Case Study: KAFD mosque, Riyadh

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Architect: FX FOWLE
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The project
Located at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) on the outskirts of Riyadh, FX FOWLE’s mosque has attracted a lot of attention since the designs were made public, snagging the firm a commendation at the recent Middle East Architect Awards and a first place for Islamic architecture project at Cityscape in Dubai. The building is one of almost a dozen being designed by FX FOWLE at the KAFD, and is currently around halfway through construction onsite and due for completion early next year.

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The site
The KAFD has attracted almost all of the world’s biggest firms, and buildings are being designed by Foster + Partners, SOM and Gensler while Henning Larsen are responsible for the master planning, which covered everything from orientation of the buildings to sustainability. When the 1.6 million m2 project is finished it will include business and commercial offices and a stock exchange. Construction began on the site in 2007. FX FOWLE’s mosque is on parcel 2.14 at the eastern end of the seminal development.

The concept
The design of the mosque is based on a verse from the Qur’an which describes God placing his throne on a vast body of water before creating the world. The mosque is also distinctly contemporary, with an angular form replacing the traditional dome. Sudhir Jambhekar, senior partner at FX FOWLE, said that simplicity was key to the design of the mosque. “The thinking was that this is a place of praying, of contemplation and a place where you go to search for yourself,” he said. “It needed to be simple.”

The Details
The design may be simple, but the technology is not. Each of the mosque’s façades are covered by patterned metal screens of laser-cut aluminum. An algorithmic interpretation of the eight-pointed Islamic star, the designers created the screen by abstracting a star pattern by scaling and superimposing it upon itself. The screen is supported by a steel diagrid, a diamond-shaped structural frame that is attached to the solid stone marble border. The result is an active, visually dynamic, porous metal and stone façade.

The reflecting pool is not only useful in reinforcing the Qur’anic concept, Jambhekar explained, it also contributes to the sustainability of the building by providing a cooler environment to combat Riyadh’s often harsh climate. “A body of water is always a good element for cooling. At least psychologically. From my experiences in Riyadh you see a body of water anywhere it makes you feel a little bit better,” he said.

Not even the architects are aware of the eventual price tag on the project, but it is likely to be significant. The entire building is clad in white marble, a classical material traditionally used in mosques to symbolize purity, while the pool on which the mosque rests is lined with polished black marble, known for its reflective properties. The focal point of the 65-foot x 40 foot main prayer room is the mihrab, a niche on the west wall that is carefully aligned with Mecca. The marble wall is engraved with verses from the Qur’an.

The decision to make the mosque so contemporary was a conscious one. “I believe we need to present our time, and all the work I have done in my career has been of a contemporary nature,” Jambhekar said. “Having said that, I wanted this building to be rooted in its place, both culturally and climatically.

But far from being a concern to the client, the contemporary design was an immediate hit. “Believe it or not I made the first presentation to the client it was one of the easiest I have done, they just loved the idea, the simplicity and the modernism,” Jambhekar said.