Üsküdar Mimar Sinan Memorial,

İstanbul 2021  |  Selim Atak, Cansen Molva

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Architectural spaces, which are perhaps the most frequently used medium in our daily lives, can become ordinary and fade away due to our constant exposure. However, through the organization of design elements, they can transcend the user's indifference. In this design, we aimed to draw attention to the two natural elements that Mimar Sinan skillfully shaped his structures around: light and gravity. In the square between Mihrimah Sultan Mosque and Şemsi Paşa Mosque, we envisioned an archaic architectural element in the form of a granite cube. Elevated on a pedestal, we designed the interior of the cube with light. Accordingly, we hollowed out the cube and planned for an arched entrance.

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Enabling light to penetrate the interior, we fashioned a symbolic shadow within the void using a floating dome. Our proposal is not an individual-centric monument but rather a modern interpretation of the concepts that have historically shaped the integration of natural elements within architectural spaces.