SPACE June 2025 (No. 691)
©Thomas Mayer
©Thomas Mayer
Sancaklar Mosque located in Büyükçekmece, a suburban neighbourhood in the outskirts of Istanbul, aims to address the issues faced when designing a mosque by distancing itself from current architectural discussions on form and placing its focus solely on the essence of religious space. The project site is located in a prairie landscape that is separated from the surrounding suburban gated communities by a busy street. 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 via a path leading from the upper courtyard through the park. The building blends in 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 is a dramatic and awe-inspiring place to pray and be alone with God. The slits and fractures along the qiblah wall enhance the directionality of the prayer space and allow daylight to filter into the prayer hall. The project constantly plays off of the tensions between the 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 six metres to form the canopy helps enhance this dual relationship.
©Thomas Mayer
©Cemal Emden
*You can see more information on the SPACE No. June (2025).
Emre Arolat is the design partner of EAA (Emre Arolat Architecture), founded with Gonca Paşolar. Engaged in a wide range of projects, from urban master plans and airports, to residential and cultural buildings, and workplaces, EAA has become an internationally recognised practice with offices London and Istanbul. EAA received international attention early on with the Minicity Theme Park (2004), which was selected by the Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture in 2005. Many international awards have followed, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2010 for the Ipekyol Textile Factory (2006) in Edirne. EAA’s work has been shown in exhibitions at renowned institutions including the Design Museum, The Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in London, and were presented at the International Architecture Exhibition in Venice Biennale 2012 and 2016. Arolat was the co-curator of the first Istanbul Design Biennale in 2012. He served on the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Master Jury in 2016 and subsequently appointed to the Steering Committee for the 13th and 14th Award Cycle. He was awarded a professorship by the International Academy of Architecture, Sofia. Emre Arolat teaches and lectures widely. He recently taught advanced studio at the Yale School of Architecture as Norman R. Foster visiting professor and a master studio at The Berlage Institute in Delft. He was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in February 2019, for his significant contribution to architecture and society.
