Mosque in Reykjavik
The green, white or grey plot invites to an isolated building, at the end of a stroll, with the minaret like an ending image. Our aim is to create a special place for worship, where concentration, isolation and approach to God will take place. This is the main target of the project; to create the best place to pray. This is why we propose several ideas and intentions. First of all we create an opaque building, closed to the exterior (open to the interiority), and, like many mosques do, the mosque of the FÉLAG MÚSLÍMA Á ÍSLANDIA in Reykjavik do not reveal what happens inside. The simple and cubic form seeks to transmit a message of integrity, clarity and purity, away from weird or strident forms.
In the interior we suggest different topics. First of all we create a promenade leading to the worship area. This means a distance to the outer world (like Deleuze´s Heterotopia), leading the believers, bit by bit, through the hall, the cloakroom, the washing facilities, the ablution-ritual washing and the shoe storage area, up to the praying space. On the other hand, the worship hall is a careful and special design by means of; the smooth light falling from the pierced ceiling, the little domes creating the pattern ceiling, the cubic/squared form of the hall (amplifying the qibla), the gaps illuminated from above on all sides or the second light line. All of these features will create a special place for meditation and absorption on praying, as well as a suitable place for the imman talks and services. Is essential the idea of protection, of enclosing into the worship hall. In order to do this we construct an opaque cube, enclosing other cubes, up to four rings, from the very exterior to the very closed. Essential is also the insertion of the four patios (four triangles) that isolate the praying cube (qquba), clearing the volume and, in concept, creating a “distance” and leaving the volume detached and floating of the floor. We create an atmosphere of un-constructed space, like that those magic interiors of the ottoman mosques, where the geometrical tiled walls un-construct the space.
We avoid excessive folkloric features like domes, horse shoe arches or ceramic geometric patterns. The upper level is in essence occupied by the mosque and the entrance facilities. The lower level, the basement, is used for the other functions, like the assembly room and conference hall, research area, classroom, storage or kitchen. The embalming facilities are located away, on the ground level and connected to the basement. We propose two possible mosques. The main one on level 0, ground floor, and another feasible extension on basement, moving some sliding panel and glass doors, occupying almost all the area, and bigger than the upper one. This kind of layout is used in many mosques all over the world. Into one ensemble of mosques we may find several different praying units.
