Speaker
Description
The historical Ottoman mosques continue to exert a significant influence on mosque architecture in Algeria, even in the late 20th century. Within this framework, a novel interpretation of classic Ottoman mosques has contributed to the architectural landscape of Algerian cities. However, the primary question remains: do these models affect (and replicate) the acoustic conditions in the prayer hall, or is their influence limited to the shape? This study aims to address this question by conducting a comparative analysis of two contemporary mosques in Algeria inspired by the Ottoman style. The first is more conservative and is located in the city of Boussaâda, in the south of Algeria. It was constructed by the initiative of the local population. The second is situated in the north of Algeria, specifically in Oran. It was donated by the government of Turkey and represents a new interpretation of Ottoman heritage. The study method is based on in-situ measurements to assess the primary acoustical parameters complying with current ISO standards. Results show that in both cases very long reverberation time is measured, resulting in poor clarity and speech intelligibility. Comparison with historical ottoman mosques of comparable volume shows that contemporary buildings are more reverberant, suggesting the need for improved acoustics control.