Turkey's first mosque designed by a woman was opened in Istanbul yesterday. Here are a lot of photos.
Firstly, I must clarify something: Zeynep Fadillioglu, a femail designer, has designed the interior of Sakirin Mosque, which is inside the Karacaahmet Cemetery on the Asian side of the city. The architect of the mosque is Husrev Tayla, a male expert.
Some found this mosque Orientalist, but I agree with Mustafa Cagrici, the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, who stated that this mosque is "both modern and respectful of Turkish culture."
As an enthusiast of old Ottoman mosques, I liked Sakirin Mosque in general.
What I liked:
* The dome and the minarets
* The garden and the fountain
* Some decorative details, like the dripping chandellier.
What I didn't like:
* The post-modern design of the the crescent-shaped mihrab on the quibla wall, as well as its color. Blue disturblingly contradicts with the red ceiling.
* Lack of ceiling and wall ornaments, like we see in Sultanahmet Mosque, where Pope Benedict XVI and Obama had also visited.
Even though I can sympatize with the feminist joy, I still believe that the architecture of the mosque overcome the class of the interior design. It could be better inside, but I'm happy to see that -whether perfectly or not- at least a woman did it; not another boring man...
12 yorum:
Although I am not religious, I thought this architect designed a very modern and eye-catching mosque.
Dripping chandeliers looked really amazing!
I am happy to see a female touch which is utterly needed. Female influence is necessary to balance the over flow of testosterone in the Muslim world.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures.
PS: Like Ardent, I am not a believer but that is beside the point.....
What about a 'female only' mosque... with a 'female' Imamess?
I can see many influences, I'm nto sure if she succeeded creating an ensemble that works, but I prefer it far more then other new mosques I have seen, especially the monstruousities that are being built in North West European cities.
I can see why it is said to be orientalist, but this is also a reflection of our time. I can see influences of the Dolmabahce Mosque, which graces the Istanbulian skyline with her noble silhouette.
Another thing: the mosque is like a cocoon, which I associate with fear, and is in discord with Turkish and Islamic culture.
But this is also a reflection of our time and I don't blame the architect.
interior or exterior, this thing looks so kitsch, and it`s ironic that the architech won`t be able to use the mosque along with men. Can someone point out what is so modern with this mosque?
Of course she'll be able to use the mosque (and she's not the architect -- who is a man -- but the designer). Women and men pray in different areas, but the mosque isn't men-only.
I don't know from "Orientalist", but I think this mosque is gorgeous.
na also-wurde auch zeit
When is the Muslim world going to wake up to the fact that women are individuals first. You catagorize this as "feminine" without ever defining what that means to you? Is this a cliche or what? Even women are allowed, just like men, to be mediocre. Not having seen this in person I can't judge. It is the 21st century shouldn't your architecture begin to reflect this?
@critic,
quote "Not having seen this in person I can't judge. It is the 21st century shouldn't your architecture begin to reflect this?"
if you haven't seen the building how do you it doesn't reflect the 21st Century?
correction,,
how do you KNOW it doesn't reflect
Whata a dream destination...
I was there...
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