The intention for this Islamic Cultural Centre – located in Colinas do Cruzeiro, Odivelas – was to provide the space with spatial and symbolic qualities that potentially could create in the visitor an awareness of the mystic and the sacred.

The exterior doesn’t reflect the presence of a religious building, however, the interior space was developed from a formal point of view based on the imaginary of Islamic architectural culture, of which we highlight the inspiration in elements such as pointed horseshoe arches and groin vaults. Starting from these elements and transforming them into a contemporary language, we have created a space environment that is divided into several interior spaces that interconnect each other through the dynamic flow of the arches that leads the visitor in a journey through the interior of the Cultural Centre. The interior volumetry was sculpted in order to stimulate the senses, through curved and fluid forms that remember the Islamic architectural grammar, creating several different moments along the route through the space interior.

The program was distributed hierarchically and taking into account which functions were of more public character – located in the area closest to the entrance – and the ones more reserved – located in the innermost part of the Centre. The design decision also intended to emphasize the religious space character, so the careful use of white, and the light treatment, intends to achieve this goal. In the prayer area reflected this approach of minimalist along with the provision of some extra visual and tactile comfort through the application of wooden elements in the male prayer room, and coloured vinyl covering in the female prayer room.

The use of an Olive tree within the entrance area aims to break the predominant spiritual minimalism, endowing the atmosphere with a contagious natural force. The presence of this element elevates the space symbolic features, endowing it with a contemplative presence and invites the passer-by to enter.