Dubai, UAE
Historically, the mosque served as a communal space in addition to a place of worship. The sacred mosque space was distinguished from the life of the city outside, but not separate from its social dimension. The Mosque of Light features a riwaq, or colonnade, that acts as buffer to create a shift that in space, inviting worshippers in from the street through a naturally sloping landscape and a sequence of arches. The garden acts as an extension of the internal prayer halls and offers additional space for prayer, reading, and reflection, remaining open to the public throughout the day rather than just at prayer times. A selection of local plant species that require little irrigation complement the interior landscape along with natural light, which is in abundance throughout the year in Dubai.
