Steel platform to reinforce Hagia Sophia's most earthquake-vulnerable dome section
Restoration crews at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque are installing a steel platform inside the eastern half-dome, the structure’s most seismic-sensitive area, while the site stays open to worshippers and tourists.
Structural analyses have singled out the eastern half-dome of Hagia Sophia as the most vulnerable component in a severe earthquake, leading to the installation of a steel platform and scaffolding inside that section. The project, the most extensive undertaken in the Republic era, combines reinforcement of the main dome and half-domes with careful conservation of original mosaics, painted decorations, and marble surfaces.
Experts such as architect Hasan Fırat Diker and civil engineer Mehmet Selim Ökten say work will proceed while the mosque remains open for worship and visitors. Protective measures, including a membrane-covered temporary dome, enable safe access for cleaning, sampling of mortar and plaster, and eventual restoration of lead coverings. Scholars emphasize that the aim is to preserve Hagia Sophia’s multilayered identity rather than revert it to a single historical period. The General Directorate of Foundations, under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, supervises the effort alongside the Scientific Committee and Conservation Board.
Why it matters
Preserving Hagia Sophia safeguards a UNESCO-listed monument and a symbol of cultural heritage for future generations.
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