Provincial interpretations and regional diversification dynamics in the classical period of Ottoman architecture: The case of Vezirhan Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque

This study investigates the transformation of Ottoman classical-period mosque architecture as it moved from its centralized, geometrically codified form in 16th–17th century Istanbul to the Anatolian provinces, where diverse local conditions fostered typological and representational innovations. Rooted in field-based architectural documentation and comparative typological analysis, the research centers on the Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Vezirhan—a distinctive structure combining a domed front portico with a timber-roofed prayer hall, integrated within a roadside külliye complex. The following key findings emerge from the study: (1) A classification of four principal mosque typologies in provincial Anatolia: centralized domed, single-unit domed, timber-roofed, and hybrid plans; (2) The identification of the Vezirhan Mosque as a paradigmatic hybrid structure, which exhibits (i) a hybrid spatial configuration, (ii) a departure from canonical domed schemes through the use of a timber-roofed interior, and (iii) material choices grounded in regional construction traditions, such as rubble masonry and lime-based mortars; (3) An emphasis on how architectural materials and techniques shaped both structural solutions and aesthetic expressions in the provinces; (4) A comparative framework that situates Ottoman provincial mosques within broader center–periphery differentiation models, drawing parallels with examples from the Italian Renaissance, French Gothic/Renaissance, Safavid Iran, and Mamluk Egypt. Ultimately, the study argues that such provincial mosques are not derivative reflections of imperial models but original architectural expressions embodying local identity, regional resourcefulness, and cultural meaning—contributing actively to the transregional historiography of Ottoman architecture.