Ottoman architecture facts for kids

Mohamed Ali Mosque, Cairo; an example of classic Ottoman architecture

Ottoman architecture is the architecture of the Ottoman Empire. It emerged in Bursa and Edirne in 14th and 15th centuries. The architecture of the empire developed from the earlier Seljuk architecture. It was influenced by the Byzantine, Iranian and Seljuk architecture. It was also influenced by Islamic Mamluk traditions after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans. For almost 400 years Byzantine architectural artifacts such as the church of Hagia Sophia served as models for many of the Ottoman mosques. Overall, Ottoman architecture has been described as Ottoman architecture synthesized with architectural traditions of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The Ottomans achieved the highest level architecture in their lands. They mastered the technique of building vast inner spaces confined by seemingly weightless yet massive domes. Their work achieved harmony between inner and outer spaces, as well as light and shadow. Islamic religious building, which until then was simple but with extensive decoration, was transformed by the Ottomans. They used vaults, domes, semi-domes and columns. The mosque was changed from being a cramped and dark chamber with arabesque-covered walls into a beautiful sanctuary.

Images for kids

Blue Mosque in Istanbul, an example of the classical style of Ottoman architecture, showing Byzantine influence.
Example of a "T-plan" layout: the floor plan of the Green Mosque in Bursa
Rumeli Hisarı on the Bosphorus shore
16th-century illustration showing the original Fatih Mosque (top)
Floor plan and elevation of the Şehzade Mosque (drawings by Cornelius Gurlitt)
The Fruit Room in the Harem of Topkapı Palace (1705)
Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Istanbul (completed in 1755)
Tophane Barracks of Selim III (right), seen in an 1819 engraving by Melling
Stefan Sveti Church (1895–1898), the first steel building in Istanbul
Grand Post Office in Sirkeci, Istanbul: one of the first Ottoman Revival buildings (1909)
Tile decoration in the Green Mosque in Bursa (1424)
Cuerda seca tilework in the tomb of Şehzade Mehmed (1548)
Tile decoration on the Dome of the Rock, added during Suleiman's reign
Details of tiles at the Rüstem Pasha Mosque (circa 1561), with early use of the "tomato red" colour
Tekfursaray tiles in the Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa Mosque (1734), including a depiction of the Great Mosque of Mecca
Hacı Özbek Mosque in Iznik (1333)
Green Mosque in Iznik (1378–1391)
Green Mosque interior: "Turkish triangles" form the transition from dome to square chamber
Interior of Yildirim Bayezid Mosque in Mudurnu (circa 1389)
Orhan Gazi Mosque in Bursa (1339): exterior and front portico
Orhan Gazi Mosque: interior prayer hall, view towards the qibla
Hüdavendigar Mosque in Bursa (1366–1385): interior of the prayer hall
Nilüfer Hatun Imaret in Iznik (1388)
Yıldırım Bayezid I Mosque in Bursa (1395): exterior and portico
Yıldırım Bayezid I Mosque: interior view towards the qibla iwan
Firuz Bey Mosque in Milas (1394): exterior façade
Green Mosque in Bursa (1412–1424): exterior façade and entrance portal
Green Mosque: interior
Green Mosque: mihrab and tile decoration
Green Tomb in Bursa (1412–24), part of the Green Mosque complex
Interior of the Green Tomb
Beylerbeyi Mosque in Edirne (1428–1429): interior view of the qibla iwan
Grand Mosque of Bursa (1396–1400)
Interior of the Grand Mosque of Bursa
Wooden minbar of the Grand Mosque of Bursa
Old Mosque of Edirne (1403–1414)
Interior of the Old Mosque of Edirne
Interior of the Bedesten of Bursa (with modern-day shops)
Exterior view of the Bedesten of Edirne
Tomb of Murad II at the Muradiye Complex in Bursa (circa 1426)
Entrance to the Murad II Medrese in Bursa (circa 1426)
Remains of tile and fresco decoration in the Murad II Mosque in Edirne (circa 1435)
Üç Şerefeli Mosque in Edirne (1437–1447): exterior
Üç Şerefeli Mosque: courtyard
Üç Şerefeli Mosque: interior
Yedikule Fortress in Istanbul (circa 1458)
Interior of the Sandal Bedesten in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Interior of the Tahtakale Hamam (dome is original but the balconies are modern)
Mahmut Pasha Hamam, Istanbul (1466)
