Digital restitution proposal in the context of transferring the period characteristics of monumental works: Süleymaniye Mosque main dome example

The main purpose of restoration is to protect and strengthen monuments and protected areas that are historical documents to pass them on to future generations. Applications should be made with considering the protection of identity and handled with the awareness of cultural heritage. In this way, monuments and protected areas allow us to read information such as the culture, tastes, and socioeconomic level of the period in which they were built. Within the scope of this thesis study, restoration practices carried out consciously or unconsciously without considering the preservation of identity; Mimar Sinan's work, "Süleymaniye Mosque Main Dome Decorations", which was damaged with its tangible and intangible value, was discussed. The mosque, affiliated with Süleymaniye Külliye, which was completed between 1550 and 1557, was built by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in the Fatih District of İstanbul. In Suleymaniye Külliye, which was designed in unity of style with all its subheadings regarding the construction process, the mosque decorations were kept quite simple so as not to overshadow the architectural elements; the building is also its own ornament. The mosque, which has been standing for many years, has undergone many restorations. During these works carried out in the 19th century, it was decorated with the baroque style, in which ornamentation was used extensively, instead of the classical period style, which avoided excessive ornamentation. During the restoration works carried out in the 20th century, the mosque's engravings were revived in the classical period style; however, since no findings were found in the scraping work carried out on the main dome, the baroque decorations were preserved. This situation contrasts with the stylistic unity and semantic integrity of the Süleymaniye Mosque, one of the important buildings of the Ottoman Classical Period. The main purpose of the thesis is to create an interactive method with the user as a sign of respect and value to the architect, the builder, the spirit of the building against the non-original main dome decorations that cannot be integrated with the Süleymaniye Mosque. It is to deliver the restitution drawing, which can be created in the closest form to the original in accordance with the data, to the user using digital platforms with augmented technology, without touching the baroque decorations that preserve and protect their existence. The method of the thesis study consists of examining international publications, statutes and declarations published in the field of conservation to examine the right and wrong aspects of the decision to add the baroque style to the mosque and the conservation decisions taken today, and obtaining the necessary information about the augmented reality technology that will bring digital restitution to the user. In addition, it is also aimed to research the architecture of Mimar Sinan in order to reach the closest version of the restitution drawing to the original, and to evaluate sources such as writings, pictures and photographs regarding the design decisions of the Süleymaniye Mosque, pencil works that can be referenced about the original decorations of the main dome, different works of the architect and the decorations of the building.