The thesis is devoted to integrated research of the formation of architecture of religious schools of five denominations (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish), the definition of the scientific principles of their architectural and space planning design. The research identifies the prerequisites for the development of religious schools, as well as the latest design trends. The development stages of the religious schools on the territory of modern Ukraine were examined; the trends in evolution in architecture of the religious schools were identified from the point of scholarly knowledge, as well expertise of related industries. A new type of building was introduced in the theory and practice of architectural design - religious educational complex as an independent object of architectural design, based on generalization of domestic and international experience of development and construction of places of worship and religious schools. Internal and external factors influencing the formation of the research object were defined. The basic approaches for harmonizing the architectural environment of religious schools were found. One of the main research methods-full scale survey-allowed to identify the problems of operating institutions and to popose the methodological approaches to modernize the existing network of religious schools. A hierarchical structure for the network of religious educational institutions was suggested: national, regional, municipal, district, local ("close proximity"). The classification of the religious schools on several grounds was developed. A typology of religious schools was proposed and a new modern and comprehensive type-spiritual training complex-was scientifically proven for Christian, Muslim and Jewish denominations based on a synthesis of experience in design and construction and contemporary requirements to educational institutions. The functional structure and functional relations between the religious schools were substantiated. A composition of the buildings was proposed. The basic techniques of functional and space planning design of the building for religious schools-such as compact, block, pavilion, mixed-were identified. The regularities and common features of the solutions for internal space of the sacred core of religious educational institutions and complexes to the Christian, Muslim and Jewish denominations were defined from the point of religious canons. Scientific principles for architectural and space planning design of religious schools were formulated, among which "religious harmony of morphology", "versatility of specialized units", "the triunity of functional space", "creation of religiously tolerant environment", "complexity", "aggregation", "technical mastery", "reorganizational capacity of the network". The ways of improving the design techniques based on environmental, parametric and graphic and analytical methods were offered; recommendations related to determining the parameters of the basic facilities of religious educational institutions were provided.
