Literature Western literature has provided little insight into understanding Turkish and Iranian muqarnas designs. It was about time to visit Türkiye, take photos and videos, search libraries, and read books in Turkish. Over the past fifty years, leading architects and scholars in Türkiye and Iran have published significant scholarly works on muqarnas. Three Turkish professors stand out in this field: Tuncer, Ödekan, and Uluengin. Their books deserve a wider audience and are worthy of translation. Ayla Ödekan initiated a classification of pre-Ottoman Anatolian portal hoods, distinguishing five types. Her excellent drawings (most of them are drawn by her husband, the architect Nuri Ödekan) supplemented with photos and descriptions, provide a thorough understanding. Her unique method of arranging the octagonal or hexagonal grid using concentric circles, which she refers to as "geometric modules," deserves further exploration. Hüdai Sirri Senalp, an architect in a family business specializing in building and restoring large mosque complexes, has mastered the practical knowledge required to design muqarnas that win the approval of his clients. As a scholar, he continues the work begun by Ödekan, charting the evolution of muqarnas from early Seljuk examples to the late Ottoman muqarnas of Sinan. Orhan Cezmi Tuncer has written extensively on muqarnas in major Turkish cities like Sivas, Ankara, Diyarbakır, and Kayseri. I've had the opportunity to visit these cities and photograph their muqarnas to ensure that my interpretation of Tuncer's drawings is accurate. Mehmet Fatin Uluengin has produced an excellent book that guides readers through the mathematical and geometric aspects of drawing muqarnas. It also covers how to create molds for carving stones, determine the correct arrangement of the stone, and apply these techniques in the restoration of mosques, medresses, and hamams. This webpage: Classical Authors: Contemporary Turkish Authors: Instagram References Ayla Ödekan Orhan Cezmi Tuncer Mehmet Fatin Uluengin Dincer Alaçam Agirbas Senalp

Instagram

My instagram stories pay attention to the works of Ödekan, Tuncer, and Uluengin (and many more).

• Overview of all my Instagram Stories
• Instagram Story Remarkable Books Odekan

  It was hard to find, but I am glad that I got a copy of Ayla Ödekan her book on pre-Ottoman muqarnas. I keep searching for her other book on Early Ottoman muqarnas.

• Instagram Story Remarkable Books Tuncer

  Tuncer's book gave me the opportunity to examine a series of related muqarnas, looking for comparisons and differences.

• Instagram Story Remarkable Books Uluengin

  Fatin Uluengin (1920-2017) was a Turkish architect, best known for his expertise on classical building details of Ottoman architecture. He wrote an impressive book on muqarnas with photographs, drawings and descriptions. I acquired a copy five years ago. It is my wish that an English translation be made available to a wider audience.

• Instagram Story RemarkableBooks Thesis Senalp

  Written in English, this thesis is a key to Ödekan's work for me.

• Instagram Story Remarkable Books Kazempour

  Another impressive should-read book when you want to know more about the evolution of muqarnas. Written by an experienced architect, his language is English, for sale all around the globe. Kazempour starting point is what to do whit a semi-spherical dome over a square base.

References

Much has been written about muqarnas in Turkey, sometimes in Turkish, sometimes in English. In academic circles, muqarnas are a sought-after object of study for parametric design. Little has been written by architects who themselves build new mosques or supervise restoration work.

