Muthanna Journal of Engineering and Technology
Volume (14), Issue (4), Year (2026), Pages (142-155)
DOI:10.52113/3/eng/mjet/2026-14-04-/142-155
Research Article By:
Asmaa H. Al-Dabbagh
Corresponding author E-mail: asma.dabbagh@uomosul.edu.iq
ABSTRACT
Perspectives on the interpretation paradigms to architecture vary significantly, which is reflected in defining the nature of meaning and its alignments or contradictions within its diverse contexts. This variation can lead to the failure of certain designs and a separation from their recipients, a situation that has occurred, partly, with the new design of the Al-Nouri mosque in Mosul. This event served as a research topic to uncover the nature of the interpretation paradigm, its relationship with the intellectual stances of the recipients, and how these stances influence the position toward heritage preservation in similar cases.
The research aims to define interpretation paradigms and their relationship with both the interpreter and the designer. It also seeks to identify their aspects, indicators, and variables to enable their detection within critical texts and interpreters’ opinions through a more reliable, systematic, and highly replicable method. Based on the hypothesis that the interpretation paradigm adopted by experts was influenced by their position toward heritage interpretation.
The methodology relies on applying these indicators and variables to the case of the Al-Nouri mosque in Mosul. This is achieved by conducting a survey targeting academic experts to uncover interpretive evidence, followed by analyzing the results using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The results confirm that the paradigm of interpretation (adopted by experts in the practical study) is the structuralism based on coherent interpretations, where the literal definition was the most acceptable to them, and this relates to designing according to familiar conventional template, also considering mosque reconstruction as a national matter that must be formally unique within its context. It also implies similarity to previous buildings through the geometric shapes of the mosque’s main elements. Furthermore, considering it a national icon that evokes historical memory to preserve identity means the issue is falls within the realm of religiously symbolic matters, which justified the exclusion of post-structuralist and hybrid paradigms from the results.
The knowledge contribution is demonstrated in identifying indicators and variables that can be applied to analyze critical texts, or to conduct similar exploratory or empirical studies. This establishes a design approach to achieve the design objectives sought by the designer, the recipient, or the interpreters.
These discovered relationships define a design approach through which similar reconstruction projects can be programmed. Furthermore, the study recommends adopting alternative paradigms for the reconstruction of non-historic buildings, allowing for creative design proposals that support multiple/ open interpretation.
Keywords: Interpretation paradigms, Mosque Architecture, Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Hybrid Paradigm, Al-Nouri Mosque