u/HelicopterCurious772

To recreate the authentic 1500 year old stone masonry grid, I implemented a strict 1.1cm rule 1cm for the pure stone height and 1mm for the mortar joint spacing. Every vertical joint is intentionally offset to respect the historical Byzantine structural integrity and interlocking static balance.

The truth is, I am building this impossible project under total physical limitations. No professional studio, no CNC, and no industrial lasers just old, cheap, basic hand tools on a crowded kitchen table.

This is a story no one knows about ELIZI. It is not a perfect model built with modern privileges. It is a 100% human model built entirely on pure patience and manual willpower.

Through textural analysis, a cardboard monument is now being transformed into stone.

To recreate the authentic 3D seam textures of the historic 1500 year old lead plates, I am using a unique method: laying 0.40mm transparent fishing line precisely over the hand-drawn grid lines.

The truth is, I am building this impossible project under total limitations. No professional studio, no workspace just a crowded kitchen table. No expensive equipment just old, cheap, basic tools. No protective masks, no industrial lasers, and no CNC. Sometimes, I don't even have the budget to buy raw materials; but the moment I find cardboard, I immediately push through.

This is a story no one knows about ELIZI. It is not a perfect model built with modern privileges. It is a 100% human model built entirely on pure patience and manual willpower.

The texture of all wall sections will continue from the roof textures.

ELIZI | Miniature Architecture and Structural Art. No CNC. No lasers. No AI. 100% handmade.

ELIZI explores the deep balance of geometry, light, and shadow through pure hand craftsmanship. These are not fast-paced models. Each project takes months or years built piece by piece, from the smallest structural element to the whole. A long-term commitment, not a show.

Part of a vision spanning decades: 34 Masterpieces The Engineering Constitution. From ancient sacred geometry to the space age, 34 of the world's most iconic structures will be rebuilt entirely by hand.

From Wall-E to Hagia Sophia and beyond.

Every building leaves a mark.

Now, we are continuing the textural work, starting from the dome and roof of the main building core of Hagia Sophia. The textural work continues in four directions from the dome to the ground. Like the building's cardboard structure, the textural work is also done 100% by hand.

As you know, I've reached the most important point in the Hagia Sophia project: the wall textures. Considering the Byzantine architectural logic and the changes over the 1500-year period, I'm evaluating theses and research I've found from external sources. While researching stonework from the Byzantine to the Ottoman period, I encountered a situation. I shared the results of my research in detail with artificial intelligence. As a result of the documents I provided, I encountered many masonry techniques in the construction process of the brick walls. I concluded that Hagia Sophia was built using the opus mixtum technique before the Fossati brothers. After the Fossati brothers, during the period when Mimar Sinan strengthened the structural integrity, regular buttress supports were created from cut stones. I combined all the data and wanted to see the final stage in artificial intelligence, and I produced 4 studies.

Model 1 (Structural Analysis): This model treats the main body of Hagia Sophia and the Byzantine Opus Mixtum masonry (stone-brick balance) as a bare, technical schematic.

Model 2 (Historical Layering): A more "realistic" model highlighting Ottoman interventions and Fossati restorations, showing the building's repairs with a "patchwork" approach.

Model 3 (Buttresses and Static Emphasis): A "static analysis" focused model examining how the buttresses added by Architect Sinan changed the structural statics.

Model 4 (Hybrid/Synthesis): An "integrated" model summarizing the entire history of the building, combining Byzantine, Sinan, and Fossati touches in a single model (with color codes and texture differences).

I have uploaded all the information I gathered from these studies and my AI research. I applied four different period construction wall samples to the main core building of Hagia Sophia. Now, in the final stage of my project, I am sharing these four AI-generated test building textures with you to complete the wall texture. The 4 images I created contain sample textures. I would be very grateful if you could number the image where the structure should appear among these 4 visuals.

Note: The images are results generated by feeding data I gathered through research into artificial intelligence. However, all theses and research entered into the AI ​​have been verified.

I would appreciate your feedback: Which of these four models best reflects the authentic material transitions and masonry logic in the evolution of Hagia Sophia? Your expertise in textural accuracy will be invaluable for the final stage of my project.

Excerpts from the construction process. Building the main dome was a huge challenge, but studying historical engineering and ancient architecture during the construction phase was an incredibly creative process. A detailed construction documentary will be released very soon.

