The Wooden Architectural Tradition of Merkez Mosque

Merkez Mosque is an important historical structure located in Konya that reflects the wooden-column mosque tradition, distinguished by its rich decorative elements and its ability to preserve its original character despite undergoing various restorations over time.

Merkez Mosque was built in accordance with the wooden-column mosque tradition and has survived to the present day despite periods of repair, alteration, and expansion. The double-balcony minaret, added in 1959, is located at the northwest corner of the building. Designed on a rectangular plan aligned along the north–south axis, the mosque is accessed through a double-leaf wooden door decorated with carved panels.

The prayer hall extends along the north–south axis and is divided into three aisles by two rows of columns, each consisting of five pillars. A U-shaped women’s gallery, supported by the third row of columns from the qibla wall, stands out as a notable architectural feature of the interior. The mosque is illuminated by vertically aligned rectangular windows, with three on the south wall, four on both the east and west walls, and two on the north wall. The lower windows are wider than those above. The underside of the women’s gallery is adorned with a geometric decoration composed of interlocking twelve-pointed stars that cover the entire surface.

In the corners of the semi-domed niche, inscriptions reading “Allah” and “Muhammad” draw attention. The wooden minbar located in the southwest corner is a rare and finely crafted example, notable for its distinctive sections and elaborate ornamentation. Its front, sides, and crown are embellished with vegetal motifs, while the side panels repeat the twelve-pointed star geometric composition seen beneath the women’s gallery. One of the most striking elements of the minbar is the pulpit or platform section, resembling a large wooden structure topped with a pointed canopy. The mosque’s upper covering consists of wooden planks laid over a beam-supported ceiling. Originally designed with a flat roof, it was later converted into a hipped roof and covered with Marseille-type tiles.