Ray of Light Mosque / ZEST Architecture

Oct 2010

By Sebastian J — Filed under: Religious Architecture , Dubai, ZEST Architecture

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Barcelona-based ZEST Architecture shared with us their proposal for the Dubai Mosque Competition organized by Via Traffic. The mosque, called Ray of Light, has a groundbreaking concept allowing equal access to the prayer room for men and women with a metaphysical separation by means of light. See more images and architect’s description after the break.

Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

With the Ray of Light Mosque, ZEST architecture has sought to design a modern mosque where men and women can pray together in one space, while respecting the need for a certain degree of separation. The prayer hall has a flowing dome-like geometry which is separated into two halves by a strip of glass (the “Ray of Light”), through which sunlight streams in to form a metaphysical separation between the sexes. At night this effect is achieved with artificial lighting. One half of the dome folds upwards to form an integrated minaret.

The mosque is entered via a gently rising ramp leading past the ablution areas towards the main stairs and culminating visually in the “Ray of Light”. The entrances to other functions of the building have been placed on the other sides so as not to disturb this purifying path.

Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

The plan of the prayer hall is rotated 45 degrees, with the entire shape pointing towards the Kaaba, whereby female believers are situated behind male believers, following the custom of the first (open air) mosques.

The prayer hall rises up above a partly underground building which houses the ablution areas, the library and a community centre grouped around a cooling patio. To bring additional light to the underground areas, ZEST designed a pattern of roof lights inspired by Islamic motifs which lights up at night like a jewel, thanks to the use of LEDs. The entire building has been designed to minimize energy use. The shape of the dome (made of heavily insulated white coated ferro-cement) provides maximum daytime reflection of sunlight and maximum nighttime cooling, while the strip of glass between the two halves has operable windows in order to allow cross ventilation.

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

: Courtesy of ZEST Architecture

Cite:
Jordana , Sebastian . "Ray of Light Mosque / ZEST Architecture" 10 Oct 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 26 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/81209>

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emma says:

i like that simple ones

# October 10, 2010 at 14:39

kam says:

This approach is superficial!

# October 10, 2010 at 14:57

Danny says:

This is shocking when a holy prayer building like a mosque been designing by non muslim. They should give to all talented muslim architect around the world.

# October 10, 2010 at 23:20

-2

rntvgz says:

It is equally terrible when non-muslims make the toilet paper that muslims use, or the furniture that they sit on. How could infidels understand the incredibly special and different bums that muslims possess? Their bums, like everything else about them, are SPECIAL. And DIFFERENT. Ordinary, human spirituality does not apply to these special and different beings.

Furthermore, they are the only people not only permitted, but expected, to practice racial, sexual and religious discrimination. The good book [THE Good Book, not your inferior one], decrees it. Non-muslim architects, or anyone else, should not have jobs! Because they should not exist! Infidels.

# October 11, 2010 at 00:03

A says:

INFIDEL lol

# October 11, 2010 at 08:26

ignatiouspug says:

It looks like a stingray. Muslims should not be permitted to co-opt symbols and imagery more apt to animism. Those are reserved.

Plus, what a cheap pun.

# October 11, 2010 at 00:12

jasper says:

….out of our gibberish experiments (prob. student work) that we are showing came a sketch (a preconceived form that we had in mind long before we even got the job as many dumb architects have done before us… ghemmm.

# October 11, 2010 at 04:55

Bababeruang says:

Wow……what an out of the box design for a mosque………
I hope it will not only has a good form but also a good function too

# October 11, 2010 at 07:37

gerson says:

A new nemeyer design-but why a mosque?
it can be everything..
An observation-the moon is closing down-it is reversed-not the growing crescent but a shuting down one.
learn from jack novel centre arabique or the new proposal for the grand zero (a mashrabia)

# October 11, 2010 at 13:41

N. Ahmed says:

Interesting design, looks like a stingray like ignatiouspug said, but it’s still only a proposal. This isn’t the winning design, and I seriously doubt it will be… I’m sure they’ll pick something a little interesting and out of the box, but more traditional as well. After all, it’s a mosque, not a museum.

# October 13, 2010 at 16:43

Salame says:

wonderful…! light is the main spatial element as it’s in traditional mosque..and the unity of space is considarable. also project is an icon by it’s form..
i love this modern mosque..

# October 14, 2010 at 18:06

Yasmin says:

All I can say is that it’s different. A new, and let’s say innovative approach to the idea of the mosque. The light idea looks interesting, however, the whole design is a little too abstract for my taste and it lacks the warmth and the sense of holiness and spirituality that is found in mosques, especially in the UAE.

# October 20, 2010 at 12:44

expialodocious says: