Evaluation of Energy Performance of Monumental Mosque and Masjids of the Anatolian Seljuk Period: The Case of Konya

Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Anıtsal Cami ve Mescit Yapılarının Enerji Performansları

Abstract

Monumental mosques and masjids are valuable elements of cultural and religious architectural heritage. This heritage, which is of great importance in terms of Turkish-Islamic culture, needs to be documented and protected. Mosques and Masjids are characterized by use in certain time periods. It represents a central area where people gather for their daily and weekly prayers. It is also accepted as an educational, cultural, and social area for the activities of Muslims. They are used simultaneously in a specific region and time zone. This situation has an impact on the energy demand depending on the climatic regions during the heating and cooling periods of the building. It is important to provide the comfort conditions in the interior space in an energy-efficient method with the feeling of sacred prayer. Studies in this area are limited. In the literature, there is not enough research on the basic design and energy demands of mosques and masjids. In this respect, this study is a pioneering study and it is aimed to light on future studies. It is aimed to contribute to the studies the scope of energy efficiency and mosques, and to show the value of these structures in terms of energy efficiency and analyze the current energy needs of mosques and masjids, which are important elements of the monumental architectural heritage built centuries ago. In this respect, in this study, it is aimed to document the inventory of mosques and masjid structures built in Konya during the Seljuk Period and to investigate the structures in terms of energy efficiency. Konya province has been determined as the study area which is one of the important centers of Turkish-Islamic culture and art in Anatolia and has many monumental architectural works built during the historical process. In the study, Alaeddin Mosque, Erdemşah Masjid, and Şekerfüruş Masjid are handled. First of all, using the research technique in the literature, information about the Konya province and mosques and masjids built in the Seljuk period is collected. Photographs of the mosque and masjids were taken by drone, and their features were documented with photographs. The drawings in the electronic environment taken from the Konya Regional Directorate of Foundations are colored and their current situation based on on-site determinations and relations with their surrounding environment are processed on the drawings. In direction of the literature review, drawings and visuals, plan-section, facade components, construction technique, and material properties of traditional mosques are explained and typological analyzes are made. Energy models of the mosque and masjids are made using the DesignBuilder simulation program, and their heating-cooling and total energy loads are analyzed and findings are evaluated. The design parameters that affect the energy performance of a building are the location of the building, the distance between other buildings, the orientation, the form, the optical and thermophysical properties of the building, solar control, and the natural ventilation layout. Mosque and Masjid buildings have elements that affect their basic design such as qibla, qibla wall, mihrab, and minbar. In this respect, the orientation of the mosque structures is the qibla direction. The environment of a building and the distance between other buildings are the parameters that are important in terms of solar radiation gain and natural ventilation and therefore directly affect the energy load of a building. Analyzed buildings have the feature of a discrete layout. In terms of building form, the form of mosque and masjid buildings is square or rectangular, which is expected in a temperate-dry climate zone. At the same time, within the scope of energy efficiency, the volume of monumental mosques is an important factor. Analyzed mosque and masjids, especially the envelope design, wall thicknesses, facade openings and the size of the structures cause differences between the energy loads of the buildings. As a result, analyzed mosque and masjids energy loads are valuable and favorable. It can say that mosques and masjids, which are important elements of the monumental architectural heritage built during the Seljuk period, are energy-efficient structures in line with today’s energy needs, traditional design features, and construction techniques. In this respect, monumental mosques, which are important elements of cultural and religious heritage, are also important in terms of energy efficiency. In the study, the relationship between the periodic and design features of mosques and masjids and their energy loads is handled. This relationship will give inspiration to designers to design prayer halls places that will provide a sacred sense of worshipping and provide comfort conditions in the interior with minimum energy consumption.