Sinan: the Architect and His Works

"In his book 'Sinan The Architect and His Works' Reha Günay modestly makes no claim to interpret the work, but presents his data with useful comments in a way that encourages his readers to consider their own interpretations. The profusely illustrated book is a model of clarity. He provides a chronological table in which he juxtaposes the architecture of Sinan's lifespan with that of Europe and Asia; a map of Istanbul showing Sinan's buildings and the principal structures from previous and later eras; a page of comparative plans all to the same scale; and other valuable data. In the core of the book he decribes seven külliyes, nineteen mosques and a fair number of medreses, tombs, hamams, bridges, etc. He subdivides the mosques into square-based, single-domed; square-based, semi-domed; hexagonal-domed; octagonal-domed, and multi-based, multi-domed types. All are arranged to the same format, with plans as well as his own superb colour photographs, including aerial pictures of the külliyes and inspiring dome interiors. A chapter on the evolution of interior space is accompanied by a double page spread with comparative views looking up into sixteen domes."