• Agirbas, A., Yildiz, G., 2020, Origin of Irregular Star Polygons in Ground Projection Plans of Muqarnas. In: Nexus Network Journal
• Agirbas, A. Yildiz, G., Sahin, M., 2022, Interrelation between grid systems and star polygons of muqarnas ground projection plans. In: Heritage Science 10: 12
• Agirbas, A. Yildiz, G., Sahin, M., 2024, Investigating the Impact of Muqarnas on the Daylighting Performance of Historical Turkish Baths. In: METU JFA 2024/2
• Akbar, M., (1840-1870?) Victoria and Albert Museum: a portfolio of 238 designs, once owned by a working architect in Qajar Tehran, in nineteenth-century Iran
• Alaçam, S., Güzelci, O., 2016, Computational Interpretations of 2D Muqarnas Projections in 3D Form Finding, In: Confere4ce Paper ASCAAD 2016
• Alaçam, S., Güzelci, O., 2017, Reconnoitering computational potentials of the vault-like forms: thinking aloud on Muqarnas tectonics. In: International Journal of Architectural Computing 15(4) pp. 285-303
• Alaçam, S., Güzelci, O., 2018, Manifolds of Muqarnas Patterns, In: 2018, Medios Digitales, Arte, Identidad Cultural
• Alaçam, S., Güzelci, O., 2019, A study on measuring complexity in Muqarnas patterns. In: The Turkish Online Journal of Design Art and Communication 9(2) pp. 191-201
• Alaçam, S., Güzelci, O., 2021, The Influence of Early Ottoman Period on Sinan's Muqarnas, In: XIIth International Sinan Symposium 2021, Trakya University, EDIRNE
• Alaçam, S., Gökmen, S., Aykin, Y., 2022, Computational Modeling and Analysis of Seljukid Muqarnas in Kayseri In: ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, Volume 15, Issue 2
• Alaçam, S., Gökmen, S., Aykin, Y., 2023, A Recursive Algorithm for the Generative Study of Seljuk Muqarnas in Kayseri and Sivas In: Nexus Network Journal 25(4)
• Aydin, N., Hammoudi, L., Bakbouk, G., 2020, Al-Kashi's Miftah al-Hisab, Volume II: Geometry, Translation and Commentary Springer Nature Switzerland AG
• Bakirir, Ö., 1976, Anadolu Mihrablari, Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara
• Dallal, Y., Yaman, B., 2019, Erken Osmanli Mimarisinde Kullanilam Mukarnas Biçimleri (Iznik, Bursa, Edirne), In: Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ilahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi(42), 75-91.
• Dinçer, S., 2021, Benzer Geometrik Semaya Sahip Mukarnas Tasarimlarinin Karsilastirmali Analizi. In: Art-e Sanat Dergisi 14(27)
• Dinçer, S., Yazar T., 2021, A Comparative Analysis of the Digital Re-constructions of Muqarnas Systems: The Case Study of Sultanhani Muqarnas in Central Anatolia In: International Journal of Architectural Computing 19(1) pp. 360-385
• Dinçer, S., Duru, M., 2022, Portal Analysis In Konya Alaeddin Mosque And Aksaray Sultanhani Portals Section: A Case of Karatay Madrassah, In: Journal of Akdeniz Sanat, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Fine Arts
• Dinçer, S., Yazar T., 2024, A Computer-Aided Design Tool for Muqarnas In: Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage 17(2)
• Dinçer, S., 2024, Geometric decomposition and analysis of Konya Sahip Ata mosque portal muqarnas, In: Springer Nature Heritage Science
• Dold-Samplonius, Y., 1992, Practical Arabic Mathematics: Measuring the Muqarnas by al-Kashii, In: Centaurus, 35, 193-242
• Dold-Samplonius, Y., Harmsen, S. L., 2005, The muqarnas plate found at Takht-i Sulayman: a new interpretation, In: Muqarnas, 22, 85-94.
• Dold-Samplonius, Y., Harmsen, S. L., 2015, Muqarnas: Construction and Reconstruction. In Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future, 709-719). Springer International Publishing.
• Garofalo, V., 2010, A Methodology For Studying Muqarnas: The Extant Examples In Palermo, In: Muqarnas, vol. 27, pp. 357-406
• Gordo, A., Pérez-Blanco, I., 2019, A Grammar of Muqarnas: Drawings of the Alhambra by Jones and Goury (1834-1845),, In: VLC arquitectura 6, no. 2 (October 2019), pp. 57-87.
• Hamekasi, N., Faramarz, N., Samavati, F., 2011, Interactive Modeling of Muqarnas In: Conference Proceedings: Computational Aesthetics 2011
