Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

The concept of schema, originating in psychology, has been widely applied across disciplines, including architecture, where studies demonstrate its critical role in design success. However, psychological theories alone fail to fully explain the depth of mental schemas evident in Islamic architecture, necessitating an epistemological examination through Islamic philosophy. This research employs Mullah Sadra’s philosophical framework to investigate architects’ mental schemas, addressing three key questions: (1) Which aspects of psychological schema theory align or conflict with Sadra’s epistemology? (2) What philosophical principles of Sadra’s system are overlooked in schema theory? (3) How can architects’ mental schemas be redefined more comprehensively?
As a foundational study, this research adopts a comparative methodology, analyzing psychological theories of schema alongside Sadra’s epistemology through library-based research and logical reasoning. The comparison reveals both convergences and divergences between the two perspectives. Shared elements include the subject-object relationship, hierarchical expansion of perception, and the role of schema as descriptive and procedural knowledge. However, Sadra’s philosophy introduces critical dimensions absent in psychological schema theory, such as the epistemic role of intuitive cognition (heart-based perception), the dynamic progression of knowledge through “essential movement” (al-haraka al-jawhariyya), and the teleological orientation of cognition toward the Supreme Truth. These distinctions carry significant implications for architectural practice. Architects must recognize the levels of existence in perception, allowing their schemas to evolve through ascending stages of cognition. During design, intuitive perception enables the discovery of meaning, which is then materialized through architectural form. Consequently, this study redefines architects’ mental schemas as intuitive-mental constructs rooted in the connection between the architect and multiple existential realms. These schemas embody both descriptive knowledge (interpretations derived from the soul’s ascending journey toward unity) and procedural knowledge (the descent of meaning into physical form). By integrating Sadra’s epistemology, architects can cultivate richer schemas, bridging transcendent understanding with tangible creation. This research not only expands schema theory philosophically but also provides a framework for enhancing architectural design through epistemological depth, emphasizing the synthesis of intuition, existential awareness, and material execution.