Orta Bizans mimarisinde kornişin muhtemel yapısal katkılarının incelenmesi üzerine bir öneri
A proposal on the examinatıon of the probable structural contributions of the cornice in Middle Byzantine architecture
Yazar: İLKNUR ÇELEBİ
Danışman: DOÇ. DR. BİLGE AR
İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi / Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü / Mimarlık Ana Bilim Dalı / Mimarlık Tarihi Bilim Dalı
Derece: Yüksek Lisans, 2024
Konu: Mimarlık = Architecture

Özet:
ÖZET 
Mimarlık tarihi boyunca korniş elemanı, mimari tasarımda hem strüktürel hem de 
dekoratif rol üstlenmiştir. Antik dönemden günümüz mimarisine birçok farklı alanda 
kullanılmıştır. Kimi zaman pencere açıklıkları etrafında rastladığımız korniş, kimi 
zaman katları birbirinden ayıran bir eleman olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bulunduğu 
yapıda hem iç hem de dış mekânda bulunabileceği gibi birçok farklı biçimde 
görülebilmektedir. Mimaride biçim ve işlev ilişkilerini bezemenin önünde tutan 
modern anlayışın baskın olduğu dönemlerde, kullanılan yapı teknolojileri dolayısıyla 
strüktürel işlevlerinin de ortadan kalkmasıyla birlikte eski üslupların amaçsızca 
kullanıldığı bir taklit olarak nitelenip eleştirilmiş ve reddedilmiş oldukları dönem 
haricinde kornişler yapıda üstlendikleri işlevler, kullanıldıkları dönemlerin modaları 
ve mimari anlayışlarına göre farklı şekillerde yorumlanmış, pek çok devrin mimari 
görsel kültürünün vazgeçilmez bir elemanı olarak içselleştirilmiştir.  
Mimaride farklı tarihi ve coğrafi bağlamlarda farklı işlevlerde ancak aynı terimle 
anılarak karşımıza çıkan kornişin Bizans mimarisi için diğer dönemlerdeki 
kullanımlarından ayrılan benzersiz strüktürel rolü, bu alandaki çalışmalar içinde 
yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Çalışmamız Bizans mimarlık tarihi alanındaki bu eksiği 
doldurmak üzere korunmuş dönem yapıları üzerinden yapılan çözümlemeler ve yapı 
inşa pratikleri üzerine yapılan incelemelere odaklanmıştır. Çalışmamız kapsamında 
kornişin literatürde var olan tanımlarının mimarlık ve Bizans terimlerine odaklanan 
sözlükler ile Bizans mimarlık tarihini konu alan referans kitaplar üzerinden yapılan 
incelemesinde de bu benzersiz rolün Bizans mimarisi bağlamında değerlendirilmediği 
tespit edilebilmektedir.  
İncelemelerimizde birtakım ortak üslup özellikleri ile tanımlayabileceğimiz yeterli 
sayıda örneğe erişebildiğimiz Konstantinopolis dini mimari örnekleri tercih edilmiş, 
çalışma kendine has bir Bizans mimari üslubunun tanımlanabildiği Orta Bizans 
dönemine tarihlenebilen yapılar ile sınırlandırılmıştır. Bu yapılarda strüktürel olarak 
kornişe gereksinim duyulan tonoz başlangıç seviyeleri, kubbe geçişleri, katlar arası 
geçiş gibi yerlerde bu elemanların işlevsel katkısı incelenmiş, ayrıca biçim ve 
konumları ile inşa sürecine dahil ediliş şekilleri etüt edilmiştir.  
Çalışmamız geniş kapsamda dekoratif bir öğe olarak algılanan kornişin Bizans yapısal 
sistemlerindeki rolünü tanımlamış, kullanıldığı farklı dönemlere göre doğrudan 
bezemeli ve profilli görünen dekoratif yüzeyleri haricinde görünmeyen yapısal 
önemlerine odaklanmıştır. İç ve dış cephelerde gözlemlenebilen bezemeli yüzeyeler 
bir yana, bu çalışma yapım esnasında korniş bloklarının duvar örgüsü içinde kalan ve 
gözle görülmeyen ancak asıl işlevsel görevleri üstlenen kısımlarını tanımlamayı 
hedeflemiştir.

Abstract:
SUMMARY 
Throughout the history of architecture, the cornice element has been a prominent 
feature, serving both structural and decorative roles in a wide array of architectural 
contexts. From the classical orders of ancient Greece and Rome to the complex styles 
of medieval and modern architecture, the cornice has adapted to different periods, 
regions, and building technologies. This versatility has ensured its presence in the built 
environment for millennia, making it one of the most enduring elements in 
architectural design. The cornice can be found in various locations within buildings, 
such as the perimeter of rooflines, along the tops of walls, or framing windows and 
doors. In some cases, it serves as a transitional feature between different floors, 
marking a visual and functional separation. This dual role of the cornice—as both a 
structural necessity and a decorative embellishment—has allowed it to persist in 
architectural history. It has played a vital part in shaping the character of countless 
architectural styles, from the grand temples of antiquity to the ornate cathedrals of the 
Renaissance, and into the sleek designs of the modern era.  
