SMF - Just Installed!
Posted by Mudhab
- Mar 08, 2026, 02:38 PMThe Sakirin Mosque attracted global attention when it was opened in Istanbul. The mosque became famous not only for its beautiful design but also because it was designed by a woman, Zeynep Fadillioglu. For her, the project was the result of many years of learning, research, and rediscovering the artistic heritage of her homeland.
Zeynep's journey toward this achievement started in London where she studied History of Art and Design at the Inchbald School of Design. During her studies, a professor asked her an important question that changed her thinking: why she was looking for inspiration in Western designs instead of exploring the rich artistic traditions of her own culture.
That question deeply affected her. She began to study the history, art, and craftsmanship of her own country. When she visited museums and saw beautiful carpets, tiles, and traditional artworks, she was amazed to discover that many of them came from Turkey. This discovery helped her appreciate the beauty and depth of her cultural heritage.
Zeynep later described this moment as a powerful turning point in her life. It allowed her to see the art and history of her homeland with new understanding. From that time, Turkish and Islamic artistic traditions became the foundation of her design philosophy and guided many of her future projects.
Years later, after receiving the prestigious Andrew Martin International Designer of the Year Award, she was offered a historic opportunity. She was invited to design the Sakirin Mosque located in the large Karacaahmet Cemetery. With this project, she became the first woman to design a mosque, making history in the field of Islamic architecture.
Since then, Zeynep has designed many mosques in countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Germany, Kazakhstan, and the United Arab Emirates. Over nearly forty years, she has completed more than 500 projects with a creative team of architects, artists, designers, and craftsmen. In a recent interview with TRT World, she discussed the inspirations behind her work, including her latest project, the The Pearl Mosque in Doha, which was inspired by late Ottoman architecture and the famous Ortakoy Mosque.
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Zeynep's journey toward this achievement started in London where she studied History of Art and Design at the Inchbald School of Design. During her studies, a professor asked her an important question that changed her thinking: why she was looking for inspiration in Western designs instead of exploring the rich artistic traditions of her own culture.
That question deeply affected her. She began to study the history, art, and craftsmanship of her own country. When she visited museums and saw beautiful carpets, tiles, and traditional artworks, she was amazed to discover that many of them came from Turkey. This discovery helped her appreciate the beauty and depth of her cultural heritage.
Zeynep later described this moment as a powerful turning point in her life. It allowed her to see the art and history of her homeland with new understanding. From that time, Turkish and Islamic artistic traditions became the foundation of her design philosophy and guided many of her future projects.
Years later, after receiving the prestigious Andrew Martin International Designer of the Year Award, she was offered a historic opportunity. She was invited to design the Sakirin Mosque located in the large Karacaahmet Cemetery. With this project, she became the first woman to design a mosque, making history in the field of Islamic architecture.
Since then, Zeynep has designed many mosques in countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Germany, Kazakhstan, and the United Arab Emirates. Over nearly forty years, she has completed more than 500 projects with a creative team of architects, artists, designers, and craftsmen. In a recent interview with TRT World, she discussed the inspirations behind her work, including her latest project, the The Pearl Mosque in Doha, which was inspired by late Ottoman architecture and the famous Ortakoy Mosque.
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