Al Warqa’a Mosque by ibda design | Church architecture / community centres

Photographer: Sadao Hotta

Historically, the mosque was not considered an iconic building, but served as a communal space that was open to the public, enabling various types of social activities in addition to prayer. While the typical mosque's spatial hierarchy is axial, with a singular side of the building designated for entry, the Al Warqa'a Mosque allows for public entry on three sides. This communal approach to the spatial organization is enhanced by designing the riwaq to wrap around the perimeter of the haram. For ibda design, contemporary architecture is considered as a cohesive interplay between a building's mass and the elements of nature - wind, sound, light and landscape. Thus, at Al Warqa'a, the sahn is located within the haram, blurring the boundary between architecture (in) and landscape (out), and establishing connections to the natural surroundings. In this arrangement, the haram transforms itself from being an interior space to becoming a semi-outdoor space.

ibda design

Photographer: Sadao Hotta