Spatial Configuration Transformation and Physical–Functional Resilience in Traditional and Contemporary Mosques: A Comparative Space Syntax Study of Iran and Qatar

Abstract

This paper investigates how spatial configuration influences physical–functional resilience in mosque architecture through a comparative analysis of traditional and contemporary mosques in Iran and Qatar. While mosque typologies have been widely studied, limited research examines the relationship between spatial layout and resilience across different cultural contexts. Drawing on space syntax theory, one traditional and one contemporary mosque from each country were analysed using Depthmap software through axial and visual graph analyses. Key syntactic indices (integration, control, choice, depth, and connectivity) were used to evaluate spatial performance. Findings reveal that traditional Iranian mosques exhibit hierarchical depth and strong spatial control, supporting configurational resilience through morphological redundancy, while contemporary examples demonstrate increased network complexity and adaptability. In contrast, Qatari mosques, organized through radial and centralized layouts with limited depth, show high spatial transparency and strong integration but reduced substitution capacity. The study suggests integrating hierarchical depth with distributed networks to enhance adaptability in contemporary mosque design.