stacked volumes & half domes form babnimnim’s kuwait mosque

babnimnim studio unveils mamluki lancet mosque

A recent reinterpretation of conventional Egyptian structure, the Mamluki Lancet Mosque by Babnimnim Design Studio poses a non secular sanctuary for the area people in Al-Masayel, Kuwait. The architects draw on traditional Islamic motifs, together with calligraphy aid, intricate geometric ornamentation, archways, and the Moqarnas typology to steadiness a big half dome over the rectilinear area. The mosque unfolds as a sequence of 5 stone plenty, stacked and rotating, every resonating with the 5 every day prayers and symbolizing the muse of religion, alignment to the Qibla (prayer course in the direction of Makkah), and connection to the environment. In the meantime, three intervening plenty dynamically coalesce to kind a funnel-like configuration, creating an unobstructed inside devoid of columns, facilitating unhindered alignment for prayers.

Mamluki Lancet Mosque | picture by Mohammed Ashkanani

a up to date expression of historic islamic structure

The 5 progressively rotating plenty ascend towards the central half dome which is marked by the symbolic Islamic moon, engraved in intricate metalwork that’s echoed within the minaret to indicate unity and connection to the divine. A strategically positioned extra mass completes the Islamic Star plan when considered from above, enhancing the mosque’s identification and visibility within the neighborhood whereas demarcating different aspect entrances. Babnimnim Design Studio punctuates the facade with minimalist lancet cutouts — motifs and proportions present in classical Mamluki mosques — that body home windows and structural parts at numerous ranges. A grand wood door invitations worshippers into the sacred area, echoing the half dome that defines the mosque’s core by an elongated kind to envelop and home the first foyer gateway in the direction of the principle inside.

The Kuwaiti architects have organized adjoining smaller half domes in a stepped configuration to function luminous wells, infusing pure gentle inside and marking an inviting prelude to the ladies’s quarters. A stately minaret stands tall and aligns with the central axis, descending inside to mark the indoor Mihrab space. It unites the outside and inside parts, inviting worshippers to focus their devotion in the direction of the Qibla.

sited inside a residential neighborhood in Kuwait | picture by Mohammed Ashkanani

stone plenty and islamic engravings bridge previous and current

Stepping contained in the Mamluk Lancet Mosque, a dynamic interaction of plenty and finishes marked with juxtaposing ornamentation and ease outline the area. Decrease plenty are enveloped in stone for stability whereas higher plenty rendered in pure white evoke lightness and motion. Thuluth-style Quranic inscriptions adorn partitions and partitions in calligraphic strokes in a contemporary aid impact, illuminated by ethereal rays penetrating via rotating volumes. An adaptable sliding partition separates the male prayer corridor from the ladies’s space for every day use, increasing throughout Ramadan to assist bigger congregations to take care of inclusivity and unity.

Impressed by the historic period of the Mamluk Empire, the mosque embraces a contemporary materials palette via grey stone cladding and white clay plastering for a subdued but real reinterpretation. The harmonious cool grays and whites, complemented by refined brass accents, enrobe each the inside and exterior and bridge the hole between previous and current, lending a swish air of timelessness to the structure.

a collection of half arches create a harmonious circulate of images | picture by Mohammed Ashkanani