Typological Evolution in the Early Ottoman Period: The Case of Cross-Axial Mosques

Mosques count among the most prominent building types in Ottoman architecture, with cross-axial mosques representing a distinct spatial configuration from the Early Ottoman period (1299–1506). This study investigates the hypothesis that these mosques evolved from compartmentalized organizations toward more unified and integrated layouts. Six mosques built between 1336–1339 and 1486 in Bursa, Istanbul, and Amasya are analyzed. The research employs axial line analysis to measure intelligibility (R²), using connectivity and integration metrics, and isovist analysis to assess cellularity through circularity. Excluding the Mosque of Orhan Gazi (R² = 0.9067), intelligibility values show a chronological increase from 0.8158 to 0.9399. Circularity values also exhibit an upward trend, rising from 2.5638 to 4.4022, with a single deviation in the Mosque of Murad I (3.6794). These findings provide computational evidence for the evolution of cross-axial mosques and a replicable analytical framework.