Mahmut Pasha Hamam: dome interior
Bab-ı Hümayun, the outer gate to the Topkapi Palace (1478–1479, with later renovations)
Babüsselam, the gate to the Second Court in Topkapi Palace
Fatih Kiosk in the Third Court of Topkapi Palace (1462–1463)
Tiled Kiosk in the outer gardens of Topkapi Palace (1472)
Tile decoration of the Tiled Kiosk
Bayezid II Mosque in Amasya (1486)
Bayezid II Complex in Edirne (1484–1488)
Interior of the mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne
Inner courtyard of the darüşşifa at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne
Bayezid II Mosque in Istanbul (1500–1505)
Bayezid II Mosque in Istanbul: dome interiors
Bayezid II Hamam, part of the Bayezid II complex in Istanbul
Yavuz Selim I Mosque in Istanbul (1522), designed by unknown architect
Yavuz Selim I Mosque interior
Fatih Pasha Mosque in Diyarbakir (1520 or 1523)
Fatih Pasha Mosque interior, view of the dome
Çoban Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Gebze (1523–1524)
Hüsrev Pasha Mosque in Aleppo (1536–1537) (pictured before the recent damage of the Syrian civil war)
Haseki Hürrem Sultan Complex in Istanbul (1538–1539), designed by Sinan
Tomb of Hayreddin Barbaros in Beşiktaş (1541), designed by Sinan
Şehzade Mosque
Şehzade Mosque: view of the exterior and one of the lateral porticos
Şehzade Mosque interior
Cemetery of the complex, including the Tomb of Şehzade Mehmed
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar (1547–1548)
Double porch in front of the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
Rüstem Pasha Medrese in Istanbul (1550)
Mosque of the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya in Damascus (1554–1559)
Haseki Hürrem Hammam in Istanbul (1556–1557)
Güzelce Aqueduct near Istanbul (between 1554 and 1564)
Stari Most in Mostar (1555–1566), built by Sinan's assistant Hayruddin
Süleymaniye Mosque
Süleymaniye Mosque courtyard
Süleymaniye Mosque interior
Tomb of Suleiman in the cemetery behind the Süleymaniye Mosque
Interior of the Tomb of Suleiman
Salis Medrese, one of the madrasas in the Süleymaniye complex
Hadim Ibrahim Mosque in Istanbul (1551)
Sinan Pasha Mosque in Istanbul (1553–1555)
Sinan Pasha Mosque: view of the central dome, looking towards the side
Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque in Istanbul (1554)
Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque interior
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Complex in Lüleburgaz, founded circa 1560: view of the mosque and madrasa courtyard
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Complex in Lüleburgaz: interior of the mosque
Rüstem Pasha Mosque in Istanbul (circa 1561)
Rüstem Pasha Mosque interior, with Iznik tile decoration
Rüstem Pasha Mosque interior, view of the dome
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Istanbul (1565)
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque interior
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Istanbul (1571)
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Istanbul: view of the interior and the mihrab
Selimiye Mosque
Buttresses and vertical progression on the exterior of the mosque
Selimiye Mosque interior, view of the dome
Selimiye Mosque interior, view of the dome (detail)
Selimiye Mosque interior, ground-level view
Sultan's loge inside the mosque
Details of the stone minbar, including pierced geometric decoration
Tomb of Selim II (1576–1577)
Interior of the Tomb of Selim II
Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque in Istanbul (1580–1581)
Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque interior
Chamber of Murad III in Topkapı Palace (1578)
Şemsi Paşa Complex in Istanbul (1580), on the shore of Üsküdar
Atik Valide Mosque in Istanbul (completed in 1584)
Atik Valide Mosque interior
Murad III Mosque in Manisa (1585)
Murad III Mosque interior
Nişancı Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (circa 1589)
Interior of Nişancı Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Garden courtyard of the Nişancı Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Cerrah Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (1593)
Interior of Cerrah Pasha Mosque
Gazanfer Ağa Medrese, Istanbul (1596)
Tomb of Murad III, Istanbul (1599)
Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul (1609–1617)
