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