BINAN, CAN1; SIPAHIOGLU, EMIR TURGUT2

1) Prof.Dr.Arch., Yildiz Tech. Univ, Department of Architecture, binancb@gmail.com

2) M.Sc.C.E., İstanbul Special Provincial Administration, Directorate of Projects and Studies, sipahiogluemir@gmail.com

Ottoman architecture reached a stylistic unity and constructive perfection in the 16th Century with Architect Sinan. The series of monumental structures built throughout the Ottoman territory, but concentrated in Istanbul under the supervision of the chief architect Sinan, who worked for three different emperors in this century, known also to be the Ottoman classical era, have been the best examples of masonry construction system. Although there has been numerical researches on Architect Sinan and Ottoman classical era, the increasing amount of restoration works lead to new discoveries about the constructive and architectural properties of these structures. Current research shows that some structures of this era contain a connection system between supporting walls and the domes (or other curvilinear roofs) that can be described as “elastic connections”. This system was probably known and used before Sinan’s era and continued to be used after his time as well. The existence of this system creates an important problem as well as the need of a new point of view towards the analysis of the supporting structure in the recent restoration works. This paper is prepared in order to introduce the states of the examples and to discuss the works of restoration and conservation.

Keywords: Elastic Connection, Ottoman Classical Era, 16th century, Masonry, Sinan