The main purpose of the design for the Istanbul Camlica Mosque, which won the second prize in the architectural competition, was to create the largest worship place that has ever been designed, and cover it with one single roof. SN Architects successfully did this by using the load bearing properties of one of the traditional systems that often used “vault systems” and using contemporary architectural and engineering facilities. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The load bearing capacity of the system was increased by bending the folded vault plate form. The main space was covered by a combination of three different vault forms. The main fiction of the design was to create a rectangular area to set up the lines in front of mihrab (prayer niche) wall of the mosque. Also creating shell forms as a roof, provides dynamism to the project.
