A Methodological Approach To the Investigation of Regional Variations in Artuqid Islamic Architecture

Abstract

Anatolia is a geographical area characterized by various architectural styles from different civilizations and offers a rich historical and cultural heritage in terms of Islamic architecture. This study aims to examine the spatial features of the Harput, Silvan, and K & imath;z & imath;ltepe Great Mosques built during the Artuqid period and determine the effects of regional differences on the architectural features. The study discusses the historical and architectural characteristics of mosques and adopts a method of analysis based on Kevin Lynch's urban images of paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks. With this method, the plan diagrams, spatial organizations, and facades of the mosques were typologically compared, and their relationships with regional variations were examined. The results reveal that the mihrab dome and the harim plan scheme are significant in the key design decisions in the spatial configuration of the three mosques. However, different architectural approaches, such as the porticoes and interior walls, were developed depending on regional requirements and functions. The study emphasizes the importance of these mosques in Islamic history and provides a framework for examining the relationship between the monumental structures and urban images by using the proposed methodology.