Abrahamic Family House
Location: Cultural District of Saadyiat Island
Execution Year: 2020
Status: Concept Design – Competition Entry
The Project is a “House” for Abrahamic religions with a prominent mosque, church and visitor centre that focuses on the common history and values of the main Abrahamic religions and a shared public park. The Project is located at a prominent site within Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, UAE and is surrounded by high profile cultural destinations and architectural icons.
The Project seeks to add to the existing fabric of tolerance by building a new Catholic Church and a Jame’e Mosque, together with a Visitor center for Abrahamic Religions, with exceptional design, in a prominent location.
Abrahamic religions have existed as one single community for centuries before being separated into three different religions but what people fail to un¬derstand is, even though these religions are different, they are the same in many other ways.
As we point¬ed out earlier, both Mosque “Jame’e” and Church have the same meaning; however, the similarities between the two religions are not confined only by the meaning of the worship place but both religions carry the same values, same morals and also both religions worship the same God.
In our solution, we wanted to emphasize on one dynamic aspect when developing our project and that is the orientation for both buildings. We wanted to create a relationship with these axis as they both represent a very important message that needs to be shown, of which the Mosque is oriented towards the Qibla/Mecca, while the Church is oriented towards the East rising sun which represent the light of Jesus.
THE 7 DAYS OF CREATION: The natural elements that are intended to be used in developing our design were taken from the “Birth of creation”, a belief that is common in both the Bible and the Quran. Both The Bible and The Quran state that in the first 3 days of the birth of creation, God created the environments and various habitats of earth.
Day 1: Light/day and darkness/night.
Day 2: The sky, which separates the waters above from the waters below.
Day 3: The waters below the sky are gathered into one place, and dry land appears.
So the birth of our project starts by taking these ele¬ments and emphasize on the relationship between them in order to create a holy experience for the visi¬tors.
The monument of acceptance is a powerful emblem of integration and acceptance of each other’s faith. Through the monument which is a physical manifes¬tation of the vertical elements of both Mosque and Church to embrace each other. The monument sits in the center of the Square of Tolerance.
The Square of Tolerance is the common space weav¬ing the two buildings. The central square receives people and educate them about the commonalities between the two religions.
The Project landscape concept follows the idea of a white fabric as a common ele¬ment in different religions. Imams and priests are using the white fabric as a symbol of God, purity and peace. In this case, the fabric is used to create an organic topography cut by the building.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Services: Design & Supervision
Status: Completed
Type: Cultural
We show a simple contemporary Mosque of a 1000 prayers, as a prominent and dignified place where worshipers can meet their Creator. For believers, Islam is the nucleus, the central core of their lives. A mosque is clearly identified by Holy Qur’an as a place for prayer, spiritual reflection and the act of prayer is a mean of communication between the worshipper and Allah.
The intention and philosophy of this design is to create a space which outlines the formation of a pattern developed by worshippers at Kaa’ba which is concentric and radial. The mosque is symmetrical on the approach axis, with circular columns surrounding it to strengthen the sense that prayer is at the core of life. Our intention from the start is that the landscape design is fully integrated into the philosophy of the project.
The Concept flows from two elements in life itself: light and water. The building is conceived of as a white pearl embedded in the surrounding untouched forest. Its delicate shell appears to float in the sunlight which penetrates it through its finely crafted perforations into an interior sensitively composed for religious reflection and prayer. This Pearl sits in a calm pool of water. On one side facing the Ka’aba a crescent is engraved. At the end of the sheet of calm water stands a white minaret that shows the direction of Ka’aba, at the top of the minaret there is a simple golden crescent.
Location: Brunei
Services : Concept to Construction
Status : Completed
Type : Cultural, Religious
The new Academy will be designed in harmony with the natural surroundings and it will reflect the rich culture of the Emirate of Fujairah.
The design is been inspired by the natural elements of the city, such as mountains, trees and their colors.
Our proposal focus on creating spaces and buildings that support and enhance student learning in all of its diverse forms, creating spaces that promote dialoge, collaboration and exchange of ideas.
The design will create spaces that stimulate creativity, thoughts and freedom of expression and provide eagerness for learning and discovery.
Distinguished in its innovative design approach through efficient space planning with provision for future expansion, implementation of latest sustainable technologies, smart selection of materials and systems.
The master plan shall be divided into two zones. The private zone will be for students and staff accomodations, including their facilities.
