Characteristics of Irregular Column Capitals in Ottoman Mosques with Courtyards Nil Orbeyi*
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ICONARP International Journal of Architecture & Planning Received 09 Jul 2018; Accepted 6 Jul 2019 Volume 7, Issue 2, pp: 330-351/Published 30 December 2019 Research Article DOI: 10.15320/ICONARP.2019. 89-E-ISSN: 2147-9380 ICONARP Characteristics of Irregular Column Capitals in Ottoman Mosques with Courtyards Nil Orbeyi* Abstract The aim of this article is to examine the construction techniques of the Keywords: Column, capital, constructive irregular column capitals which are located at the junction of portico and details, design principles, portico, Ottoman architecture courtyard arcades (revak) of six Ottoman mosques. The porticos height of the closed-courtyard mosques built during the Ottoman period *Assist. Prof. Dr. Vocational School of regarding is mostly equal. However, in six cases, the porticos of the Architectural Restoration Programme, Mimar mosques are higher than their side porticos, which led alternative Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Turkey. solutions to keep the continuity of the arcade surrounding the courtyard. E-mail: [email protected] The first phase of this study focuses on the construction techniques and materials of the column capitals in Ottoman architecture and the second phase deals with irregular capitals including their characteristics (sizes, materials, and relations with other building elements). For this purpose, detailed drawings were prepared through the site examinations and the literature review. As a result, despite that their size and shape vary depending on construction period, the relationship between last prayer hall and courtyard, structural aspects, and visual concern, their construction techniques, materials, and components show similar properties. Nil Orbeyi INTRODUCTION In Ottoman mosques, portico supported by columns is attached to the primary structure (prayer hall) on the north side to provide additional space for the community in case the prayer hall was full or closed. Although the scale and plan layout of mosques varies throughout history, the portico has always been one of the most emphasized parts of the mosques (Kuran, 1964; Özüdoğru,– 2005; transformedMülayim, 2008; into Çuhadar a closed, 2011). courtyard While with it was the aaddition single place of arcades in the inearly three period directions, of Ottoman especially architecture in the large (1299-scale mosques1501), it in wasthe –1 Although the porticos of these mosques are mostly of equal height Classical period (1501 703)s of (Mülayim,some mosques 2008; were Orbeyi, designed 2016). to (Figures 1a, 2a), the portico be higher than their side porticos (Figures 1b, 2b). Figure 1. a) The closed-courtyard of Mosque, b) The closed-courtyard of the İstanbul Şehzade (Şehzadebaşı) the Edirne Üç Şerefeli Mosque (Source: Author, 2018) 331 Figure 2. a) Section and plan of the 9380 - planİstanbul of Şehzadethe Mosque (Redrawn from Ülgen, 1989), b) Section and 1976) Edirne Üç Şerefeli Mosque (Redrawn from Ayverdi, ISSN: 2147 - E This formation is seen in six mosques that were built at different – times over a period about 89 40 Selimiye Mosque, Fatih Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Kara Ahmed0 years Pasha(from Mosque, the 15th and to Yeni18th Valide centuries): Mosque. Üç ExceptŞerefeli for Mosque, the Üç DOI: 10.15320/ICONARP.2019. Characteristics of Irregular Column Capitals in Ottoman Mosques with Courtyards Şerefeli Mosque and Selimiye Mosque, all the structures which are investigated in this research were built in Istanbul (Figure 3). Figure 3. map of form Googleİstanbul map) and Edirne in the Marmara Region (Redrawn The height difference between the portico and arcades of the courtyard of these mosques caused the builders to use two are in structurally critical locations unlike the other columns capitals at different heights for the CL1 and CL2 columns, which for several reasons: (Figures 1b, 2b). This altitude difference was probably preferred • Emphasis on the entrance facade: Supporting 332 monumentality by emphasizing the last community portico and strengthening the pyramidal effect (Kuran, 1964); • Visual concern: Trying to give the impression that the portico was part of the prayer hall. For example according to Ayverdi (1976), upward from the side porticos to show the narrow prayer hall in the Edirne’s Üç Şerefeli Mosque, the portico was built larger (Fig. 2b); 2019 • Adherence to tradition: The desire to maintain the traditional layout of the Ottoman Early Period (for construction built during this period, see Ayverdi and Yüksel, 1976), especially in the December December earliest example of the case studies (Üç Şerefeli Mosque) of the •closed The courtyard influence type of patronage: (Mülayim, 2008; Orbeyi, 2016); 1 For example, the using of double / Published: