Preston Mosque Design Competition, Architect, Lancashire Architecture Contest, UK Building Images

New Preston Mosque, Lancashire

17 September 2021
Preston Mosque Architecture Competition Winner
Design: Luca Poian Forms
Preston Mosque Building Design by Luca Poian Forms in Lancashire
image courtesy of architects practice
Preston Mosque Architecture Competition Winner

14 June 2021

Preston Mosque Architecture Competition Entry

Design: napp studio & architects, Hong Kong

Preston Mosque Design, Lancashire

Brief:
While architecture styles could change, religious dates, rituals and festivals persist. Thus, the fundamental challenge of the design of a new mosque lies in the extraction and interpretation of the essence of a religion that could reflects in its spatial layout which is timeless in serving the above. Gentle yet powerful gestures that reflect the notion of inclusivity in contemporary religion and the ubiquitous faith of harmony across humanity.

Design: Napp Studio & Architects
Design Team: Aron TSANG, Natalie KO, Wesley HO
Location: Preston, north west England, UK
Date: Apr 2021
Status: Concept Design
Preston Mosque Design Competition

New Mosque For All

Timelessness In Religion

Preston Mosque Design, Lancashire

While architecture styles could change, religious dates, rituals and festivals persist. Thus, the fundamental challenge of the design of a new mosque lies in the extraction and interpretation of the essence of a religion that could reflects in its spatial layout which is timeless in serving the above.

In traditional Islamic architecture, the external courtyard (“sahn”) with the washing area (“wudu”) and the prayer hall with the dome are the two critical areas which are indispensable in constructing the entering sequence as well as hierarchy of space. These two external and internal voids form the basis of the entire mosque.

The minarets were reimagined as the three walls around the “sahn” which continues to serve their traditional purpose without the addition of piercing towers, safeguarding the pristine geometry of the contemporary mosque.

Preston Mosque Lancashire building UK

The Sacred Geometry

Kaaba, a minimalist orthogonal box, is the most sacred and important structure in Islamic architecture. Located at the centre of Islam’s most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it is considered to be the House of God (“Bayt Allah”) and the direction of prayer (“qibla”) for all Muslims around the globe during “salah”. It is surrounded by pilgrims around the Islamic year every day.

Preston Mosque Design Competition Lancashire Architecture Contest

This sacred orthogonal geometry resonates with the highly contemporary and basic form of architecture – a rectilinear cube with two horizontal plans and four walls as envelop. The external courtyard and prayer hall was then introduced into the massing creating a highly open versus a highly enclosed space.

Aligning with the axis of the street, the massing was in perfect harmony with the context. However, it is not facing straight to the direction of prayer which is of paramount importance. Thus, the prayer hall as an inner void is rotated while concealed within the overall massing to face straight to “gibla”, which creates a moment of surprise in the spatial sequence.

Preston Mosque Lancashire building UK

An Iconic Envelope

The outer envelope was inspired by mosaic tiles which are highly traditional to Islamic architecture. However, there was an up-scale in the texture which creates a more iconic and dramatic façade together with its glazed and reflective surface. The reflection distorted by the tiles due to concavity resembles the talisman against the evil eye “al-ayn”.

Inside the prayer hall, the giant dome, which is a crucial symbolism of Allah’s universe, is constructed with a giant ocular and layers of fenestration for visual connections between programs and levels but also opens the roof for sunlight and air.

Preston Mosque Lancashire building UK

Inclusivity and specificity

The external courtyard or “sahn” is a very specific feature in Islamic Mosque as it serves as the main gathering space. However, instead of following the tradition of a fully enclosed courtyard, contemporary religious architecture should also facilitate exchange and connection in a modern world where diversity thrives. The two corners of the external courtyard is opened up for a streamlined circulation which smoothen the transition between the outside realm and the public courtyard inside the mosque.

Preston Mosque Design, Lancashire

Moreover, floor paving from outside extends into the courtyard and vegetation patches of the courtyard slides under the elevated walls of the mosque, creating the delusion of a mosque floating above a continuous garden plane that signifies the public realm juxtapostiion on the mosque footprint.

Those are a gentle yet powerful gesture that reflects the notion of inclusivity in contemporary religion and the ubiquitous faith of harmony across humanity.

Preston Mosque Design Competition Entry images / information received 140621 from napp studio & architects

https://www.nappstudio.com/project/new-mosque-for-all/

Preston Mosque Architecture Competition

Preston Mosque Architecture Competition

Preston Mosque Design Competition, Lancashire

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) international design competition for a new Mosque near Preston, Lancashire, northwest England, UK, on behalf of a local registered charitable trust:

Preston Mosque Competition site in Lancashire UK

Location: near Preston, Lancashire, north west England, UK

Preston Architecture

Contemporary Architecture in Lancashire – architectural selection below:
Preston Buildings

Preston Bus Station
Date built: 1969
Design: Building Design Partnership (BDP)
Preston Bus Station building facade
photograph © Adrian Welch
Preston Bus Station Building

Beautiful and Brutal: 50 Years in the life of Preston Bus Station
Curator: Charles Quick
Location: Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library, Market Square, Preston, PR1 2PP, England
Preston Bus Station Birthday Exhibition
photograph : Ian Clegg
Preston Bus Station Birthday Exhibition
Preston Bus Station is an internationally important piece of architecture that was built for everyday use by the people of Preston.

Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve Visitor Facilities, east of Preston
Design: Adam Khan Architects
Lancashire nature reserve

National Football Museum, Deepdale
Design: OMI Architects
National Football Museum Preston – the contents have now moved to Manchester’s Urbis building.

Avenham Park Pavilion
Design: McChesney Architects
Avenham Park Pavilion

Sika Liquid Plastics Limited
Design: Frank Whittle Partnership
Sika Liquid Plastics Preston

Preston Design Competitions

Preston Design Competition
RIBA University of Central Lancashire in Preston Design Competition

Preston Office Building Competition
Design: Moxon Architects
Preston Office

Preston Housing Competition
Preston Housing Competition

Park Houses
Design: Ushida Findlay Architects and Holmes Partnership
Preston Houses

Manchester Architecture
Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester
image courtesy of architects office

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