Influence of Spatial Morphology on Acoustical Performance in Mosque Prayer Halls: A Comparative Simulation Study

Shalaw Hamad

doi:10.23918/eajse.v12i1p5

Authors

Shalaw Hamad Architecture Engineering Department, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8808-2650

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23918/eajse.v12i1p5

Keywords:

Mosque Acoustic Performance, Reverberation Time, Mosque Geometry, Spatial Morphology, Computational Modeling, Acoustic Simulation, Speech Intelligibility

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of spatial morphology on the acoustic performance of mosque prayer halls through a comparative simulation-based analysis of five contemporary mosque typologies in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Acoustic performance was evaluated under full-occupancy conditions using geometric ray-tracing and particle-based simulations. Reverberation time (RT₆₀), sound distribution patterns, and sound-focusing behavior were assessed using the Sabine, Norris–Eyring, and Millington–Sette models. The findings demonstrate that acoustic performance is strongly influenced by architectural geometry. Prayer halls characterized by large continuous interior volumes and dominant central domes were associated with excessive reverberation, low-frequency sound accumulation, and localized sound-focusing effects. In contrast, layouts incorporating distributed dome systems and greater structural articulation exhibited more balanced sound distribution and improved reverberation control. The results further indicate that under identical material and occupancy conditions spatial morphology plays a critical role in shaping acoustic conditions. This study highlights the importance of integrating acoustic considerations during the early stages of mosque design and suggests that architectural form should be treated as a primary acoustic design parameter rather than relying solely on post-construction acoustic treatments. Future studies should prioritize empirical field measurements to further validate these computational models across a broader range of architectural typologies.

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