International Hagia Sophia Symposium: Architecture and Preservation, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, Istanbul, September 24–25, 2020
Since its construction, Hagia Sophia has always been a symbol of admiration and attraction, a mystical edifice where one can observe both Ottoman and Byzantium legacy under one great dome. Through the ages, Hagia Sophia has possessed various identities and has served several functions and communities.
This symposium focuses on the changes that the building and its built environment have undergone due to social, economic, and political conditions. It aims to draw attention to this edifice loaded with multiple historical layers. Thus, it encourages scholarly evaluation of the changes since its construction in Late Antiquity to the present, as expressed in the art, culture, and building technology of the populations actively involved in its transformation.
The symposium invites voices from diverse disciplines to share ideas, exchange views and showcase a wealth of new material emerging from the studies and research in architecture, art history, conservation preservation, urban planning, and civil engineering.
The symposium will focus on the following main topics:
- History, architecture and art history of the monument and its urban environment
- Conservation and preservation of the monument and its urban environment
- Civil and geophysical engineering: the structural properties, earthquake risks, geophysical surveys, non-destructive tests, etc.
The organisers strongly encourage the submission of abstracts concerning current, original and unpublished work not yet presented in other events.
The symposium will be bilingual in Turkish and English languages. All abstracts must be submitted in English or Turkish.