A comparative analysis of the digital re-constructions of muqarnas systems: The case study of Sultanhani muqarnas in Central Anatolia

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative case study on the digital modeling workflows of a particular muqarnas system. After the literature review and the definition of the context, several digital modeling workflows were described as element-based, tessellation-based and block-based workflows by using computer-aided design and parametric modeling software. As the case study of this research, these workflows were tested on a muqarnas design located at the Sultanhani Caravanserai in Central Anatolia. Then, workflows were compared according to three qualities: analytical, generative, and performative. The outcomes of element-based workflow has more analytical solutions for the study, where tessellation-based workflow has more generative potential and block-based workflow is more performative.