Material Transformation Analysis of Mosques in Herat Old City, Afghanistan

This study aimed to find out the distribution, destructions, developments, transformations, and processes of changes of mosques after WWII in Herat Old City, which is a medieval city still preserved and standing. One hundred and eight mosques were constructed, 2 of them were demolished, and 106 still exist. Twenty-eight are modern mosques, and 80 are traditional. Twenty-two out of 80 are preserved, 56 have been transformed, and 2 were damaged, or demolished. Modern mosques are mainly located in the second and fourth quarters, while traditional mosques are distributed in all four quarters. The transformation started in the 1950s after WWII, continued in the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s, and has occurred in all four quarters, slightly higher in the second and fourth quarters. Through a field survey, data were collected, findings were combined, unified, and plotted on the map, and the mosques were categorized based on building material.