The public zone will include the community facilities, the Academy blocks and outdoor spaces.
These have been located and designed to attract maximum footfall.
The main outdoor Amphitheatre is designed on the top of the central block and will become the focal point of the project
Location: Fujairah, UAE
Services : Concept Design
Status : Competition Entry
Type : Educational; Masterplan
Location: Miami, Florida - USA
Services: Architectural Design
Status: Competition Entry
Year: 2009
Type: Cultural / Hospitality
The museum is not only a place for exhibition but an experience in itself by creating diverse set of scenes that interacts with the visitor’s inner feelings. Its façade and silhouette is an abstraction of what the emigrants lived during a critical moment of their existence, seeking better life and opportunities.
Structural surface gradually transforms from the land to the water. Entering the building you find yourself emerge in different density of light. This is obtained through different patterns of the glass scattered on the building giving you a sense of disorientation. As you go further in the exhibition areas, towards the sea, brighter and more positive spaces are appearing.
The iconic building will be pointing to the sea in the memory of those who came towards a better life in search for a new beginning.
Zayed University seeks to prepare and educate Emirati students for a successful professional future. The brief asked for an exciting and forward-looking architecture which would appeal to the students.
Located on the road to Abu Dhabi Airport, this project is master planned to form an important entrance to the proposed new Capital District Centre. The development will be a social gathering-point for international, regional and local cultural events as well as accommodating the Zayed University itself. This seat of higher learning contains both administrative facilities and living quarters, facilities for research and teaching, as well as a convention centre.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE, MiddleEast
Services : Concept Design
Status : Competition Entry
Type : Educational
Located in a park environment, this semi-private prayer hall and majlis in residential compound is developed via parametric design approach, where the form is informed by the existing surrounding landscape. The structure would be made of glu-laminated material.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Middle East
Services : Concept Design
Status : On Hold
Type : Semi-Private, Cultural
A contemporary design for 2,000 worshippers, which is approached through Islamic gardens with terraces designed to explain and symbolize the 5 pillars of Islam. Use is made of Arabic calligraphy brought into the design on a large scale to proclaim the religious message of the project. This includes calligraphy used as an external shading screen on the inverted dome of the main prayer hall.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Middle East
Services : Concept Design
Status : Competition Entry
Type : Cultural, Religious
Inspired by a traditional fort architecture of the region with the vision to have a feeling of permanence and solidity, as well as a visual harmony with their surroundings. Our researchers visited several forts in the UAE which included one being restored by a team of specially trained earth workers. We also commissioned an Arab scholar to provide historic research material on forts from a wider geographical area. Looking into the past and the future by carrying-out energy modeling on the design to assess any thermal insulation benefits the thicker walls may provide. We also investigated the prospects for using traditional mud instead of modern plaster on the outside of the walls, looking at these alternatives from the point of view of maintenance and aesthetic value.
Location: Liwa, UAE, Middle East
Services : Concept Design
Status : Competition Entry
Type : Public, Government Buildings
This very private prayer hall was extremely fast paced project, where from concept design through construction to hand over time took only 3 months as per Client's requirements. The design is simple, minimalist, with capacity of 160 worshipers.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Middle East
Services : Concept to Supervision (Architecture & Interior Design)
Status : Completed 2015
Type : Cultural, Religious, Mosque
The project aspires holistically integrate the worshipper journey through the building mass and create an intimate private “garden” between life and meditation, which intends to redefine the vernacular spatial transformation in response to the social, economic and technological change that takes place over time, while still keep traces of tradition.
The layout respects traditional Emirati vernacular architecture while taking into the consideration its context and contemporary position. The walls are to be finished basically with two materials: a. handmade mud blocks cladding - casted, reinforced with and baked; b. white rough stucco. Strategically selected places will be highlighted with calligraphy engraved in a rough rustic steel material.
See the research for the project HERE.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Middle East
Services : Competition Concept
Status : On Hold
Type : Cultural, Religious
This rational layout enables faculty and students alike to enjoy a blend of interrelated activities and facilities on this urban site. The six partly-elevated colleges are gathered around a central “hub of intelligence” which contains the campus library and students community centre, and provides for flexibility in use as well as efficient construction. The Deanship at the entry corner of the site and the sports complex at the opposite corner are aligned along the site’s diagonal axis.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE, MiddleEast
Services : Concept Design
Status : Competition Entry
Type : Educational; Masterplan
