Determining the Criteria Related to the Preference of Contemporary Mosques by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method within the Context of User-centered Design

Abstract

The concept of user-centered design has recently been accepted in contemporary design teachings and has created new perspectives in the design field. This article aims to evaluate the contemporary mosques built in Türkiye from a user-centered perspective. In this context, first of all, the concept of user-centered design was included and the necessity of a pluralistic environment in decision-making processes was emphasized in order to create an ideal publicity phenomenon. In the context of the conceptual framework created, contemporary mosque examples built in the 21st century were selected and presented to the preference of architect and non-architect participant groups. Decision criteria that are thought to affect the choice of participants are aesthetic value, material and workmanship, dimensions of the building, religious symbols in the building, and the brand value of the building. These factors, which may be effective in the choice of contemporary mosques, were evaluated with the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. Accordingly, it was observed that the main criteria constituting the contemporary mosque preferences of the architect group were aesthetics, the brand value of the building, material, and workmanship criteria. On the other hand, the main criterion constituting the contemporary mosque preferences of the non-architect group was the presence of religious symbols. Accordingly, it was observed that architectural profession ideologies affected and differentiated the reasons for preference. As a result, it was concluded that the ideology of the architectural profession is effective in the construction process of the contemporary built environment.