The design has its roots and proportions in Islamic traditions prevalent at the time of the Prophet Mohammad PBUH and reinterprets the spatial experience of the Kaaba for a contemporary audience.
The spiral ‘promenade architectural’ begins with the main stair and reaches the roof referring back to several models of ritualistic pathways around sacred architecture, both ancient and modern.
When the client asked why is there no minaret? We reminded him that Bilal, the Prophet Mohammad’s PBUH companion, used to climb up the Prophet Mohammad’s PBUH roof to call the faithful to prayer, creating the first mosque.
The overall form of the new Musalla follows the size and shape of the Kaaba. In deference, the Musalla leans in all its dimensions to the Kaaba, along the Qibla.
The leaning walls caused a structural challenge, since we were working with local masons and builders not used to ‘unusual forms’. We increased the shear walls‘s dimensions in order to support the leaning edges, using poured-inplace concrete and steel. This limited the fenestration, which helped keep the natural light controlled.