• Harb, U., 1978, Ilkhanidische Stalaktitengewölbe: Beiträge zu Entwurf und Bautechnik In: Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran. Ergänzungsbände Band 4, Reimer Verlag
• Harmsen, S., 2006. Algorithmic Computer Reconstructions of Stalactite Vaults - Muqarnas - in Islamic Architecture, PhD Thesis, University of Heidelberg,
• Harmsen, S. Jungblut, D, Krömker, S., 2007. Seljuk Muqarnas along the Silk Road
• Herzfeld, R., 1942. Damascus: Studies in Architecture, In: Ars Islamica, Vol. 9, pp. 1-53, Freer Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian Institution and Department of the History of Art, University of Michigan
• Hietbrink, H., 2021. A visual interpreter for pre-defined muqarnas units, In: proceedings of XXIV Generative Art conference, pp. 333-342, Domus Argenia Publisher Rome
• Hogendijk, J., 2004, Wiskunde En Islamitische Kunst: Werk In Uitvoering. In: Euclides 2004/4 pp. 135-137
• Hogendijk, J., 2005, De Sleutel tot de Rekenkunde van al-Kashi. In: Nieuw Archief voor Wiskunde: 5/6 (1) pp. 32-39
• Huff, D., 2008. The Functional Layout of the Fire Sanctuary at Takht-i Sulaimän In: Current Research in Sasanian Archaeology, Art and History. Proceedings of a Conference held at Durham University, November 3rd and 4th, 2001 organized by the Centre for Iranian Studies, IMEIS and the Department of Archaeology of Durham University, Thesis Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• Kazempour, H., 2014. The Evolution of Muqarnas in Iran, Thesis Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• Mansouri, S., 2020, Réinterprétation des Muqarnas : développement historique, modélisation paramétrique, fabrication. Art et histoire de l'art, Université Paris-Est,
• Necipoglu, A., 1995, The Topkapi Scroll: Geometry and Ornament in Islamic Architecture. Santa Monica,Getty Center.
• Notkin, I. I., 1995. Decoding sixteenth-century muqarnas drawings . In: Muqarnas Online 12(1), 148-171.
• Ödekan, A., 1977, Osmanli Öncesi Anadolu Türk Mimarisinde Mukarnasli Portal Örtüleri, Ph.D. Thesis completed at Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul
• Ozdural, A., 1990 Giyaseddin Jemshid El-Kashi and Stalactites in: Sivas. METU JFA. 1990;10:1-2 pp. 31-49
• Ozdural, A., 1991, An analysis of the geometry of stalactites: Buruciye Medrese. In: Sivas. METU JFA. 1991;11 pp. 57-71
• Pastor, G., 2009, La técnica del mocárabe en el iwan SE del patio de Comares en La Alhambra, In: Arte y cultura: patrimonio hispanomusulmán en Al-Andalus, pp. 179-232
• Sakkal, M., 1982. Geometry of Muqarnas in Islamic Architecture, thesis, University of Washington
• Sarvdalir, A.R., 2005. How to CAAD/CAM a Persian Muqarnas, in: Proceedings of the 1st International Congress on New Horizons in Architecture and Planning
• Senalp, H.S., 2012. The Evolution Of Ottoman Muqarnas, dissertation School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
• Senalp, H.S., 2024. Mukarnas yapim teknikleri ve koruma problemleri (Muqarnas construction techniques and conservation problems), PhD thesis, Yildiz Teknik Üniversitesi
• Tak, S., and Bos, R., 2017, Creatief met 3D In: Euclides 93-3 pp. 4-6
• Tuncer, O., 1996, Diyarbakır Camileri: Mukarnas, Geometri, Oranti, Diyarbakır Büyüksehir Belediyesi Kültür ve Sanat Yayinlari.
• Uluengin, M., 2018, Muqarnas. Istanbul: Istanbul Fetih Cemiyeti Publishing
• Yaghan, M., 2001. The Muqarnas Pre-designed Erecting Units: Analysis, Definition of the Generic Set of Units, and a System of Unit-Creation as a New Evolutionary Step, Architectural Science Review, 44:3, 297-318
• Yaghan, M., 2000. Decoding the Two-Dimensional Pattern Found at Takht-I Sulayman into Three-Dimensional Muqarnas Forms In: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, Volume 38(1) pp. 77-95
• Yaghan, M., 2005, Self-Supporting Genuine Muqarnas Units, In: Architectural Science Review, 48:3, pp. 245-255,

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