Mosque Modeling Tutorial: A Mosque in SketchUp, Step by Step

Ufuk ŞEN

May 6, 2021Updated: November 9, 20264 min read1

In our SketchUp mosque modeling series, we model a mosque step by step, one of the most challenging models you can build in SketchUp. The exterior details, and where and how to start modeling, have always raised questions. With this series we aim to answer many of the questions on your mind. In the videos we show you which path to follow, starting from the foundations of high-quality modeling.

Mosque modeling tutorial playlist

The series has ten lessons, all in a single YouTube playlist. We recommend watching the lessons in order.

Which mosque did we model?

The mosque we modeled is the Çelebi Hüsamettin Mosque in Niğde. When it was built it stood outside the town, so locals know it as the “Dışarı Camii” (the Outer Mosque). Today it sits right in the center of the city. Modeling a real building is a very good exercise for getting both the proportions and the details right. (The video is in Turkish; this guide walks through the key steps in English.)

Working on a real building also makes modeling decisions easier. You can check from photos how each part should look. You can do a similar exercise by choosing a historic building near you.

Stages of the mosque modeling tutorial

For the mosque model, we first set a path that starts from the base platform and works up to the upper parts. Then we moved on to the details of the model. In the series we pay special attention to the domes. The dome is both the most eye-catching and the most challenging part of a mosque.

As you watch the lessons, try building the mosque model yourself. Keep experimenting and testing as you practice. Modeling straight lines in SketchUp is easy. However, some organic parts of a model like this take some effort. You can look up how to use the Follow Me tool on curved surfaces in the SketchUp Help Center.

Complex modeling in SketchUp

In most of our content, we have talked about how easy architectural modeling is in SketchUp. As SketchUp evolves, the options for working with organic and complex surfaces keep growing. This makes modeling complex structures much easier than before. Still, a good result requires a sound way of working.

That is why you should keep parts in separate groups in complex models. Make repeating parts like arches, windows and ornaments into components. That way a change you make to one part is reflected in all of them at once, and the model stays organized.

Tips for modeling historic buildings

Modeling a historic building is a little different from modeling a new one. You often do not have measured drawings. That is why photos taken from different angles are your best help. You set up the proportions by using a known dimension in the photos, such as a door or a window, as a reference.

Also, do not try to model every course of stone or every ornament on a historic building. Handle these details with textures and bump maps. This method gives a faster and lighter result. Model the main parts, like the dome, arches and minaret, with care. That way the model looks convincing both from a distance and up close.

Rendering and the follow-up lesson

We created the results in the cover image with Lumion 8. If you want to learn to render with Lumion, take a look at our Lumion tutorial set. As a follow-up to this lesson, we also shared a model of a sadirvan (ablution fountain) belonging to the same mosque as a free tutorial set. To continue, go to our SketchUp ablution fountain modeling article.

This lesson was prepared by our landscape architect friend Gökhan Yılmaz. He also recorded the fountain lesson that follows. We thank him once again. If you would like to prepare a lesson like this, feel free to get in touch with us.

Download the mosque modeling tutorial model

You can download our mosque model, together with the fountain and its surroundings, from the 3D Warehouse page. Use the model for render tests or to compare with your own model.

One small reminder before we forget: do not use the models you download in commercial projects.

We also covered the first lesson of the series and the modeling strategy separately in our SketchUp mosque tutorial set article.

After you finish the series, pick another historic building near you and try modeling it with the same method. A small fountain, a tomb or an old mansion makes a good exercise. If you share your model in our Facebook group, you will also get useful feedback from other users. That way you improve your technique and bring local architectural heritage into the digital world.