sancaklar mosque

A privately funded mosque called the Sancaklar Mosque was constructed outside of Istanbul for the local populace and the clients' extended family. In the current, more conservative environment, it is especially amazing that the architect and client dared to challenge tradition in this dramatic redesign of a mosque. The customer had the challenging task of convincing his extended family to accept a wildly unconventional, modern design. The program's success has led several doubters to change their minds and become proud of it, and now many fly there to pray.

The area for prayer is included within the hill's incline. The architect did this as a means of avoiding questions of form and cultural restraints. The route to the entrance descends through a difficult landscape with rocky stairs and untamed vegetation, past gushing water, and around a curved drystone wall to face towards Mecca. At the entrance to the prayer hall, a courtyard is formed, which is bordered on the outside by a teahouse, common area, and library that are all located next to a small body of water and provide a reflective calm before entering the prayer hall.Despite the architect's fruitless attempts to create a single entry for both men and women, the interior's design challenges convention by positioning women close to men facing the Qiblah, albeit elevated and physically and aesthetically separate. There isn't a dome either, but the ceiling's rising outlines provide a subtle allusion to one.

The prayer hall itself is a dramatic yet contemplative space, natural light floods down the Qiblah which is a curved wall of boardmarked concrete laid in the direction of falling light. Its contrast with the rugged stone walls and landscape signals its special nature. The Mihrab is a simple niche within this wall flanked by a minbar with semi-circular stone steps leading up to it. The care taken with a restrained palette of natural materials and straight forward detailing is welcome.

It is testament to the success of the project that people travel from Istanbul to the mosque and many are now proud of how special it is. This is particularly impressive in a climate where most new mosques are built in the Ottoman style. A groundbreaking scheme.