Sultan Ahmed Mosque interior
Baghdad Kiosk in Topkapı Palace (1639)
Interior of the Baghdad Kiosk
New Mosque (Yeni Cami) in Istanbul (completed in 1663)
New Mosque interior
Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Bazaar) in Istanbul, built as part of the New Mosque complex
Yeni Valide Mosque complex in Üsküdar (1708–1711)
Yeni Valide Mosque Ceiling
Ahmed III Fountain near Hagia Sophia (1728)
Ahmed III Fountain details
Ahmed III Fountain in Üsküdar (1728)
Tophane Fountain of Mahmud I (1732)
Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Fountain (1732)
Bereketzade Fountain (1732)
Saliha Sultan Sebil and Fountain (1732)
Sebil of the Damat Ibrahim Pasha Complex in Istanbul (1720)
Rızvaniye Mosque Complex in Urfa (1721–1722)
Damat Ibrahim Pasha Moque in Nevşehir (1726)
Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Mosque in Istanbul (1734)
Library built above the gate of the Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Mosque complex
Sebil of the Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Mosque complex
Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Mosque interior
Entrance to the Fatih Mosque's cemetery, with the Fountain of Nisançı Ahmed Pasha (1741–42) on the far left
Hacı Mehmet Emin Ağa Sebil, Istanbul (1741–42)
Fountain of Mahmud I at Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (1740–41)
Gate to the imaret of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (1743)
Beşir Ağa Mosque and sebil, Istanbul (1745)
Sebil of the Seyyid Hasan Pasha complex, Istanbul (1745)
Mixtilinear arches in the lateral portico and windows of the mosque
Semi-vault above one of the mosque entrances, with Baroque friezes replacing muqarnas
Courtyard of the mosque
Interior of the mosque
Sebil of the complex
Imperial pavilion: a ramp on the right leads to a private lounge connected to the mosque on the left
The tomb (left) and library (right) of the complex
Cihanoğlu Mosque in Aydın (1756)
Ayazma Mosque in Üsküdar (1760–61)
Laleli Mosque in Istanbul (1760–1764)
Interior of the Laleli Mosque in Istanbul (1760–1764)
Tomb and Sebil of the Laleli Mosque complex
Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, rebuilt by Mustafa III (completed in 1771)
Reconstructed tomb of Mehmed II behind the Fatih Mosque (circa 1771)
Beylerbeyi Mosque on the Bosphorus, near Istanbul (circa 1778, with later renovations)
Tomb of Abdülhamid I in Istanbul (circa 1780)
Sebil of Abdülhamid I, Istanbul (circa 1780)
Sebil of the Mihrişah Sultan Complex in Eyüp, Istanbul (1792–1796)
Eyüp Sultan Mosque in Istanbul, rebuilt by Selim III (1798–1800)
Tomb of Şah Sultan in Eyüp, Istanbul (1800–1801)
Selimiye Barracks in Üsküdar, originally built by Selim III (circa 1803) but rebuilt by Mahmud II
Selimiye Mosque in Üsküdar, Istanbul (1801–1805): view of the front façade and entrance portico
Selimiye Mosque: side view with external gallery and part of the imperial pavilion (right)
Interior of Selimiye Mosque
Baths of the Sultan and Queen Mother, Topkapı Palace, renovated circa 1744 by Mahmud I
Sofa Kiosk, Topkapı Palace, restored by Mahmud I in 1752
Interior of Sofa Kiosk restored by Mahmud I in 1752
Baroque decoration in the Imperial Hall in the Harem of Topkapı Palace (18th century)
Baroque decoration on the exterior of the Imperial Council (Divan) Hall in Topkapı Palace
Engraving (by Melling) of Hadice Sultan's Palace on the Bosphorus, Istanbul (18th century)
Azm Palace, Damascus (circa 1750)
Ishak Pasha Palace, near present-day Doğubayazıt (completed around 1784)
Tomb of Nakşidil Sultan in Istanbul (1818)
Nusretiye Mosque in Tophane, Istanbul (1822–1824)
Interior of the Nusretiye Mosque
One of the sebils of the Nusretiye Mosque
1830s illustration of the Tophane Barracks built by Mahmud II (with the Nusretiye Mosque behind)
Cevri Kalfa School in Istanbul (1819)
Tower of Justice in Topkapı Palace (1820)
Tomb of Hüsrev Pasha in Eyüp, Istanbul (1839)
Tomb of Mahmud II in Istanbul (1840)
Interior of the Tomb of Mahmud II
View of the Dolmabahçe Palace from the Bosphorus
Treasury Gate
External façade of the selamlık
Crystal Staircase in the selamlik section of the palace
External façade of the Ceremonial Hall
Interior of the Ceremonial Hall
Mecidiye Kiosk in Topkapı Palace (1840)
Ihlamur Pavilion, Istanbul (1849–1855)
