The mosque of light

Along a busy streetin the Al Quoz industrial area in southernDubai, stands a new white stone mosque designed byDabbaghArchitects founderSumaya Dabbagh.The Mosqueof Lightis one of the first placesof worship in the United Arab Emirates to be designedbya female architect.The architects' achievement was their ability to interpretthe mosque'sspacesin relation to Islamic liturgical rites, suchas ablution, undressing,and reading the Quran . In doing so,they helpedMuslims gradually transition from the chaosof the city to the meditative practiseof prayer through sacredarchitecture.

The volume of the mosque is separated into two bodiesby a covered linear courtyard: on one side the prayer space surmounted by a double dome, with the women's prayer area on the first floor, and on the other the service block containing the ablution facilities, the Imam and the Moazen’s residence. The tower of the minaret stands out, separated from the main volume and signalling the presence of the mosque. A soft, naturally lit prayer space and an atmosphere of connection with the divine are created by the mosque's surface being completely perforated with triangular geometries and sacred texts, which diffuse natural light into the worship areas with delicate control and care. This also helps to keep the mosque naturally cool.

With all the distractions in our modern busy lives it can be challenging to quieten the mind and find an inner calm to allow for full immersion into prayer. Through the design, a series of spaces were created that allow the worshipper to transition from the busy outer world and prepare for an inner experience. This was achieved through form, materiality and the use of controlled natural light, which had been considered when creating the interior. Inside the prayer hall, concealed cove lighting within narrow openings emphasises the depth and height of the space, whilst creating a sense of natural illumination