ARCHITECTURAL PILGRIMAGE: GEOMETRIC HARMONY IN EARLY OTTOMAN MOSQUE INTERIORS

The main objective of this study is to take the reader on an architectural pilgrimage to learn about the geometric harmony in the structural patterns that formed the sacred interior space of early Ottoman mosques, “The Single Unit Mosque.” The applied analytical approach is the preferred scientific method for employing theoretical knowledge to conduct structural and geometric analysis on some of the buildings selected in this study, with the researchers seeking to achieve tangible practical results. Since Ottoman architecture was characterized by strong construction and heavy materials through thick walls and high spacious domes, it needed distinctive building techniques to provide spatial and structural harmony between the cubic construction with its straight lines at ground level and the hemispherical construction of the dome with arched lines at the upper level. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the structural patterns and elements employed in Ottoman architecture in the early period of the Ottoman Empire and show their influence on the shape of the interior space and the extent of its breadth and beauty. This study was also devoted to clarifying the geometric compositions of structural patterns through a set of examples of analytical assessments on a selected group of Ottoman mosques. The results clarified the advantages and disadvantages of the domed Ottoman Mosque structural patterns. The research provides a significant and original contribution to the study of early Ottoman Mosque interiors, offering valuable insights into the structural innovations that defined Ottoman architecture.