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The Mamluki Lancet Mosque

Babnimnim Design Studio

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Mohammed Ashkanani
Mohammed Ashkanani
Mohammed Alsaad and Nasser Alomairi
Mohammed Ashkanani

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JURY VOTES
Cultural Space
6.83
7.33
7.40
5.50
6.77
Joanna van der Linden
Joanna van der Linden Global Retail Identity & Design Manager at Nestlé Nespresso
The industrial, monochromatic space...
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5
5
2
4
Jason Traves
Jason Traves Chief Creative Officer at Lucky Fox
I always love it when "landmark" bu...
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4
Jasper Blüm
Jasper Blüm Senior Designer at Colliers
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7
7
Anastasia Karandinou
Anastasia Karandinou Architect, Senior Lecturer at University of East London
The dramatic industrial building cr...
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7
4
5
5
Johnny Chiu
Johnny Chiu Founder at J.C. Architecture
very interesting work, the spatial...
7
7
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7
7.25
William Barrington-Binns
William Barrington-Binns Director of Photography at WBB & Co.
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8
8
8
7.75
Bret Recor
Bret Recor Founder & Creative Director at Box Clever
4
5
5
3
4.25
Corien Pompe
Corien Pompe Chairman and Founder at Donna e Mobile
5
7
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6
6.5
Avşar Gurpinar
Avşar Gurpinar Assistant Professor at Istanbul Bilgi University
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6
3
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5
Chen Xiaohu
Chen Xiaohu Cofounder and Brand Director at BloomDesign
5
6
5
4
5
Han Wenqiang
Han Wenqiang Founder, Chief and Associate Professor at ARCHSTUDIO and School of Architecture Central Academy of Fine Arts
8
5
8
6
6.75
Li Baolong
Li Baolong Cofounder and Creative Director at BloomDesign
7
5
7
6
6.25
Stefano Giussani
Stefano Giussani CEO at Lissoni New York
5
7
6
7
6.25
Client
Adlah Mohammed Abdulrahman AlBahar
Floor area
1160 ㎡
Completion
2023
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The Mamluki Lancet Mosque (Adlah Mohammed Albahar) in Al-Masayel, Kuwait, seamlessly blends classical Egyptian Mamluki architecture with contemporary design, yielding a spiritual haven within a residential enclave. Anchored by the Moqarnas principle and the symbolism of the Islamic Star, the mosque unfolds as a sequence of five masses. The Qibla-oriented lower mass embodies faith's foundation, while the upper mass, aligned with the site, bridges the mosque's connection to its surroundings. Three intervening masses converge to form an open interior, enabling unobstructed prayer alignment.

Externally, the mosque features five rotating masses that span the gap between Qibla-oriented and site-aligned elements. Cascading squares ascend towards a central half dome, adorned with lancet arch cutouts reminiscent of classical Mamluki architecture. An additional mass tactfully completes the Islamic Star, enhancing visibility from above and signifying alternate entrances.

The entrance stands as an elegant prelude, a grand wooden door serves as the main threshold and its form echoes the mosque's half dome. Adjacent smaller half domes illuminate part of the interior, particularly the women's quarters, echoing the mosque's unity-centered design.

The mosque's material palette reinterprets Mamluki era elements with modern subtlety. Gray stone cladding and white clay plastering, paired with muted grays, whites, and delicate brass accents. Ornate detailing, engraved Quranic calligraphy, and handcrafted metalwork adorn the interior and exterior, seamlessly intertwining past and present.

Inside, stone-clad lower masses represent stability, while upper masses in pristine white evoke lightness. Thuluth-style Quranic inscriptions in modern relief adorn walls, harmoniously illuminated by natural light seeping through the light-wells of the rotating masses.

The mosque's adaptable spatial design discreetly segregates prayer halls, with a sliding partition expanding the women's area during Ramadan, fostering inclusivity while preserving unity.

The Mamluki Lancet Mosque harmoniously unites heritage and modernity, offering worshippers and the community an inviting, spiritually enriching sanctuary.