Representation of Religious Edifices in Design Magazines: A Discourse-Historic Approach

Religion was once one of the primary drives behind the greatest architectural works, and religious principles undergirded architectural designs and aims. In an increasingly secular era, however, the place and values of religious architecture are changing, but it is unclear how. This study relies on a method of critical discourse analysis known as discourse-historic approach (DHA) to examine how five Western architecture and design magazines use language to construct contemporary understandings of the design of Abrahamic religious buildings. By investigating three interconnected dimensions of DHA, the article (1) describes thematic quantitative trends in the coverage of churches, mosques, and synagogues and (2) uncovers biases in narratives constructing these buildings in a major source of information for designers and architects. Findings indicate that design magazines largely portray religious architecture as sculptural and symbolic, emphasizing form, materiality, and aesthetics while neglecting function, community use, and designers’ roles. This narrow focus overlooks how such spaces serve contemporary social needs like sustainability, neurodiversity, and community well-being. The analysis critiques the lack of critical discussion on performance, context, and social relevance, arguing that current portrayals promote untested opinions driven by commercialization and awards culture. In addition, Christian spaces are overrepresented, while mosques and synagogues are treated generically, reflecting geographic and cultural bias. The findings call for a shift to a human-centered, community-focused approach in design media, one that better aligns with industry trends and promotes architecture’s potential to address pressing social and environmental issues.