Küçüksu Pavilion, Istanbul (1856)
Beylerbeyi Palace, Istanbul (completed 1864–1865)
Interior of Beylerbeyi Palace
Çırağan Palace, Istanbul (1872)
Büyük Mabeyn Köşkü, built during reign of Abdülaziz (r. 1861–1876)
Chalet Pavilion, built by Abdülhamid II (multiple building phases)
The "Mother-of-Pearl" Hall inside the Chalet Pavilion
Malta Kiosk in Yıldız Park
Çadir Kiosk in Yıldız Park
Hamidiye Mosque (1886), the official mosque of the palace
Interior of Hamidiye Mosque: view towards the rear and the imperial balconies
Küçük Mecidiye Mosque, Istanbul (1848): front view facing the imperial pavilion
Küçük Mecidiye Mosque interior
Dolmabahçe Mosque, Istanbul (1853–1855), seen from the water
Front view of the Dolmabahçe Mosque and its imperial pavilion
Dolmabahçe Mosque interior
Ortaköy Mosque, Istanbul (1854–1856)
Ortaköy Mosque entrance, between the two wings of the imperial pavilion
Interior of the Ortaköy Mosque
Pertevniyal Valide Mosque, Istanbul (1871)
Interior of the Pertevniyal Valide Mosque
Aziziye Mosque, Konya (1872)
Surp Asdvadzadzin Church in Beşiktaş, Istanbul (1838)
Hagia Triada Church in Beyoğlu, Istanbul (1880)
Italian Synagogue in Istanbul (1880s)
Phanar Greek Orthodox College building in Istanbul (1881)
Surp Asdvadzadzin Church (Kurtuluş Mosque today) in Gaziantep(1878–1893)
Hagia Kyriaki Church in Kumkapı, Istanbul (1895)
Ashkenazi Synagogue in Istanbul (1900)
Church of St. Anthony in Beyoğlu, Istanbul (1906–1912)
Safranbolu Clock Tower (1798)
Tophane Clock Tower in Istanbul (circa 1848)
Clock tower in the Citadel of Bursa (first built by Sultan Abdülaziz but rebuilt in 1905)
Adana Clock Tower or Büyük Saat (1882)
Yıldız Clock Tower inside Yıldız Palace (1890)
Dolmabahçe Clock Tower in Istanbul (1890–1894)
Çorum Clock Tower (1896)
Konak Clock Tower in Izmir (1901)
Shopping arcade of Avrupa Pasajı (1874)
Cité de Pera building and entrance to the Çiçek Pasajı (1876)
Çiçek Pasajı interior
Ottoman Bank building in Galata, Istanbul (1890)
Londra Hotel in Istanbul (1891)
Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul (1895)
Pera Palace Hotel interior
Entrance to the Suriye Pasajı (1908)
Exterior of the Sirkeci Railway Station in Istanbul (1888–1890), designed in Orientalist style
Interior hall in the Sirkeci Station
Haydarpaşa Station in Istanbul (rebuilt 1906–1908)
Interior hall of the Haydarpaşa Station
Camondo Stairs in Galata (circa 1860)
Fountain of Abdülhamid II (1896–1901), located today in Maçka Park
Botter Apartment on Istiklal Street, by Raimond D'Aronco (1900–1901)
Laleli Fountain in Galata (1905, unconfirmed architect)
Tomb of Sheikh Zafir, by Raimond D'Aronco (1905–1906)
Interior of the Tomb of Sheikh Zafir
Defter-i Hakani building in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, built by Vedat Tek
Bebek Mosque in Bebek, Istanbul, designed by Mimar Kemaleddin Bey (1913)
The 4th Vakıf Han in Sirkeci, Istanbul, by Kemaleddin Bey (c. 1914)
Tayyare Apartments in Laleli, Istanbul, by Kemaleddin Bey (1919–1922)
Sultanahmet Jail (1916–1917)
Tiles in the Tomb of Roxelana, Istanbul (1558)
Tiles in the mihrab of the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (circa 1561)
Tiles in the outer portico of the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (circa 1561)
TIles in the Mausoleum of Suleiman, Istanbul (1566)
Tile decoration in the Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (1572)
Detail of tiles in the Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (1572)
Tilework near the mihrab in the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne (circa 1574)
Detail of tiles in the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne (circa 1574)
Detail of tiles in the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne (circa 1574)
Tile panel at the entrance to the Tomb of Selim II in Istanbul (1576)
Tiles in the Atik Valide Mosque, Istanbul (1583)
Tiles (with painted decoration above) on the back wall of the Sultan Ahmed I Mosque, Istanbul (circa 1617)
Detail of tiles in the Sultan Ahmed I Mosque, Istanbul (circa 1617)
Tiled mihrab of the Çinili Mosque (1640)
Iznik tiles in the Aqsunqur Mosque in Cairo, Egypt (1652)
The tiled interior of the Hünkâr Kasrı (sultan's pavilion) at the New Mosque, Istanbul (circa 1663)

Ottoman architecture facts for kids

Images for kids

See also