"I am currently working on a high-detail scale project of the Hagia Sophia, focusing on the historical layers of the building. I’ve reached the final stages and I am determined to represent the structure as it was before the 19th-century Fossati restoration, which covered much of the original exterior in the iconic 'orange plaster.'

I want my model to reveal the underlying Byzantine brick and stone masonry technique—the authentic alternating layers that define its structural character.

Most modern photos show the plastered, uniform exterior. I am struggling to find high-quality references or old photographs that clearly show the exposed masonry sections before or during restoration work.

What I am looking for:

Any archival photos or detailed sketches (especially from the 19th or early 20th century) showing the exposed brick-and-stone walls.

Advice or visual resources on the original 'horasan' mortar patterns between these layers to better guide my texture studies (peeling plaster vs. exposed stone).

I’ve attached photos of my current texture experiments—trying to recreate these layers—and would appreciate any expert guidance on whether these match the historical reality.

Any leads or personal archive references would be incredibly helpful for my project’s accuracy."

Because this process involves 1500 years of Byzantine and Ottoman craftsmanship, it will begin with testing. I cannot afford to make mistakes. I must reflect the spirit of Hagia Sophia in the best way possible.

Justinian period

Byzantine repairs

Interventions by Architect Sinan

Fossati restoration

Republican era restorations

Modern restorations

Section | Texture

Main dome | Lead character

Semi-domes | Lead character

Roofs | Lead character | | Buttresses | Stone/plaster

Main walls | Plaster + stone

Minaret bodies | Cut stone feel | | Tombs | Smoother plaster/stone

The relief filling procedure will be completed on Friday. There will be a two-day drying period, after which tissue analysis will be performed.

By applying a thin layer of relief to the surface, all irregularities and roughness in the parts are eliminated. This is the preparatory stage for the texture work for all parts in the Hagia Sophia project. The second stage is divided into two parts: filling and texture. You can find process videos on my YouTube channel.

I've completed the final micro-buttresses around the dome. As of today, the process has moved to the second phase: filling and texturing. In this phase, textural studies will be conducted on all parts of the original structure, essentially a relief process. Each part will be examined individually. The reason for this is that I will try to recreate the textural changes over the 1500-year period. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this process. Stay tuned.

The dark fantasy armor and details will be made and painted from recycled materials. It will be handcrafted and made from recycled materials. Warrior elf, dark fantasy. I'm not making any claims about this; it's just a recycling project done for relaxation.

The rough cardboard work for the Hagia Sophia project is finished. Before starting the second phase, the texture and filling work, I started a short interim project to change my visual habits for a few days. The reason for this is that I did this interim project so that I could change my visual habits regarding the structural integrity of Hagia Sophia and continue without making mistakes. This project is a recycling project consisting of waste styrofoam, waste leather, and waste old Barbie toys.

All structural details and depth layers have been created. The development process is ongoing.

Part 1: Final process, main dome connection.

The raw cardboard Hagia Sophia project, part one, is nearing completion. Part two: layers and texture.

Quarter and half domes will be made for this piece tonight as well.

The raw cardboard Hagia Sophia project, part one, is nearing completion. Part two: layers and texture.

I didn't like the depth I achieved the first time; I wasn't satisfied with it, so I redid it.

In the final stages, the raw cardboard needs to be shaped. Only two more pieces need to be assembled to complete the raw version of the Hagia Sophia project. Countdown to the second stage: relief texture.

Once the detailing of these last two pieces is complete, textural studies will begin on all sections of Hagia Sophia. All pieces will be textured onto cardboard, depicting the processes they have undergone throughout their 1500-year journey.

I'd like to thank everyone who supported me throughout this process by sharing their experiences. I also want to thank all the groups on Reddit that featured me. I know you were there for me throughout this journey. This isn't like other everyday projects; everything is analog and handmade. It's a process with a story, and you'll witness how far humanity pushes its limits under difficult circumstances.

This is ELIZI's story. Join me on our journey; let's build the 34 most complex structures of the world together.

The fifth phase of the "In-Depth Processes" project and the process for this section are complete. We can now move on to the next phase.

The fourth phase of the "Depth Processes" project is ongoing.