Hagia Sophia
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Hagia Sophia (from the Greek `Αγiα Σοφiα - Holy Wisdom) is a religious monument of the Byzantine empire, located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is considered to be one of the most important architectural achievements in the world and is an iconic example of Byzantine architecture due largely to its dome which was a significant innovation at the time.
Hagia Sophia was the world’s largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years until the completion of Seville Cathedral in 1520. It was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Dating back to A.D. 532, the cathedral originally served as a Greek Orthodox Christian church and the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople. When Constantinople was invaded by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, it was converted into an imperial mosque. In 1935, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, President Ataturk, changed it into a secular museum, but, in 2020, President Erdogan converted Hagia Sophia back into a mosque again.
[edit] Design and construction
In A.D. 532, Emperor Justinian I built a basilica on the site of two previous churches that originated from around A.D. 346 but had been destroyed by fire.
The church was constructed using ashlar and brick. It is rectangular in shape with a vast square nave measuring 31 m (102 ft). The nave is covered by a central dome, which at its highest is 55.6 m (182.5 ft) above floor level, making it one of the largest in the world. The dome rests on four pendentives - an innovative development for the time. For more information, see Pendentive dome.
The original construction was completed in just five years, in A.D. 537. However, it was flawed as more mortar was used than brick, which weakened the walls. The weight of the dome then caused the walls to lean outward and eventually to collapse following an earthquake in A.D. 558. When it was rebuilt five years later, the dome was raised by around six metres so that the lateral forces would be less and the weight could be transferred more easily down into the walls. In total, 40 ribs were incorporated that extend from the top to the base, allowing the load of the structure to transmit between the windows to the pendentives.
The distinctive illumination of the nave interior is achieved by the 40 arched windows that are built around the arcade at the base of the dome. Arched openings at the west and east of the church are extended by half domes. The building has two levels – a ground floor and a gallery, a common feature of Byzantine churches.
[edit] Post-completion
Four 60m (200ft)-tall minarets were added at each corner after the 15th century mosque conversion, one of which was constructed using red brick, and the other three using white limestone and sandstone. Over the centuries, the interior was adorned with many elaborate golden mosaics, icons and decorations, however many of these were plastered over.
A major restoration programme was carried out between 1847 and 1849, in which columns were straightened, the dome and vaults consolidated, the decorative features revised, and the minarets repaired and altered to make them of equal height. When the building was converted into a museum in 1935, white plaster was removed from the interior, revealing many concealed mosaics and marble decorations.
By the 1990s, the structure was in need of further repair due to rising ground water and moisture penetration that was rendering the brick and stonework unstable. By 2006, the dome had been fully repaired and the mosaics preserved under the guidance of the World Monuments Fund.
Today, the Hagia Sophia is one of the most iconic religious monuments in the world and a popular tourist attraction, with approximately 3.3 million visitors a year.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Angkor Wat.
- Apse.
- Basilica.
- Cathedral.
- Church.
- Conservation of the historic environment.
- Dome of the Rock.
- Edinburgh Castle.
- El Castillo.
- Florence Cathedral.
- Forbidden City.
- Golden Temple, Amritsar.
- Great Mosque of Djenne.
- Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Library of Celsus.
- Mahabat Maqbara, India.
- Maqsurah.
- Minaret.
- Parthenon.
- Pendentive dome.
- Sagrada Familia.
- St Peters Basilica.
- Taj Mahal.
- The British Mosque: an architectural and social history.
- Types of dome.
- Unusual building design of the week.
[edit] External references
- Hagia Sophia - Official site
IHBC NewsBlog
Bookings open for IHBC Annual School 12-15 June 2024
Theme: Place and Building Care - Finance, Policy and People in Conservation Practice
Rare Sliding Canal Bridge in the UK gets a Major Update
A moveable rail bridge over the Stainforth and Keadby Canal in the Midlands in England has been completely overhauled.
'Restoration and Renewal: Developing the strategic case' Published
The House of Commons Library has published the research briefing, outlining the different options for the Palace of Westminster.
Brum’s Broad Street skyscraper plans approved with unusual rule for residents
A report by a council officer says that the development would provide for a mix of accommodation in a ‘high quality, secure environment...
English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023
Initial findings from the English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023 have been published.
Audit Wales research report: Sustainable development?
A new report from Audit Wales examines how Welsh Councils are supporting repurposing and regeneration of vacant properties and brownfield sites.
New Guidance Launched on ‘Understanding Special Historic Interest in Listing’
Historic England (HE) has published this guidance to help people better understand special historic interest, one of the two main criteria used to decide whether a building can be listed or not.
"Conservation Professional Practice Principles" to be updated by IHBC, HTVF, CV
IHBC, HTVF, and CV look to renew this cross-sector statement on practice principles for specialists working in built and historic environment conservation roles.
Context No 177 Issued - Themed on working with Glass
Topics range from Manchester Cathedral’s stained glass to the long reign of Vitrolite, plus the IHBC North-West Branch conference and more.
Part of historic Old Courthouse in Cockermouth collapses into river
A section has fallen away and landed in the River Cocker below, including the back walls over three floors, sections of flooring and parts of the roof.