Abstract
This study analyses development of pedentive dome plan unit design in Ottoman mosques built from 13th to 15th centuries (Early Ottoman Period). An expansion of new territories ruled under Ottoman Empire in Eastern Europe (Balkan Region) and Anatolia yields an influence of Turkish mosque style to the regional architecture. The Ottoman rulers had granted construction of many new mosques to cope with increasing number of the Muslim population. There are many studies about Ottoman mosque architecture done before but these studies fall short in terms of studying the development in plan unit design and its influence to the form of the mosques as a whole. This research aims to study evolution of the plan design to the extent to which it affects the plan layout. The study applies qualitative method of analysis. The survey has conducted over 51 mosques in this region, and it analyses possible variations of the evolution to the plan designs which are derived from pedentive dome mosque style. The study finds that there are six categories of the plan designs which are single dome plan, earring dome plan, multiple dome plan, duplication dome plan, courtyard dome plan and earring-courtyard dome plan. Primary domes, secondary domes and semi-domes are identified as the factors which influence variations of the plan units. Pedentive dome mosque architecture in this period is derived from six plan designs which typify development of the mosque architecture in Ottoman Empire.
Highlights
This study discusses development of mosque architecture in Balkan region with reference to pedentive dome design and its effects to the plan layout
Pedentive dome is an important element in a plan design of the Ottoman mosque architecture during 13th to 15th century
The design emphasis is not focussing to the dome but it is to the number of square plan units to determine dimension of the prayer halls
Summary
This study discusses development of mosque architecture in Balkan region with reference to pedentive dome design and its effects to the plan layout. The mosques are known as Cami in Turkish language, which mean mosques for congregational Friday’s prayer. These mosque constructions had granted the Ottoman’s master builders to enrich vocabulary and the design inspiration of the mosque architecture in the later periods (Crane, 1993 and Saoud, 2004). An increased number of mosques constructed resembles economic flourish (Flon et al, 1984) throughout the towns and cities in parallel with the expansion of the Ottoman territory in Asia Minor (Anatolia) and South Eastern Europe (Balkan region). One can still find the prints today even though there is no more the existence of the Ottoman government. Pasic (2004) noted pedentive dome commemorates the foot print of the Ottoman architectural influence and Islam in South Eastern Europe
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