TURKEY’S FIRST UNDERGROUND MOSQUE
TURKEY’S FIRST UNDERGROUND MOSQUE
The first underground mosque in Turkey has been constructed in the Buyukcekmece district in a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of Istanbul. The building has won first place in the World Architecture Fest competition for religious places. Earlier vernacular underground mosques were constructed in the hills of north-west Libya.
The mosque is located in a steppe landscape that is separated from the surrounding suburban gated communities by a busy highway. The high walls surrounding the park on the upper courtyard of the mosque delineate a clear boundary between the chaotic outer world and the serene atmosphere of the public park. A long canopy stretching out from the park becomes the only architectural element visible from the outside. The building is located below this canopy and can be accessed from a path from the upper courtyard through the park. The building blends in completely with the topography and the outside world is left behind as one moves through the landscape, down the hill, and in between the walls to enter the mosque.
Merging the essence of Islamic and Ottoman designs with modernity, the Sancaklar Mosque was inspired by the Cave of Hira, where Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) first received prophecy.
The interior of the mosque, a simple cave-like space, becomes a dramatic and awe-inspiring place to pray and be alone with God. The slits and fractures along the Qibla wall enhance the directionality of the prayer space and allow daylight to filter into the prayer hall.
Built seven metres beneath the surface, the mosque was constructed by the Turkish architect Emre Arolat.
The mosque, located on 1,200 square metres underground, is illuminated by lead lights and sunshine to cast a spiritual environment.
Departing from standard mosque elements, the Sancaklar Mosque features a cavernous underground worship hall imbued with a special spiritual reverence.
The architects note in their brief that their design “aims to address the fundamental issues of designing a mosque by distancing itself from the current architectural discussions based on form and focusing solely on the essence of religious space.”
Construction began in May 2011 and the mosque was opened in 2014.
Offering a place for more than 650 worshippers, it aims to void the shortage of mosques in the district.
Being the world’s first underground mosque, the Sancaklar Mosque was designed without a minaret or crescent alem.
Approximately 99 percent of Turkey’s population is Muslim, the majority of whom are Sunni.
Turkey has thousands of mosques, among the most famous of which is the Blue Mosque, which stands out with the blue tile work ornamenting its interior walls.
In May 2012, the world’s first underwater mosque was built in the north-western city of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
