Layered Semiotic Analysis of Al-Ghadir Mosque in Tehran

Abstract

In contemporary architectural discourse, semiotics has emerged as a critical method for interpreting the identity, symbolism, and communicative capacity of built environments. Architecture is increasingly understood not only as a physical structure but also as a layered system of signs that reflect cultural, historical, and metaphysical meanings. This study analyzes the Al-Ghadir Mosque in Tehran through the lens of layered semiotics, focusing on three key dimensions: physical structure, functional configuration, and symbolic representation. The mosque, constructed during the late Pahlavi era, is a unique example of postmodern religious architecture that integrates traditional Iranian-Islamic forms with modernist principles. Using a qualitative approach based on field observations, documentary research, and grounded theory, this research identifies multiple semiotic layers embedded in the mosque’s spatial hierarchy, geometry, materials, and symbolic elements such as light, water, and ornamentation. The findings reveal that the architectural meaning of the mosque is not confined to a single visual or formal aspect but is distributed across interconnected layers that require interpretation. The design creates a spiritual and cultural narrative through the interplay of explicit forms and implicit meanings. This research contributes to the understanding of how architectural semiotics can decode the communicative power of sacred spaces and provides a conceptual framework that may inform future mosque design rooted in both tradition and contemporary interpretation.