STRUCTURAL LOGIC OF ULAMA TILE COMPOSITIONS IN OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE: MODULARITY, SYMMETRY, AND REPETITION

Abstract

This study investigates the structural logic underlying ulama tile compositions in architectural ceramic surfaces through the concepts of modularity, symmetry, and repetition. In the existing literature, such compositions are typically examined in terms of motif, color, and stylistic features. While these approaches provide valuable insights, the structural principles governing compositional and production logic remain insufficiently addressed. In response, this study develops a theoretical framework that approaches tile surfaces as rule-based systems. The research draws on a combined analysis of theoretical studies on pattern–structure relationships and selected examples from architectural tile surfaces. Within this framework, tile compositions are examined as modular systems, with particular emphasis on boundary relations between tile units, repetition schemes, and surface continuity. The concepts of symmetry and antisymmetry are employed as key analytical tools in interpreting surface organization. The findings demonstrate that ulama compositions function as modular structures governed by specific rules. This perspective allows architectural tile surfaces to be understood not merely as decorative fields, but as systematic and analyzable organizations. The study contributes to ongoing theoretical discussions in ceramic art and offers a new framework for interpreting traditional pattern systems.