The new stage of the renovation of Hagia Sophia will start soon. The renovation of one of the most recognizable Istanbul buildings focuses primarily on the protection of historical domes from the effects of potential earthquakes.
The renovation of a monument of nearly 1,500 has been going on for three years. Some of the renovation works performed there focus on protecting the historical dome of the monument against the threats associated with the earthquake.
– At the end of these three years, we focused on the seismic safety of Hagia Sophia, minarets, the main dome and the main arches, especially because of the expected earthquake in Istanbul – said Dr. Mehmet Selim Okten, a lecturer at the University of Mimara Sinan and a member of the Scientific Council supervising renovation.
As the AP Press Agency reminded, in 2023 the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the southern part of Turkey, killing over 53 thousand. people and destroying or damaging thousands of buildings. Istanbul did not suffer at the time, but the fears of the possibility of a similar disaster in the future intensified.
Hagia SophiaShutterstock
Protective frame
According to Turkish officials, the next phase of the building renovation will soon start. According to Dr. Okten, this is to be the most important intervention in the entire long history of this building.
– A tower crane will be installed on the eastern facade, and then we will cover the upper part of this unique building with a protective framework system. In this way, we will be able to work safer and examine the layers of the building scientifically, including damage caused by fires and earthquakes in the 10th and 14th centuries – said the expert.
He said that it is not known when the work would end, but assured that the renovation would be carried out in a transparent manner.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, as the Basilica of God's Wisdom, was founded by Emperor Justinian the Great and completed in 537 for the next 900 years was the greatest Christian cathedral in the world. After the conquest of Constantinople by Turks In 1453, the temple was transformed into a mosque, changing its decor and building minarets. The status of the building changed again after the fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I – in 1934 Hagia Sophia became a museum. In 2020, the monument was again transformed into a mosque.
Source of the main photo: Shutterstock