Spatial Configuration and the Islamic Philosophy in Isfahan Madrassah-Mosques (Case studies: Aqanur, Sheykh-Lotf Allah and Imam Mosques)

Mosques in the history of Islamic civilization are prominent and integral components of Islamic architecture and focal points in Muslim cities. The same is true about Iran that renders them as significant urban landmarks and important spatial linkage elements of the city. In order to find out the significance of Islamic philosophy in Architecture and urban planning, it suffices to look at the constructional elements of Mosque and its spatial configuration and formal composition. In this study, the formal composition and shape grammar of mosque spaces in Isfahan are scrutinized. The main hypothesis of this study is the meaningful correlation of spatial logic and Islamic philosophy in these mosques. The research benefits from combined research strategy from field studies to computer simulation and space syntax for comparative analysis. The findings confirm the fact that spatial permeability, configuration and placement and the spatial depth of mosques have a direct relationship with the concepts Islamic thought and philosophy. The space syntax analysis were juxtaposed with the spatial quality data and ultimately compared with the Islamic philosophy doctrines in order to provide multi-level meanings of spatial configuration in the selected case studies. Spatial hierarchy and the change and continuity in spatial qualities found to have a strong association with the transcendental Islamic thought and philosophy.