“A place of prayer can simply be any place that was clean.” This concept redefines our understanding as we approach the Bosna Sancak Cami.
This mosque isn’t adorned with gilded domes. It lacks the balconied minarets common in Turkey. Instead, the Bosna Sancak Cami offers a unique interpretation of sacred space.
The Sancaklar family commissioned this privately owned mosque. It is roughly an hour’s drive from Istanbul. Architect Emre Arolat sought to move away from traditional mosque designs. He focused on light shadow and aura.
Arolat drew inspiration from Islamic architecture. Yet he avoided conventional elements like cupolas. He aimed to capture the essence of Islamic spaces. He wanted to use indirect light and shadow to evoke feeling.
The architect found inspiration in Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn. They understood the fluidity of space evident in Islamic architecture. Arolat discovered that a mosque could be any clean place.
The symbolic minaret was a concession to the Sancak family. Arolat had hoped a tree could serve as a marker. The Bosna Sancak Cami blends into the landscape.
You walk down slate steps embedded in a grassy hill. This leads to a courtyard. The courtyard screens the view. A concrete canopy shields visitors. A slate wall adds texture. A narrow pavilion houses a teahouse and library. It sits by a reflective pool. The effect is reminiscent of Arolat’s villas in Bodrum.
The ablution space evokes Peter Zumthor’s baths in Vals. Entering the Bosna Sancak Cami feels like entering a contemplative chamber.
Arolat drew inspiration from the cave at Mount Hira. It is where Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations. The carpeted space is lit by daylight. Light streams down the concrete Qibla wall. The ceiling echoes the site’s contour lines. A black glass wall reflects worshippers.
The imam addresses the congregation from a minbar. This is a raised platform. Skylights illuminate the niche in the wall.
Unlike conventional mosques, men and women pray together. They are separated by a perforated screen. The women’s section is raised. This allows them to see the imam. Arolat calls this “positive segregation”.
Arolat built an iconoclastic mosque. It challenges traditional Islamic architecture. It creates a progressive worship place.
The Bosna Sancak Cami received recognition in the RIBA Awards for International Excellence 2018. It was named one of the 20 best new structures worldwide. The award recognized its architectural significance.
The Bosna Sancak Cami is more than just a building. It’s an experience. It invites contemplation. It redefines sacred space through innovative design.