Mosque Architecture - UAE's bid to merge Islamic Architecture with Modern Architecture.

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If you are on the hunt for an incredibly deft blend of contemporary and traditional Islamic architecture, there is none better than the innovative plethora of the United Arab Emirates.

When it comes to Mosques, the room for innovation is a very challenging space. They come with a standard expectation built over the past 1400 years since Islam was established. And all of them, follow the "musts", and relish in the "mays", and are religiously obligated to stay away from the "don'ts".

In the "mays" is where the Mosques of UAE stand out. One after another, may it be in the richest areas of Dubai, or the slum of the deserted Ras Al Khaimah, you will certainly never see a Mosque any less than impressive.

This Masjid (Mosque in Arabic, and the more popular name) is in the capital, Abu Dhabi. The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nayhan Masjid instantly caught my eye, and why wouldn't it.

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At first glance, it already meets the expectations. Upon laying eyes on it, you already know it is the Islamic prayer area or place of worship. It has the signature look to it. The two towers, and the giant dome.

In Islamic tradition, drawing pictures or caricatures is prohibited. And that is one of the limitations of Islamic architecture compared to the rest. However, it has been marvelously compensated, for years, through the rich tradition of calligraphy. The art of beautifully recreating scriptures in the most incredible designs.

The Shiekh Masjid signifies more than a place of worship. The rich golden calligraphy on the dome, with a contrasting and sober white. To me, it signifies the wealth and poshness of the capital of UAE, and the calm white colors signify the humble nature of the nation.

It is luxurious, yet controlled.

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The golden minarets (towers) are yet another part of the "musts". Back in the day, they were used by the "mua'zzin" (the person who performs the call to prayer), to climb up in the air and call the people to the congregation. It has since become iconic and almost a compelled part of modern Islamic architecture.

Other than hanging speakers on the top, it is used as a landmark so the people looking for a Mosque can be guided to the Masjid by following the Minarets from afar.

However, this has given more space for innovation in the field of Islamic architecture. Minarets are like ornaments to the Masjids. They are designed, in this instance, with golden accents and a shiny dome at the top. Bringing more luxury to the Masjid.


Closing Thoughts.

I feel the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Masjid has successfully encapsulated the very essence of Abu Dhabi in the Masjid.
The color scheme and expensive calligraphy talent, the main attraction, portrays the illustrates wealth, luxury, and humbleness of the city. The calm colors of the entire structure
along with complex designs depicts the calmness and peace of living in UAE within the busy and challenging career-oriented lifestyle.
The greenery and trees signify the struggle UAE had to overcome to turn the barren desert land into a piece of heaven on earth. The slit cast-iron boundary walls give off a welcoming vibe, yet secured. Much like an open door vs. a closed-door when drawing a house. The open door means welcoming, and the closed doors mean the opposite.




I want to take you through a sedated example of UAE's bout to innovate the well-established norms of traditional Islamic architecture.

An architectural precedent that ticks the boxes of requirements and goes beyond that. Al Khatwar Mosque.

The Masjid is situated in a populated area of Sharjah. Right in the middle of the bustling city. The design blends well with the city, not standing as a distraction, but an addition.

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Masjids, traditionally, deny the orientation of buildings. They always point to the "Qibla" - which is Mecca. That is the direction the congregation faces while praying. The Al Khatwar Mosque blends well in the picture, the paint is unidirectional with surrounding establishments.

The location makes it a perfect residential Masjid. It boasts a parking lot and is right by the side of the walkway and a street that goes directly to the main road. This makes it exceptionally accessible.

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Albeit at the first glance it may come off as sober and blended, upon looking at closely, the extraordinary play of Islamic architecture blossoms.

The Masjid follows the traditional look - a Minaret and a dome. The bold groove lines are what catches the eye at first, and there is more to come.

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The Masjid follows the most common trend in the UAE. The main shape is rectangular, and more square layers are added to it. At a bird's eye view, it forms a multilayered structure, conjugated together. It creates a complexity worth appreciating.

The visual multilayered structure starts setting the Masjid apart from usual buildings to a powerful structure - almost as if giving it the spiritual weight that a Masjid carries.

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The geometric accents on the structure have become the most trending in the Islamic architecture of UAE. It can be found in libraries, museums, and Masjids across the country. The multilayering comes in handy since the main prayer hall is tall in height, and the other structures like toilets, ablution hall are much shorter in height.

