Theoretical Article

ARCHITECT SINAN’S SPATIAL EXPLORATIONS AND URBAN “SCULPTURES” IN ISTANBUL

Volume: 2 Number: 1 March 31, 2025
TR EN

ARCHITECT SINAN’S SPATIAL EXPLORATIONS AND URBAN “SCULPTURES” IN ISTANBUL

Abstract

Despite the prohibition of sculpture in Islamic art, the renowned Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan, transcended this limitation through his architectural mastery. Over his tenure as chief architect of the Ottoman Empire, spanning half a century, Sinan's constructions attained a monumental sculptural quality. Viewing constraints as opportunities for creative innovation, he transformed structures ranging from modest buildings to grand architectural complexes, aqueducts, and bridges into sculptural entities. The aesthetic sophistication of his works not only surpassed those of his predecessors and contemporaries but also integrated innovative technical solutions with refined artistic expression. Through his novel spatial compositions and continuous architectural experimentation, Sinan positioned himself at the confluence of art and science. Architecture, in his hands, became a vehicle for expressing religious devotion, political authority, and artistic ingenuity. By the late sixteenth century, Istanbul had been reshaped by his interventions, earning the moniker "Sinan's Istanbul." This study aims to explore the intersections of art and science within his oeuvre, emphasizing the sculptural nature of his structures and their impact on the spatial organization of Istanbul.

Keywords

References

  1. Bakırer, Ö. (1999). “The Story of Three Graffiti”, Environmental Design: Journal of the Islamic Environmental Design Research Centre.
  2. Batur, A. (1994). “Frej Apartmanı”, in Dünden Bugüne İstanbul Ansiklopedisi. İstanbul: Tarih Vakfı Yurt Yayınları.
  3. Belge, M. (2020). İstanbul Gezi Rehberi. İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları.
  4. Cerasi, M. (1987). “The Commerce of Forms and Types Between the West and the Ottoman East from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century”, Environmental Design: Journal of the Islamic Environmental Design Research Centre.
  5. Egli, H. G. (1997). Sinan: An Interpretation. İstanbul: Ege Yayınları.
  6. Erzen, J. N. (1991). “Aesthetics and Aisthesis in Ottoman Art and Architecture”, Journal of Islamic Studies, Vol. 2, Issue 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  7. Erzen, J. N. (2004). Sinan Ottoman Architect: An Aesthetic Analysis. Ankara: METU.
  8. Erzen, J. N. (2007). Mosque Elevations of Architect Sinan’s Era. Ankara: ODTÜ Mimarlık Fakültesi Yayınları.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Architectural History, Theory and Criticism

Journal Section

Theoretical Article

Authors

Publication Date

March 31, 2025

Submission Date

February 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 20, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 2 Number: 1

APA
Özgüleş, M. (2025). ARCHITECT SINAN’S SPATIAL EXPLORATIONS AND URBAN “SCULPTURES” IN ISTANBUL. Mekansal Çalışmalar Dergisi, 2(1), 30-38. https://izlik.org/JA62YW45HT