center of urbanism and architecture – ministry of housing and urbanism [in Persian]
New town Development Company (2008). Strategies and criteria of location and planning in mosques. Associate principle of technical and engineering – part of architecture and urbanism .Tehran. [in Persian]
New town Development Company (2012). Guideline of mosque design in new towns. Associate principle of technical and engineering – part of architecture and urbanism. [in Persian]
Pakzad, J. (2011). The guideline of urban spaces. Shahidi publisher. [in Persian]
Poorjafar, M (1997). "The role and position of a mosque in planning and designing of Islamic neighborhood". Conference of mosque architecture – past, now, future. Isfahan. [in Persian]
Poormohhamadi, M. (2011). Planning the using of urbanism lands in Tehran. Organization of study and codification the books of humanities of universities. [in Persian]
Robert .Cowan (2005). "The Dictionary of Urbanism", Streetwise Press, Britain.
 
Rapoport. A, (2001), “The role of neighborhoods in the success of cities”, paper presented at the WSE symposium “Defining success of the city in the 21 century”, Berlin.
Saeedi rezvani, A, (1989).Islamic architecture and geographical phenomenon .Islamic research foundation. Mashhad. [in Persian]
Shoaibi, A. Siroosi Sabri. R. (2000)."A mosque as urban element". Second international conference of mosque architecture – future view. Tehran. [in Persian]
Tavasoli, M. (1990).The urban design principle and method in residential spaces in Iran- Accessibility design. Volume 1&2. Study and research center of urbanism and architecture. [in Persian] 
Website of zone 9 – Mashhad municipality. zone9.mashhad.ir. [in Persian]
Ziari, K,(2009).Urban land use planning in Tehran .University of Tehran. [in Persian]