ABSTRACT
How do we tell the story of a 1600-year-old building? In architectural heritage, this question is one of representation. There is also the question, however, of choosing which story, or rather stories, to tell. St. John of Studius Monastery, later known as the Mosque of Imrahor, in present-day Istanbul, Turkey, is slated for an imminent and controversial renovation, which brings the issue of preserving myriad aspects of its tangible and intangible heritage to the forefront. A case like this exposes the urgency and significance of finding alternative modes of studying and recording buildings with complex histories through available and emerging digital tools. While effective cultural preservation projects utilize robust archiving methods, they also rely on design and representation so as to “come alive” as platforms for new scholarship and community engagement.
