Investigating Sacred Architectural Values of Traditional Mosques Based on the Improvement of Spiritual Design Quality in the Architecture of Modern Mosques (Case Study: Traditional Mosques in Iran)

In the history of Iranian architecture, mosques have always been the apex of Islamic art and architecture. The architecture of mosques seeks inspiration from the concepts of divine words to provide a space connecting the heavens and the material world and create a single spiritual environment. It is so important to identify the transcendental values of the past and choose the most essential values for considering the criteria adapted to the time and local conditions of today’s society. Seeking an applied purpose, this had used a qualitative and quantitative approach based on descriptive-survey research methodology. To this end, 16 valuable mosques of the traditional Iranian-Islamic architecture were initially investigated and their values and indicators were identified and confirmed by 8 experts to achieve architectural transcendence. The statistical population included architecture students of all technical faculties throughout Iran. 5 universities were selected through random cluster sampling and the sample size was 190 people; hence, 175 questionnaires were approved by eliminating the incomplete questionnaires. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed in terms of content validity through a survey of experts and scholars and tests (calculation of the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the whole questionnaire and factors). At the end of the study, 50 questionnaires were distributed among faculty members of 4 state universities in Iran as the control sample and the results of both statistical populations were analyzed. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software and the results of hypotheses and strategies were presented both descriptively and inferentially at the end of the research. According to the studies, 4 indicators were prioritized as spiritual aesthetics, environment, facilities and regularity, with each having other sub-indicators in priority order.