A Parametric Exploration of the Lighting Method of the Hagia Sophia Dome

Abstract

Byzantine church design depended heavily on natural light for the generation of evocative effects supportive of the liturgical acts taking place in it. It appears that there were several effects coordinated in order to strengthen the impression of divine presence within the church. The method of ritual lighting reveals a sophisticated level of design in Byzantine churches involving a number of issues which must have formed a complete and integrated system. Specifically, one of these effects concerns the generation of light shafts within the church apse and a derivative apse geometry; a second effect concerns the lighting of the dome; a third effect concerns the church proportions in respect to the way its interior spaces ought to be viewed as well as a number of other relevant issues. Some of this work has been presented in various papers, conferences, and speeches. However, recently we have employed parametric modeling as a tool that helps us comprehend more fully and accurately the design strategies and methods involved as well as revise erroneous assumptions made in the initial stages of this research. The present paper aims at exploring the effect of the luminous dome through the aid of a 3D model focusing specifically in the system developed for the initial dome of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. While this idea has been previously explored theoretically, the 3D model provides us with more accurate results, verifies some of our conclusions and refutes others becoming in this way not only an indispensable tool that allows us to reach a more detailed and clear exploration of our initial assumptions.