Structural and Spatial Analysis of the Mosques of the Architect Sinan with Hexagonal and Octagonal Baldachin Systems

Alev Erarslan

doi:10.7596/taksad.v10i3.3080

Abstract

The master architect of the Ottoman era, Architect Sinan, created and left behind a wide range of structural typologies. The most numerous of Sinan’s works were his mosques. The features defining the layout plan of Sinan’s mosques are the central domed baldachin and the characteristics of the structure on which the baldachin rests. Sinan made use of multiple support systems of sometimes four, six or eight elements in his system of dome structures, planning the layouts of his mosques around the framework of these systems. Sinan handled each of his domed and multiple pillar-supported central baldachin in different ways in terms of both the foundation of the baldachin and of the side galleries, creating in this group of structures a “Sinan style.” This paper is an attempt to make a comparative analysis of the organization of the domed central baldachin constituting the main space of the mosques of Architect Sinan, which is part of a hexagonal and octagonal baldachin system with multiple supports forming the central nucleus of the mosque, and of the side galleries, addressing the relationships between baldachin, structures, dome and galleries.

Highlights

The Ottomans’ Master Architect Sinan produced a wide range of works in a variety of typologies that included mosques, hammams or bath-houses, madrasahs, masjids (prayer rooms), caravanserais, darüşşifa (hospitals), imarets, tabhane (guest houses), darülkurra (Koranic schools), and sıbyan mektebi (primary schools), leaving behind an expansive legacy
The Ottomans’ Master Architect Sinan produced a wide range of works in a variety of typologies that included mosques, hammams or bath-houses, madrasahs, masjids, caravanserais, darüşşifa, imarets, tabhane, darülkurra (Koranic schools), and sıbyan mektebi, leaving behind an expansive legacy
The structural features the renowned architect of the Ottoman Empire Sinan used in his central domed baldachin motif determined the construct of the plan of the mosque

Summary

Introduction

The Ottomans’ Master Architect Sinan produced a wide range of works in a variety of typologies that included mosques, hammams or bath-houses, madrasahs, masjids (prayer rooms), caravanserais, darüşşifa (hospitals), imarets, tabhane (guest houses), darülkurra (Koranic schools), and sıbyan mektebi (primary schools), leaving behind an expansive legacy. A Comparative Analysis of the Relationships Between Supporting Systems, Dome, Main Space and Side Gallery The main schematic and spatial archetypes Great Sinan used in his hexagonal and octagonal baldachin system mosques were the loadbearing system making up the main structure, the main loadbearing structural elements where the domed central baldachin rested (pillars, columns, piers, massive piers, wall piers), the buttresses that lessened the weight on the main loadbearing elements, the arches, exedra and semi-domes that made up the dome-supporting systems, and the tromps (squinches), similar curvilinear elements that provided the transition from the main dome, and the side galleries (mahfil).

Results

Conclusion