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Al-sheikh Qasim Bin Muhammad Al-thany Mosque


Urban and Architectural


Hulhumalé is located 8 km off the North East coast of Malé, the capital city of Maldives and 6.5 km from Velana International Airport, Hulhulé. It is the first planned city in the country, and was created by reclaiming a lagoon to cope with the increasingly congested urban condition in the capital Male’ an island, a mere 198 ha. It was a visionary and ambitious project which began in 1996. Traditional mosques were small and intimate, and were places of learning and social interaction. While the culture of grander and larger mosques is becoming the norm, the intimacy of the small traditional mosques was an aspect we sought to re-create to foster a sense of place and ownership. The concept of a smooth radial volume, seemed the logical response. It avoided potential awkward corners of a more traditional rectangular form and enhanced the sense of centrality of the mosque to the community, both physically and spiritually. Light filtered through the curved facade and lattices create warm and sanctity. Concrete elements create subtle contrasts and nuances to the geometry while the steel elements bring high drama.

Description


Details

Location

Haivakaru Magu, Malé, Maldives

Worshippers

1800

Architect Name

Fathimath Rasheed

Year of Build

2001

Area

1845 sqm

Drawings

Map

Urban and Architectural

Hulhumalé is located 8 km off the North East coast of Malé, the capital city of Maldives and 6.5 km from Velana International Airport, Hulhulé. It is the first planned city in the country, and was created by reclaiming a lagoon to cope with the increasingly congested urban condition in the capital Male’ an island, a mere 198 ha. It was a visionary and ambitious project which began in 1996. Traditional mosques were small and intimate, and were places of learning and social interaction. While the culture of grander and larger mosques is becoming the norm, the intimacy of the small traditional mosques was an aspect we sought to re-create to foster a sense of place and ownership. The concept of a smooth radial volume, seemed the logical response. It avoided potential awkward corners of a more traditional rectangular form and enhanced the sense of centrality of the mosque to the community, both physically and spiritually. Light filtered through the curved facade and lattices create warm and sanctity. Concrete elements create subtle contrasts and nuances to the geometry while the steel elements bring high drama.

Description