Acoustical problems in mosques: A case study on the three mosques in Istanbul

Abstract

Although worshiping places of different great religions, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, have in general similar acoustical requirements, they still have authentic needs. In acoustical literature, there are many works on church acoustics whereas almost none on mosque acoustics. This fact is one of the main reasons for the neglect of acoustics in the newly built mosques. In mosque designs, where it is very difficult to avoid classical forms, traditional mosque types are repeated rather frequently. However, in this repetition, acoustics is often neglected and the result is acoustically poor mosques. The aim of this work is the acoustical assessment of ancient mosques for the development of ‘‘acoustical criteria in mosque design.’’ In this paper, three mosques, built in the Ottoman Empire period, in Istanbul, are evaluated from an acoustical point of view. Effects of the changes on the noise climate are shown and room acoustics is examined. Attempts were made to constitute basic principles of acoustical comfort conditions in mosques.