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Al Khatwar Masjid has an overhead tent with steel columns to provide a shady space on the porch. This provides an escape to the worshippers from the harsh sunlight when the Masjid runs out of interior space. Almost every Masjid has this addition nowadays.
Albeit it doesn't fit in with the main theme of Masjid's design, it is a forced addition that is much needed.

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Nevertheless, the overhead tent is shaped like that to follow a specific pattern - Arabic. Instead of going with flat tin shades, the fabric overhead tent is cheaper, and the tent shape is very Arabic.

It is the perfect blend of function and design.


Another easily overlooked blend of function and design is camouflaged in the windows.
I have tried to take a picture that speaks for itself. While the geometric accents amplify the Islamic and Arabic inspirations, the hollowed windows play an important role in the harsh climate conditions.

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The windows are all tinted with reflective paper. This amplifies the poshness of the structure and saves the inside of the Masjid from the burning heat. The hollowed windows help to keep sun rays out and get as much shade as possible through the borders without adding extra shades that could potentially ruin the beauty of the overall architecture.

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Closing thoughts

Al Khatwar Masjid is a prime symbol of traditional Mosque architecture done right in a city setting. It blends well with the surroundings but also pays due to the traditional requirements of building a Mosque.
The Masjid does not settle for average, it uses a perfect blend of function and Islamic design to make an outstanding statement for other projects to take lessons from.
The extravagant entrance with small calligraphy blobs and geometric designs, the bold grooves, the multilayers, the conjugation of supporting structures like toilets, water tanks, tech rooms, Imam house and more to the main structure, is done in an exemplary fashion.
Even the overhead shade follows the pattern.



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I love the curves it looks beautiful, to think that early engineers and architects learned that domes were more secure and stronger than just squares that were straight across.

The innovation and creativity of the human brain is astounding.

Hello @Blind-spot, your post hits close to home. Having lived more than 12 years in the UAE, my heart jumps every time I read an article or come across anything about the country. We used to live in apartments situated close to mosques so the daily call to prayer has been a part of our everyday lives and we have grown accustomed to hearing it even as early as 4 am.

The golden calligraphy on top of the Sheikh Masjid dome is gorgeous! Yes, elegance with restraint. Thank you for sharing these beautiful works of Islamic Architecture and illustrating the significance of the design elements and their traditional requirements. Welcome to Architecture + Design Community!

I always wondered if it ever stood as an annoyance to non-muslims. To me it was more than just a call to prayer, it also became a nice clock for me. You must know it, most arabs don't tell the time when talking to each other, instead they mention the prayer and watch out for the call to prayer to know the time. its funny, but cool!

While I was there, I took some more pictures of other beautiful mosques. They aren't very detailed, but I'll see if I can fit them in a post for the community, later.

It took some time getting used to it at first but after a while it became a clock for us as well that it was natural to hear them in different times of the day even during religious occasions. That was one of my regrets, I was too focused on work, I didn't really pay much attention to mosques and other buildings since they were there everyday. Hopefully we get to visit again one day and see UAE how it has evolved since we left.

 3 years ago  

Hello @blind-spot , a warm welcome to Architecture + Design Community!

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Highly appreciate the warm welcome!

No doubt about it, the United Arab Emirates is a nation with so much to offer! Her architectural landscape alone is a magnificent experience to behold! Because I've also previously lived there for many years, I can bear witness to the tremendous amount of innovative buildings that took my breath away! The distinctive designs of the mosques, with their creative mix of modern and traditional Islamic architectural styles, are unique - never before seen in other parts of the world.

Greetings @blind-spot, and welcome to the Architecture+Design Community! We enjoyed your first post so, feel free to publish more awesome architecture and design content here!

I think they have raised the bar for contemporary architecture, too. So much opportunity - that is the secret. I feel like almost all creative ideas get a chance to shine in the UAE. Most of these Islamic crafts aren't done by Muslims, either. That just goes to show how much diversity and opportunity can do.

a very enjoyable post! upvoted. let me share with you a pic of the main mosque of my city, St.Petersburg (it was built back in 1910-1920)

Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1131.

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Wow, the Islamic and the more modern architecture both are stunningly beautiful!
The golden calligraphy is done with such understated elegance, love it.
Your photographs really do justice to these gorgeous buildings!
Well deserved rewards @blind-spot.

I cant get over the calligraphy. The Mosque has been officially extended. Cant wait to go and see what they have added to it.