A Comparative Research on Space of Women in Prayer Place Interiors of Celestial Religions: Cases from Istanbul

Abstract

Cross-cultural comparison has been used in architecture mostly to discuss the components ofculture, knowledge, and value systems, yet to date there is not a specific comparative study ongendered architecture in prayer places of celestial religions, namely Judaism, Christianity, andIslam. Hence, this study aims to reveal how attendance of women in prayer places with differentnational, historic, religious, and cultural characteristics shaped architectural space organizationand to assess potential similarities and differences of women’s section in prayer spaces of celestialreligions by examining literature survey, archival and historic research, including fieldobservations. In addition to general observations in building scale, some exemplary historicsynagogues, churches, and mosques in Istanbul still in use have been chosen as case studies, andtheir plan typologies, as well as types and locations of women’s galleries/sections have beendiscussed. Cross-cultural comparison parameters were; development of women’s section inprayer places as a structured architectural space and basic architectural terminologies used todefine women’s section. The major conclusion of the study is that originally women had right toworship in prayer spaces without any physical separation in all three religions, yet in time theplace of women had a more defined/divided/structured character especially in Islam and Judaism.The study also indicates that while at present day, gendered architecture is still the predominantapproach in Islam and in Orthodox Judaism; mix congregation in a single-unsegregated space forboth sexes is more common in contemporary society of Christianity.