Ali Dorri, Qolamreza Talischi, Fatemeh Jabaran,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (summer-2018 2018)
Abstract
Understanding Islamic architecture requires perception and receiving space, and the space of Islamic architecture contains meanings that can not be understood only by the senses. Space, as the most basic concept of architecture, is always conceived in a specific definite, which is received through sensory perception, so it has a certain limit, and finite. On the other hand, mosques are the most important building of the Islamic era, where Muslims gather together for prayer and contain symbols and meanings. Which must be discovered through rational perception and through revelation. In this way, the concept of space in Islamic architecture, especially the architecture of mosques, is a fundamental issue. understanding and obtaining the meaning of space is the result of the twofold confrontation between perception. In order to explain such a challenge, this article is devoted to explaining the finite and infinite of the spatial structure of Iranian mosques during the Safavid period. Therefore, this study uses a qualitative approach in the form of a case study with field observations and library documents to explain, analyze and obtain the structure of space in Safavid period mosques as one of the golden architectural periods of Iran. Imam Mosque of Isfahan, as an example of mosques with courtyard and porch, and Sheikh Lotfollah mosque, a case of mosques lacking these elements were selected from the Safavid era. The findings of this study indicate that space is received variously in Iran's architectures. So that, space, in terms of perceptual perception, is finite. This finite and the physicalization of space result from the perception of the bound via the five senses. In proportion to the small world, the object surround the space. From this perspective, in addition to focusing on dynamism, the bound contains centering, space breaks, plurality and multi-spacing. But beyond that, in Islamic architecture, there is a rational perception that leads to obtaining the meaning. In this perception, the bound does not constrain Iranian and Muslim people. The bound and space get together, space is unlimited and unlimited. The infinity of space in Islamic architecture is proportional to the great world. In this revelation, the Islamic space means the presence of one and the only divine. In fact, in the rational and intuitive perception, space is unit, discreet, eternal and infinite. But in sensory perception, space is finite, inward, small, and multiplicity.
