ARCH 7201 RESEARCH DESIGN STUDIO MAY 2010 / LIONEL TEH / Z3236807
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INTRODUCTION This project is a journey to establish an understanding of the relationship between Islam and Australia (the West) and leads to the question of building a Mosque in Sydney, Australia. I would like to question the role of architecture in bringing peace to the relationship between Islam and Australia (the West) in the contemporary world.
MONTAGE These images represent the key issues of exploration in this project. Keywords: Islam and the West (Sydney) Islamophobia Traditional Mosque/Contemporary Mosque Integration (multiculturalism & religion pluralism) Contribution & contextualization
FRAMEWRORK (STAGE 1)
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The nature of this studio requires the student to construct their own project framework which allows student to have a greater comprehension of one’s direction and aims. The proposed framework is parallel to the studio’s proposed schedule.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWRORK (STAGE 2) This exercise helps to crystallize my ideas and direction. It begins with identification of issues related to the proposed topic. In order to find a ‘solution’, one has to equip with related information by writing a literature review. Information gained can then be tools to find a (or multiple) solution(s).
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The diagram shows an outline of the theoretical framework written.
BUILDING A CONTEMPORARY MOSQUE IN SYDNEY AS AN ANTIDOTE TO ISLAMOPHOBIA SYDNEY MOSQUE : ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
ARCH 7201 RESEARCH DESIGN STUDIO MAY 2010 / LIONEL TEH / Z3236807
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BUILDING A CONTEMPORARY MOSQUE IN SYDNEY AS AN ANTIDOTE TO ISLAMOPHOBIA SYDNEY MOSQUE : ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
PRECEDENT STUDIES (STAGE 3) The absence of formal definition on mosque architecture causes the development of mosque building to be highly dependent on precedents (especially the great Ottoman Mosques). On the other hand, the absence of formal definition also allows for new innovation and intervention. The images are precedents of Mosque and also Islamic related buildings which are categorized into the following category: Traditional Mosques
Contemporary Mosques
Islamic Centre
Contemporary Mosques Proposals w 10
Prophet Mohammed Mosque, Medina
Penzberg Mosque, Germany
Qatar Islamic Art Centre
Dome of The Rock, Jerusalem
Selimiye Mosque, Turkey
Assayafaah Mosque, Singapore
Great Mosque of Damascus Umayyad Mosque
Putrajaya Contemporary Mosque, Malaysia
Institut Du Monde Arabe, Paris
Polder Mosque, Netherlands
Kalon Mosque, Bukhara
Islamic Centre and Mosque, Rome
North Poland Community Centre
Sherefudin’s White Mosque, Bosnia
Lisbon Islamic Centre, Portugal
Strasbourg Mosque
Ismaili Jamatkhana Centre Burnaby, Canada
Cologne Mosque, Germany
Abbey Miles London
SITE ANLYSIS (STAGE 4) Sydney Mosque needs to be central, within a diverse community and accessible. Surry Hill Mosque gave a clue as to where the Sydney mosque should be placed and potentially replaces the Surry Hills Mosque. Surry Hill is a retail and commercial area with diverse community and crowded with street life. The choice of site will provides a greater platform for integration with significant level of interaction. Sydney Mosque needs to contextualized and be sensitive towards the surrounding therefore this exercise will construct a perimeter and direction for the new mosque.
Sydney CBD
Proposed Site
Surry Hills Mosque
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Proposed Site Surry Hills
Site Plan
Building Mass
Roads
Outlines
Proposed Site
City grid (projected from proposed site)
Site Images Montage
Augmented building height Propose for retail strip on Crown St to continue its flow into site
Retail & Commercial
Proposed axis to new site
Site accessibility Strip
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Cro
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Proposed Site
Augmented site contour
City View Rile
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Frog Hollow Park
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Design Perimeter
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Propose a connection from Crown St to site: site to Frog Hollow Park
Vehicular (thick) & Pedestrian (thin) movements Red - Main physical & metaphysical axis
Conceptual Model
ARCH 7201 RESEARCH DESIGN STUDIO MAY 2010 / LIONEL TEH / Z3236807
PRELIMINARY DESIGN (STAGE 5) The mosque is devoted to strengthen the relationship between Islam and Australia through integration. Mosque is a collective space and a living entity; it requires active participation from local communities (both Muslims and non-Muslims). Therefore Sydney mosque has to be multifunction; serving both secular and religious activities. Transparency is vital because it encourages interaction and dialogue which will then lead to the development of mutual understanding and mutual respect. Hence the proposed programs are akin to a cultural centre. This will provide a stage for intercultural and interfaith events to take place. Sydney mosque will have: -public park to serve the community, -retail gallery that promotes Islamic art and fashion, -café and restaurant that promotes Islamic cuisine, -art gallery that exhibits Intercultural art and -classes to hold calligraphy, language and cultural classes (for non-Muslims) Ultimately it is a centre of exchange, continuous cultivation and enrichment of Islamic culture and Australian culture.
‘Proposed Program’ wheel
Program areas in relation to site
Radial OPTION 1 This option is an exploration inspired by traditional mosque (Isfagan Grest Mosque) circulation, where the central courtyard acts as a transitional nucleus. The nucleus could then be perceived as a distribution space or a service core. The programs surround this central can be connected physically or visually. This forms the basis of this design exploration.
Isfagan Great Mosque
Program Arrangement
Arrangement Development (2D)
Arrangement Development (3D)
Conceptual models
Peeling
Peeling (ramp)
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Carving
Austere grid implication
Qiblat axis
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BUILDING A CONTEMPORARY MOSQUE IN SYDNEY AS AN ANTIDOTE TO ISLAMOPHOBIA SYDNEY MOSQUE : ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
ARCH 7201 RESEARCH DESIGN STUDIO MAY 2010 / LIONEL TEH / Z3236807
BUILDING A CONTEMPORARY MOSQUE IN SYDNEY AS AN ANTIDOTE TO ISLAMOPHOBIA SYDNEY MOSQUE : ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE
Linear OPTION 2 Calligraphy and geometry are the 2 art forms that are fundamental to Mosque architecture. Calligraphy are movements that emulates coninuity and seamlessness. Geometry are imminent to mathematical principles. It instills harmony and balance which is a representation of the perfect Creater. Therefore in this option, the program arrangement is inspired by calligraphy; a continuous movement which forms a linear connection. The programs volumes are perceived to be looping and stacking on top of each other. Then, a geometrical fabric will enclose the volume to protect and mediate the volume inside.
Program Arrangement Bismellah
Arrangement Development (2D)
Arrangement Development (3D)
Spatial Flow
Origami structure creating volume and cover
Stacking of geometries with undulating cover
Murqanas
Origami foldings
Fragment OPTION 3 The third option looks at the fine grain of a city. Surry Hills is defined by many small and cosy laneways. Therefore, could the programs be fragmented into fine grains and scattered around the site, creating organic circulation and a sense of natural growth akin to an arabic city.
This will then allow interesting thresholds to form , mediating between programs. This becomes the base for this design exercise.
Program Arrangement
Arrangement Development (2D)
Surry Hills lanes
Medina lanes
Cordoba Great Mosque (hypostyle)
Arrangement Development (3D)
Cover Option A Fabric
Option B Modules (Hypostyle)
Public Flow Programs Controlled Flow