Hagia Sophia Restoration Sparks Outcry Over Heavy Machinery on Historic Floor

The ongoing restoration work at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia has ignited a fierce debate and widespread public backlash after images surfaced on social media showing heavy-tonnage construction machinery, including trucks and cranes, operating inside the 1,500-year-old structure. The photographs and videos, which circulated widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), depicted vehicles maneuvering within the main prayer hall and near the historic Imperial Gate, raising serious concerns among conservationists and the public about the potential for irreparable damage to the ancient marble flooring and structural integrity.

The controversy was first reported by T24, which cited the public outcry over the presence of the trucks inside the mosque, prompting an official response from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The ministry defended the operation, stating that "the necessary calculations were made" before the machinery was allowed inside. The ministry’s statement, reported by T24, aimed to reassure the public that the process was not "haphazard or in a manner that would damage the historic floor," but was instead a controlled movement over a specially constructed platform, the result of nearly a year of preparatory work.

Experts were quick to weigh in, with art historians and conservation specialists characterizing the introduction of heavy vehicles onto the historic structure's floor as a "great risk." They argued that the practice violated established restoration ethics and conservation principles, regardless of the precautions taken. The Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was originally built as a cathedral in the 6th century and is renowned for its massive dome and intricate marble and mosaic work, making its preservation a matter of global significance.

In a detailed explanation, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism outlined the extensive measures taken to protect the historic pavement. They confirmed the installation of a multi-layered temporary flooring system designed to distribute the load and prevent damage to the underlying marble. This protective system included a vapor-permeable covering, felt, sand, 18mm plywood, a 10x10 cm wooden framework, XPS insulation boards placed between the framework, a sound-dampening mat, and finally, a top layer of diamond-plate steel (baklava sac) to ensure the floor was "completely protected."

The current comprehensive strengthening and restoration work was initiated on the structure's exterior facade and load-bearing system on the fifth anniversary of its reconversion from a museum back into a mosque. This change in status occurred on July 24, 2020, following a decision by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The ongoing restoration is part of a broader effort to ensure the long-term stability and preservation of the iconic landmark.

Photo: T24