NURUOSMANİYE MOSQUE

The foundation stone of the Nuruosmaniye Mosque and complex was laid by Sultan Mahmud I on 19 January 1749. After his death in 1754, the complex was completed by his brother, Sultan Osman III. Nuruosmaniye Complex consists of a mosque, an imperial pavilion, a madrasah, a library, a tomb, a fountain, a fountain kiosk (sebil), a soup kitchen, and shops.

Founder and Architect

The mosque, opened on 5 December 1755, carries an inscription naming Osman III as its founder. By naming the mosque Nûr-ı Osmânî (Nuruosmaniye), Sultan Osman III immortalized both the dynasty and his own name. The design of the mosque reflects Sultan Mahmud I’s innovative spirit. Built in Baroque style, the mosque was designed by Simeon (Simon) Kalfa under the direction of Ahmed Efendi, the building manager.

Treatise Describing Its Making

The treatise, Tarih-i Camii Şerif-i Nur-ı Osmanî (History of the Noble Mosque of Nuruosmaniye), written by Ahmed Efendi, the chronicler of the Nuruosmaniye Complex, provides detailed information about the construction of the complex.

Mosque Courtyard

The basement formed beneath the mosque and courtyard level because of the sloping land, was possibly planned as a bazaar. The mosque is located in the northwest section of the outer courtyard, which features two semi-circular arched doors in the east and west. The portico courtyard, accessed via stairs from the outer courtyard, was the first of its kind in Turkish architecture to be built in a semi-circular shape. This courtyard, thought to serve as an ornamental element to complement the general aesthetic, does not contain an ablutions fountain (shadirvan). The circular layout of the courtyard, the arch profiles of the windows and doors, the upper parts of the niches in the large doors, and the interior decoration, all reflect the principles of Turkish Baroque art.

Architectural Features

The mosque’s plan features a detailed and multi-part design unlike any seen in previous buildings. The square harim (area reserved for prayer) is covered by a large dome with a diameter of 25.50 meters, the weight of which is distributed over four large arches. The marble mihrab is in a small space covered with a half-dome protruding. There are two small spaces adjacent to the qibla wall at two corners of the mihrab wall.

Minarets

The mosque has two cut stone minarets, each with two balconies and fluted shafts. The original lead cones at the top of the minarets were replaced with stone cones at the end of the 19th century.

Baroque Style

The curvilinear forms, storey mouldings, and continuous walls with buttresses that dominate the mosque’s planning and details reflect the clear features of the Baroque style. The patterns of the plaster windows with coloured glass (in the portico), along with the marble mihrab and pulpit, are also adorned with Baroque motifs.

Among the mosques built by the Sultans, Nuruosmaniye Mosque stands out in Istanbul as an example of a completely new architectural approach.

References

Ayvansarâyî Hüseyîn Efendi, Alî Sâtı Efendi and Süleyman Besîm Efendi. (2001). Hadîkatü’l-Cevâmi, İstanbul Câmileri ve Diğer Dinî-Sivil Mi'marî Yapılar, Ed. Ahmed Nezih Galitekin, İşaret Yayınları, İstanbul, pp. 63-64.

Eyice, Semavi. (2007). ‘Nuru Osmaniye Külliyesi', DİA, Vol. 33, İstanbul, pp. 264-266.

Kuban, Doğan. (1994). ‘Nuru Osmaniye Külliyesi', Dünden Bugüne İstanbul Ansiklopedisi, Vol. 6, A Joint Publication of the Ministry of Culture and the History Foundation, İstanbul, pp. 100-103.

Kuban, Doğan. (2007). Osmanlı Mimarisi, YEM Yayınları, İstanbul, pp. 528-536.