Turkey begins installing protective covering over the dome of Hagia Sophia
A temporary covering will be installed to preserve the structures, mosaics, and ensure workers' safety during the cathedral's restoration.
In Turkey, specialists have begun installing a protective covering over the main dome of Hagia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul. The work is being carried out as part of a large-scale project to restore and reinforce the temple's structures. This is reported by Türkiye Today.
The restoration has entered a new phase following the installation of a temporary steel framework, which is now being covered with a special protective membrane. This shelter is necessary to protect the historic building, its interior mosaics, and workers from precipitation during the repair or replacement of the dome's lead covering. According to the scientific committee's calculations, without a temporary roof the cathedral could suffer damage from weather conditions.
Before work began, engineers carried out calculations of weight balance and wind loads to ensure the temporary structure would not damage the original architectural fabric. A grey fire-resistant material was chosen for protection, which visually harmonizes with the lead surface of the dome. The presence of the canopy allows craftsmen to simultaneously reinforce the exterior of the dome and carry out conservation of the mosaic decoration inside the building.
Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy emphasized that the process is proceeding under the strict guidance of a scientific committee. According to him, the main goal of the project is to hand down the shrine to future generations in the most reinforced condition possible, while preserving its original character. Despite the large-scale construction work, Hagia Sophia cathedral continues to function.
Previously, Turkish Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy called Hagia Sophia a symbol of the Ottoman conquest.