The cornice's role in architecture, however, has evolved considerably over time. In 
classical architecture, it formed an essential part of the entablature, functioning as a 
protective feature by directing water away from the walls and aiding in load 
distribution. This dual function reinforced its structural importance. However, as 
architectural styles shifted during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the cornice 
assumed a more decorative character, with its ornamental potential fully realized 
through intricate moldings and profiles that became integral to the aesthetic of façades 
and interiors. Despite its transformation, the cornice retained a balance between form 
and function throughout these periods. 
The advent of modernist architecture in the 20th century, with its emphasis on the 
rejection of unnecessary ornamentation, marked a critical turning point in the 
perception and use of cornices. Influenced by movements such as the Bauhaus and 
International Style, modernist architects criticized traditional architectural details, 
including cornices, viewing them as extraneous elements that contradicted the ethos 
of simplicity and functionalism. This led to the widespread omission of cornices in 
modernist architectural design, as they were deemed superfluous vestiges of past 
architectural styles. Modernist critiques framed the cornice as an ornamental feature 
disconnected from the structural requirements of buildings, further contributing to its 
diminished use during this period. 
Nonetheless, the decline of the cornice in modernist architecture did not signify its 
complete disappearance. In the latter half of the 20th century, the postmodern 
architectural movement revitalized interest in historical forms, reintroducing cornices 
into contemporary design, albeit often in a stylized or exaggerated manner. 
Postmodern architects sought to challenge the rigid functionalism of modernism by 
reinterpreting traditional architectural elements with a sense of irony and playfulness. 
This revival of the cornice—whether as a deliberate reference to historical styles or as 
an abstracted architectural gesture—underscored the persistent relevance of this 
element. The enduring presence of the cornice across architectural history highlights 
its adaptability to changing stylistic and technological paradigms, as well as its 
capacity to oscillate between structural necessity and ornamental enhancement. 
Within this extensive architectural trajectory, the application of the cornice in 
Byzantine architecture presents a particularly underexplored and unique case. Despite 
the considerable attention given to the role of cornices in classical and post-classical 
architectural traditions, the specific structural function of the cornice within Byzantine 
architecture has received minimal scholarly focus. This oversight is particularly 
striking given that, in the context of Byzantine architecture, the cornice transcended 
its conventional ornamental role to serve a critical structural function. Unlike in many 
other architectural traditions, where the cornice primarily served decorative purposes, 
in Byzantine architecture it was integral to the building's structural system, playing a 
potential supportive role in stabilizing the construction and facilitating architectural 
transitions.  
This study aims to address the gap in the scholarship by investigating the functional 
significance of the cornice in Byzantine architecture, particularly within the context of 
religious structures in Constantinople. Focusing primarily on buildings from the 
Middle Byzantine period, the research explores how cornices contributed to both the 
aesthetic and structural dimensions of Byzantine architecture. This period is notable 
for its highly developed architectural forms, particularly in religious buildings, which 
are characterized by their complex use of domes, vaults, and arches. The cornice, often 
employed at critical junctures such as the transition between domes and walls or 
between different storeys, was integral to the structural coherence of these buildings. 
One of the key contributions of this study is its re-evaluation of the cornice as not 
merely a decorative element, but as a functional architectural feature embedded within 
the construction techniques of Byzantine builders. The research reveals that in many 
cases, cornices in Byzantine buildings were incorporated into the masonry as load
bearing components, functioning to distribute weight and stabilize the structure. These 
embedded cornice blocks, which were often concealed from view, played a crucial role 
in the architectural integrity of Byzantine buildings, particularly in ensuring the 
stability of domes, vaults, and arches. By examining these structural roles, this study 
challenges the prevailing notion that the cornice in Byzantine architecture was 
primarily ornamental. 
The methodology of the research involves an extensive analysis of preserved Middle 
Byzantine structures in Constantinople, focusing on religious buildings where the 
cornice played a potential supportive role in both structural and decorative capacities. 
Detailed examinations of construction techniques, archival research, and building 
analysis have been employed to uncover the specific ways in which cornices were 
integrated into the overall design and construction of these buildings. This approach 
allows for a more nuanced understanding of the cornice's role in Byzantine 
architecture, revealing its significance not only as an aesthetic feature but also as an 
indispensable component of the structural system. 
Furthermore, the study highlights how the cornice in Byzantine architecture 
contributed to the visual and spatial coherence of the building. In addition to its structural functions, the cornice often served to accentuate the rhythm and proportions 
of the building's design, reinforcing the architectural composition through its 
placement and profile. The dual role of the cornice—as both a structural and aesthetic 
element—exemplifies the Byzantine architects' ability to integrate form and function 
in their designs. This study posits that the cornice, far from being a secondary 
decorative feature, was central to the success of Byzantine architectural innovations, 
particularly in the construction of large-scale religious buildings. 
In conclusion, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of the 
cornice in Byzantine architecture, offering a reassessment of its function within the 
broader architectural and structural systems of the time. By shifting the focus from the 
cornice's ornamental aspects to its hidden structural contributions, this study opens up 
new avenues for interpreting Byzantine construction techniques and architectural 
aesthetics. The findings underscore the importance of reconsidering architectural 
elements that have often been dismissed as purely decorative, demonstrating that the 
cornice in Byzantine architecture was, in fact, a key component of both the visual and 
structural framework of buildings. This research not only fills a gap in the scholarship 
on Byzantine architecture but also provides a broader insight into the enduring 
relevance of the cornice across architectural history, illustrating its capacity to bridge 
the divide between aesthetic expression and structural functionality across diverse 
periods and styles.