Client: Emaar
Location: Dubai, UAE
Services Provided: Design Competition, Architectural Design
Plot Size: 18,504 m²
Total Built-up Area: 8,375 m²
Starting Date: 2018
Completion Date: 2018
Challenge:
The Iconic Mosque at Dubai Creek Harbour was envisioned as a spiritual and architectural landmark that would stand in harmony with the ultra-modern skyline of one of Dubai’s most advanced urban developments. The challenge was to create a mosque that preserved the sanctity of traditional Islamic architecture while embracing contemporary forms and advanced construction technologies. With a capacity of 7,500 worshippers, the design needed to ensure spatial fluidity, sustainability, and a seamless interaction between worshippers and the surrounding urban landscape.
Approach:
The architectural vision was inspired by the imagery of a kneeling worshipper, symbolizing a moment of spiritual peace and connection. The mosque’s form reflects this metaphor through a sculptural approach that integrates architectural elements into a continuous, fluid geometry. The design provides a series of layered spaces that enhance the worship experience, beginning with an elevated plaza of palms that leads to a ceremonial staircase descending into the mosque’s main courtyard (Al-Sahn). This sequence of entry creates a transition from the bustling urban environment into a more meditative and sacred space.
The main prayer hall, designated for men, is visually connected to the mezzanine level for women, ensuring a sense of unity within the spiritual environment. A separate first-floor prayer hall serves as a daily mosque, providing a more intimate setting for smaller congregations. The roof, conceived as a semi-open shell adorned with parametric Islamic pattern openings, functions as both an architectural statement and a sustainable cooling element. This structure allows filtered daylight to enter, creating an interplay of light and shadow within the prayer spaces, while simultaneously enabling natural ventilation by allowing warm air to escape and cooler air to circulate.
The mosque is deeply connected to its surroundings, with an entrance plaza designed as an interactive space visually linked to the Dubai Creek Observation Tower. The spatial design encourages movement and engagement, allowing visitors and worshippers to experience the mosque as both a sacred and civic space within the urban fabric of Dubai Creek Harbour.
Impact:
The Iconic Mosque at Dubai Creek Harbour redefines contemporary Islamic architecture by seamlessly integrating modern engineering with traditional spatial principles. Its sculptural form, environmental responsiveness, and carefully orchestrated spatial experiences create a monument of faith that resonates with the urban and cultural identity of Dubai. By blending advanced construction technologies with the spiritual and cultural values of Islamic architecture, this project sets a new benchmark for the evolution of mosque design in the modern world.
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