Published: / the similarities in some mosques show that the patrons’ requests e 2 about the details they like in differentAccording structures to Necipoğlu constituted (2005), an Pasha, his wife Mihrimah Sultan, and porticos in the mosques of Rustem Issu important factor affecting the design process1. The height his brother Sinan Pasha (Necipoğlu, 2005). Volume 7, – ARP ICON Nil Orbeyi differences in porticos may have been made depending on similar reasons. Tanyeli (1999) state that the first comprehensive example of Ottoman architecture's attempt to make its technical knowledge in writing is the text in which Ahmed Efendi described the construction of the Nuruosmaniye Mosque in the mid- century (For the studies made after this date, s Although no written sources are describing directly 18ththe construction techniques of structures built beforeee: Tanyeli, that date, 2009). we can obtain information about the names, sizes, and materials of building elements from archived documents (The Prime Ministry Ottoman Archives (BOA), account and construction books of the buildings (Barkan, 1979), etc.). In addition to historical documents, the examination of buildings that have preserved their original structure to the present day also provides information about the construction techniques and materials. Based on these documents, a limited number of studies have been conducted on the columns of the Ottoman architecture. These studies generally concern the columns under the category of building ele ments (Yorulmaz, 1986; Ahunbay, 1988; Alioğlu, 1991; Tayla, 2007; Uluengin, 2014) or are about the sizes, shapes, dealsand materialwith three characteristics of the six differently (Alper, -shaped1998; Sönmezer,column's capitals 2002; (Süleymaniye,Mülayim, 2008; Selimiye, Orbeyi, 2012).and Kara In Orbeyi'sAhmed Pashastudy Mosques),(2012), which the capitals were examined only according from the decorative point of view. 333 METHODOLOGY This study focuses on the closed-courtyard mosques that were built b columns in Ottoman architecture were examined depending on their components,etween the 16thconstruction and 18th techniques, centuries. Inand the materials. first phase, In the second phase, irregular capitals’ parts were examined depending on their sizes, materials, and relationships with the other construction elements by using plan and section drawings. In this 9380 - stage also the repairs of the structures were investigated. Interventions were related to columns and capitals in these repairs are presented in the text together with their accessible ISSN: 2147 - visuals. The construction technology and components of an E ordinary column are known from archival documents (Barkan, – 89 1979; Tanyeli & Tanyeli, 1993, Ahunbay, 1988; Alioğlu, 1991; However,Tayla, 2007; since Macaulay, there are 2010, no documents Uluengin, 2014)for irregular and restoration columns, reports of the structures (Aksu and Alaca, 2013, Ceylan, 2013). DOI: 10.15320/ICONARP.2019. Characteristics of Irregular Column Capitals in Ottoman Mosques with Courtyards documents concerning the possible construction technology and components of these columns were prepared depending, on the results obtained from ordinary column components and on-site examinations. In this context, structural surveys of the capitals were initially prepared. The survey drawings consist of two plans and two elevations. Plan 1, in which the lower and upper part of capitals can be seen together, allows comparison of the capitals. lower arches of the cylindrical shaft can be seen. The last section ofIn Planthe 2,paper only thedescribes upper part the of capitalirregular and columns’ relationships similarities, with the differences, and construction details, depending on the data obtained from this study. The mosques examined in this study, except Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque, have recently been restored. l also start soon. In the study, the current statuses of the buildings were examined. Restoration of Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque wil CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS OF THE COLUMN’S CAPITALS IN OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE The column, which has been the most common vertical element in many civilizations, usually appears as a rounded shaft with a capital and a base. Although the forms of capitals vary according to civilization and period in use, its dimensions were related to the structural characteristic of the building such as the sizes of the arches connected to the capitals, the connecting directions of the arches to the columns, and the columns’ locations in the structure. 334 In Ottoman architecture, there are two recognized types of ge (baklavalı). In many constructions, they were concomitantly used. capitals: (1) the stalactite or muqarnas and (2) the lozen The shaft was generally made of EgyptianThe columns and consistedKestanbolic