The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

The Blue Mosque gets it name from the Blue Iznik Tiles that adorn its interior and was designed by Mehmet Aga between 1609 and 1616. The imperial architect of Sultan Ahmet I challenged traditional mosque design by designing 6 minarets. These 6 minarets, more than the usual 4, were considered sacreligious because it was attempting to rival the architecture of Mecca itself. This mosque has over 250 windows throughout the complex which allows plenty of natural sunlight to enter the mosque. The soaring domes are quite impressive.  However the lighting fixtures create a much lower datum than the domes suggest.  This immediately minimizes the grandoise effect of the domes.  If the lighting was updated the interior would be much more impressive.  Female muslims are still required to pray in seperate rooms in the back of the mosque.  Tourists are allowed in the mosque when it is not a prayer time. The Blue Mosque stands directly opposite the Byzantine's masterpiece, Hagia Sophia.

- nick svilar