Sancaklar Mosque: Buyuk Cekmece, Turkey

Sancaklar Mosque, Turkish Religious Building, Buyuk Cekmece Architecture, Design Image

Sancaklar Mosque Building

Mosque Building, Buyuk Cekmece design by EAA-Emre Arolat Architects, Turkey

10 May 2018

Award for Sancaklar Mosque Building

RIBA Awards for International Excellence 2018

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the winners of the RIBA Awards for International Excellence and the 2018 RIBA International Emerging Architect, including Sancaklar Mosque by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture, Turkey.

Sancaklar Moschee
photo © Thomas Mayer

RIBA Awards for International Excellence 2018

RIBA International Awards 2016 Longlist – 10 May 2016

7 + 4 Oct 2013

Sancaklar Mosque

WAF Awards 2013 Completed Building Religion winner

Sancaklar Mosque Building
photo from architects

Sancaklar Mosque Building
photo from architects

World Architecture Festival Awards

10 Jan 2012

Sancaklar Mosque, Buyuk Cekmece

Design: EAA-Emre Arolat Architects

Location: Buyuk Cekmece, Istanbul, western Turkey

Sancaklar Mosque located in Buyuk Cekmece, a suburban neighborhood in the outskirts of Istanbul, 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.

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The project site is located in a prairie 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 depict a clear boundary between the chaotic outer world and the serene atmosphere of the public park.

The 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.

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 Qiblah wall enhances the directionality of the prayer space and allows daylight to filter into the prayer hall.

The project constantly plays off of the tension between man-made and natural. The contrast between the natural stone stairs following the natural slope of the landscape and the thin reinforced concrete slab spanning over 6 meters to form the canopy helps enhance this dual relationship.

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Sancaklar Mosque Buyuk Cekmece – Building Information

Title: Sancaklar Mosque
architectural project: Emre Arolat
responsible architect: (concept-preliminary project) ; Leyla Kori
(construction project) ; Uygar Yüksel, Oya Eskin Güvendi
team: Nil Aynalı, Taha Alkan, Ünal Ali Özger (preliminary project)
location: Büyükçekmece, İstanbul
project date: 2011
construction date: –
built area: 1050 m2

client: Sancaklar Vakfı
structural project: Balkar Mühendislik
mechanical project: Setta Mühendislik
electrical project: HB TEknik
lighting project : Studio Lighting Design

Sancaklar Mosque images / information from EAA-Emre Arolat Architects

EAA-Emre Arolat

Location: Buyuk Cekmece, Istanbul, western Turkey
Mosque Buildings

Also by EAA-Emre Arolat Architects in Turkey

Santral Istanbul Contemporary Art Museum, Istanbul
EAA-Emre Arolat Architects / Nevzat Sayn (NSMH)
Santral Istanbul Contemporary Art Museum

Ipekyol Textile Factory, Edirne
Turkish Textile Factory building : World Architecture Festival Awards 2008 Finalist

Turkish Architecture – Selection

Izmir Transportation Hub, Izmir, Aegean Coast, Western Turkey
Design: Eray Carbajo
Izmir Transportation Hub in Western Turkey
image courtesy of architects
Izmir Transportation Hub in Western Turkey

Narlidere House, Izmir, Aegean Coast, Western Turkey
Design: Boran Ekinci Architects
Narlidere House Izmir
photograph : Cemal Emden
Narlidere House, Izmir

Comments / photos for the Sancaklar MosqueNew Turkish Religious Architecture page welcome