If you know anything about Islamic architecture, you know Mimar Sinan. Architect to the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Sinan was responsible for creating more than 300 style-defining structures in his lifetime, including Istanbul's famous Suleiman Mosque.
A new exhibition on Sinan's work is now on view at London's Building Centre. Titled 'Sinan: The First Starchitect', the displays were created by a team of British architects who traveled to Istanbul this past November to research Sinan's ceramics, mosque designs, and feats of engineering.
Curated by Rory Olcayto, the exhibition aims to correct mainstream ignorance of Sinan's remarkable impact on Istanbul's architecture and the people who continue to use his buildings today.
The architecture firms contributing research to the exhibition (organized by Turkishceramics and the Architects' Journal) include Ian Ritchie Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, DSDHA, Reiach and Hall Architects, Sam Jacob Studio and Bureau de Change.
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