Investigating the Structure of Traditional, Contemporary and Post-Islamic Revolution Mosques via the Method of Space Syntax (Case Study: Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, University of Tehran Mosque, Al-Ghadir Mosque, Shahrak-e Gharb Mosque)

In Islamic cities, mosques have a distinct place. The mosque has long been considered as an essential element of human society in many ways. This study aims to introduce some of the most successful attitudes of spatial communication in today’s mosque architecture scale by examining the architecture of traditional mosques. In space syntax approach, using the three indices of “connectivity”, “integration” and “depth”, the spatial characteristics of the samples are investigated; therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate and identify the spatial relationships in three traditional, contemporary and post-Islamic Revolution mosque architectures. The research methodology in the first part is descriptive-analytical and searching the related literature and in the second part via the pattern analysis and comparative comparison and the plan of four mosques in the three mentioned periods are analyzed, through the experimental method (space pattern analysis) in the software “Space Syntax”. The results show that central organization in the courtyard of Jameh Mosque of Isfahan with spatial communication pattern (space within one space)  is more in terms of communication compared to three mosques of Tehran University (complex/shared space between two spaces) and Shahrak-e Gharb (complex/overlapping space) and Al-Ghadir mosque (linear/adjacent Space) and compared with the placement of micro spaces in the organization of  Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, the connections in the courtyard is more than other spaces. Also, the interconnection of spaces in Jameh Mosque of Isfahan reflects the level of integration and availability. In terms of depth index in all four mosques, service spaces have the greatest depth and visibility compared to the main space of the mosque (courtyard/ entrance and dome). This quality is organized in the plan of all four mosques with different qualities.