Kocatepe Mosque
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Quick Facts
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The Kocatepe Mosque is the largest mosque in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was built between 1967 and 1987 in the Kocatepe quarter in Kızılay, and its size and prominent situation have made it a landmark that can be seen from almost anywhere in central Ankara.
History of Mosque
The idea of building the Kocatepe Mosque dates back to the 1940s. On December 8, 1944, Ahmet Hamdi Akseki, the Vice-President of Turkish Religious Affairs, along with seventy-two founding members, established a society known as the "Society to Build a Mosque in Yenisehir, Ankara." In 1947 this society called for projects to be drawn up by architects, but none of the submitted projects were accepted.
In 1956, through the efforts of the late Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister of the time, land was allocated for the project to build a mosque in Ankara, and a request for projects was made once again in 1957. This time thirty-six projects were evaluated, with the joint project of Vedat Dalokay and Nejat Tekelioglu being chosen as the one to be implemented.
The accepted project was an innovative and modern design. The construction started, but due to heavy critique from conservatives for its modernist look, the construction was stopped at the foundation level. Vedat Dalokay later built a modified version of the Kocatepe Mosque after winning an international competition for the Shah Faisal Masjid in Islamabad, Pakistan in 1969. This mosque is one of the largest mosques of the world, and accepted by many as the frontiers of modern Islamic architecture.
After a third architectural competition in 1967, a more conservative or nostalgic design by Husrev Tayla and M. Fatin Uluengin was chosen to be built. Completed in 1987, this project is built in a neo-classical Ottoman architecture style, and is an eclectic building made up from the Selimiye mosque in Edirne, and the Sehzade and Sultan Ahmet mosques in Istanbul.
In 1956, through the efforts of the late Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister of the time, land was allocated for the project to build a mosque in Ankara, and a request for projects was made once again in 1957. This time thirty-six projects were evaluated, with the joint project of Vedat Dalokay and Nejat Tekelioglu being chosen as the one to be implemented.
The accepted project was an innovative and modern design. The construction started, but due to heavy critique from conservatives for its modernist look, the construction was stopped at the foundation level. Vedat Dalokay later built a modified version of the Kocatepe Mosque after winning an international competition for the Shah Faisal Masjid in Islamabad, Pakistan in 1969. This mosque is one of the largest mosques of the world, and accepted by many as the frontiers of modern Islamic architecture.
After a third architectural competition in 1967, a more conservative or nostalgic design by Husrev Tayla and M. Fatin Uluengin was chosen to be built. Completed in 1987, this project is built in a neo-classical Ottoman architecture style, and is an eclectic building made up from the Selimiye mosque in Edirne, and the Sehzade and Sultan Ahmet mosques in Istanbul.
Architecture and Design
Commanding the hill of Kocatepe, the mosque is a modern city landmark. Its architecture combines the traditional Ottoman style of the 16th century with 20th century technology. With its four minarets, the mosque resembles Selimiye; its central dome and half domes are inspired by the Sultan Ahmet Mosque of Mehmet Aga, from the school of Sinan the Architect.
The main mosque has an estimated volume of 68,696 cubic metre and a floor area of 4,288m². It is 64 x 67m, with a height of 48.5m; the dome has a diameter of 25.5m. There are four smaller half domes surrounding the central dome. These half domes are enlarged with 12 domes. The main dome rests on four large pillars (Elephant feet) each with a diameter of 3 meters. Unlike earlier mosques, the elephant feet are only 3 meters in diameter because of modern technology. The interior of the mosque is thus more spacious and there is less visual and auditory distraction than with larger columns. The main part of the mosque (Harem) is surrounded by galleries in a "U" form. The galleries have two stories, quite unlike the classical Istanbul mosques. As a result, more space is added to the harem.
The mosque as a whole is built on a reinforced concrete framework system and the outsides are covered with artificial stone. The dome, the half domes and the minarets are concrete. All the domes are covered with traditional lead. The points of the cupolas surrounding the courtyard and the ones over the side doors are of marble. The points of the main dome, the ones surrounding it and the minarets are made of gold plated copper. In the interior classical Ottoman decoration dominates with marble and gold leaf, stained-glass windows and decorative tiles. The writings on the main dome, the lion chest writings, and the writings circling the dome like a belt are of gold plated brass. One main door and four side doors are made of nailed wood, without nails. The sides of the staircases are covered with marble. Small balconies are built at the same level as the landings, allowing more space for landings. The niche with a height of 10 meters and the pulpit with a height of 8.70 meters are both marble decorated with special ornaments.
The stained glass panes that create a significant effect in the interior decoration of the mosque are made of special glass and represent a transition from classical Ottoman style to modern style. The inner area of the mosque is lit by one main chandelier, 32 satellite chandeliers and 4 corner chandeliers. The main chandelier is 5.5 meters in diameter; its chains are made of crystal balls and the frames are gold plated. There is a central heating system providing heat from the floor. The Harem has a hand-woven carpet of a particular type with the same pattern seen in the Afyon Ulu Mosque. The galleries also have carpets that are machine-woven with special patterns.
The main mosque has an estimated volume of 68,696 cubic metre and a floor area of 4,288m². It is 64 x 67m, with a height of 48.5m; the dome has a diameter of 25.5m. There are four smaller half domes surrounding the central dome. These half domes are enlarged with 12 domes. The main dome rests on four large pillars (Elephant feet) each with a diameter of 3 meters. Unlike earlier mosques, the elephant feet are only 3 meters in diameter because of modern technology. The interior of the mosque is thus more spacious and there is less visual and auditory distraction than with larger columns. The main part of the mosque (Harem) is surrounded by galleries in a "U" form. The galleries have two stories, quite unlike the classical Istanbul mosques. As a result, more space is added to the harem.
The mosque as a whole is built on a reinforced concrete framework system and the outsides are covered with artificial stone. The dome, the half domes and the minarets are concrete. All the domes are covered with traditional lead. The points of the cupolas surrounding the courtyard and the ones over the side doors are of marble. The points of the main dome, the ones surrounding it and the minarets are made of gold plated copper. In the interior classical Ottoman decoration dominates with marble and gold leaf, stained-glass windows and decorative tiles. The writings on the main dome, the lion chest writings, and the writings circling the dome like a belt are of gold plated brass. One main door and four side doors are made of nailed wood, without nails. The sides of the staircases are covered with marble. Small balconies are built at the same level as the landings, allowing more space for landings. The niche with a height of 10 meters and the pulpit with a height of 8.70 meters are both marble decorated with special ornaments.
The stained glass panes that create a significant effect in the interior decoration of the mosque are made of special glass and represent a transition from classical Ottoman style to modern style. The inner area of the mosque is lit by one main chandelier, 32 satellite chandeliers and 4 corner chandeliers. The main chandelier is 5.5 meters in diameter; its chains are made of crystal balls and the frames are gold plated. There is a central heating system providing heat from the floor. The Harem has a hand-woven carpet of a particular type with the same pattern seen in the Afyon Ulu Mosque. The galleries also have carpets that are machine-woven with special patterns.
