The Perception of the Grandeur of Mosque Architecture: A Barthesian Semiotic Analysis of Traditional and Modern Mosques in Pidie, Aceh

A comparative study on grandeur perception in mosque architecture in Aceh, specifically between historic and modern buildings through a semiotic approach, has not previously been conducted. This study aims to identify and compare the architectural and non-architectural elements that constitute the perception of grandeur in Masjid Po Teumeureuhom (17th century) and Masjid Raya Pidie-Labui (1984), using Roland Barthes’ semiotic approach. The research question posed is: how is the perception of grandeur formed in traditional and modern mosques in Pidie through architectural composition analysis and Barthes’ two-order semiotic model? A qualitative descriptive-comparative study was conducted through three procedures: 1. Facade composition analysis based on five architectural composition principles (scale, balance, proportion, harmony, and contrast); 2. Barthesian two-order semiotic reading (denotation, connotation, myth) applied to nine facade elements; and 3. In-depth interviews with 8 informants, consisting of 3 key informants (mosque leaders and local historical sources) and 5 participant informants (congregants and visitors). Data triangulation was performed between physical observation, semiotic readings, and informant narratives. Results show that Masjid Po Teumeureuhom achieved grandeur in 7 of 9 compositional elements studied, whereas Masjid Raya Pidie-Labui achieved grandeur in only 3 elements, with its primary weakness being the inconsistency of style adoption that obscures architectural identity. These findings imply that architectural grandeur in mosques is not solely determined by building size, but by the consistency of meaning, integrity of cultural identity, and historical depth embedded in each architectural element.