The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey was constructed between 1609-1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. It has five main domes supported by four massive piers, six minarets, and incorporates Byzantine architectural elements. The exterior features a large vaulted arcade surrounding the courtyard that supports a two-story ceiling, while the interior central dome is 23.5 meters in diameter and 43 meters high, adorned with intricate designs and calligraphy.

1. The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque
About:
• It was constructed between 1609 and 1616
during the rule of Ahmed I.
• The Blue Mosque has five main domes,
six minarets, and eight secondary domes.
• The design is the culmination of two
centuries of Ottoman mosque development.
• It incorporates many Byzantine elements
Exterior :
• The court is about as large as the mosque
itself and is surrounded by a continuous
vaulted arcade (revak).
• The arcade were used for transfer of load but
it also serves aesthetically to the mosque
courtyard.
• It supports two storey height ceiling creating
a very huge open corridor for the mosque.
Structure :
Vaulted Arcade Dome structure
Dome:
• The central dome is 23.5 meters in
diameter and is supported by four
massive piers and four semi domes.
• The dome is 43 meters high and is
adorned with calligraphy and intricate
designs.
• The dome was constructed with a
system of ribs and arches that
distribute the weight evenly, ensuring
structural stability.
Main dome Semi domes
Interior :
Dome structure
Massive column
Central Dome:
• The central dome of the mosque is 23.5
meters in diameter and is 43 meters high.
• It is supported by four massive piers and
four semi-domes.
• The dome is adorned with intricate
geometric designs and calligraphy, and is
lit by windows that filter light through
stained glass.
Semi-domes:
• The mosque has four semi-domes that
surround the central dome, each adorned
with intricate designs and calligraphy.
• The semi-domes are supported by smaller
arches and piers.
Massive column:
• They were huge and aesthetically pleasing
and also transfers load from domes.

2. Hagia Sophia:
About
• Hagia Sophia, also known as Ayasofya, is a
historic mosque and former cathedral
located in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Its architecture is a unique blend of
Byzantine and Ottoman styles.
The pendentive a perfective
solution
Using several over
hanging beams
Early domes
over round
plan
Forming an
octagon
• An old
architectural
problem is to fit a
circular dome over a square
plan.
• A perfect solution to the problem is
use of pendentive, a curved
triangular vault.
• There were incorporated in the
construction of Hagia Sophia.
• Thus it gives a huge open space in
the centre without much use of
column for supporting.
Arcades
Vaulted
aisles
Columns
Pendentive
Main dome
Semi domes
Dome:
• The central dome of Hagia Sophia is one of its most striking
features. It is 32 meters in diameter and rises to a height of 55
meters
• The dome is supported by four massive piers and is surrounded
by smaller domes and semi-domes.
Arches:
• The arches in Hagia
Sophia are a defining
feature of its
architecture.
• The building has a
series of arches that
span the nave and side
aisles, which are
supported by piers and
columns.
Clearstory
Minarets:
• Hagia Sophia has four
minarets, which were
added to the building
after it was converted
from a cathedral to a
mosque.
• The minarets are
approximately 60
meters in height and
are adorned with
balconies and
intricate designs.
Layout:
• The building is roughly rectangular in shape, with a central nave and
two side aisles.
• The nave is flanked by galleries on the upper level, and the building is
topped by a central dome.