Sheikh-Zayed-bin-Sultan-Al-Nahyan Mosque

Sheikh-Zayed-binSultan-Al-Nahyan
Mosque
Architect:YusefAbdelki,Halcrow(ExecutiveArchitects),SpatiumArchitects,Milano
(InteriorDesign)
Lightingdesigner:SpeirsandMajorAssociates,Edinburgh
Photographer:CharlesCrowell,BlackStar
Place:AbuDhabi
ThenewmosqueinAbuDhabiisabuildingofsuperlatives,
combiningtraditionalcraftsmanshipwithcutting-edgetechnology
-asseen,forexample,inthelighting.
Risingupindazzlingwhite,themassiveSheikhZayedMosque
appearsalmostlikeamirageattheeastendoftheislandinthe
PersianGulfwhichformsthecentreoftheEmirateofAbuDhabi.
ThisHouseofGod,namedafterSheikhZayedBinSultanAlNayhan,
thelaterulerofAbuDhabiandfounderoftheUnitedArabEmirates,
isabuildingofsuperlatives:itisthelargestmosqueintheEmirates
andthethirdlargestworldwide,featuringthebiggestdomeofa
mosqueandthelargesthand-wovencarpetintheworld.Itsinterior
providesroomforover40,000worshippers.Elevenyearsafterthe
startofconstructionsandoneyearafteritsinauguration,the
groundsofthemosquearenowalsoduetobecompletedthisyear.
Therequirementsoftheclients,theconceptdevisedbythelighting
designersandthephilosophyofERCOassupplierofthelighting
toolswenthandinhandinthisproject:thelightsourcesneededto
beconcealedasinconspicuouslyaspossible,whilespecialfocuswas
tobeputonverticalillumination.
Thus,hundredsofLightcastdirectionalluminaires,Stellaspotlights
andStellawallwashersarehiddeningroovesalongtheceilingedge,
inwallrecessesorbehindornamentalgrates.
TheQibla,theprayerwallwiththegoldenMihrabniche,faces
towardMecca.Itformsthereligiousheartofthemosqueandbears
the99namesofAllahasmarbleinlays,backlitbyafibreoptics
system.
Inthemarble-cladporticosaroundthecentraldomehall,the
lightingdesignersalsooptedforthevisualcomfortandmagical
effectofverticallighting.
Thecentralhallisvaultedbymassivedomes.Thevariouslighting
components,whichinclude"playofbrilliants"intheformofa
giganticchandelier,canbecombinedtocreatetherightmoodfor
anytimeofthedayandoccasion.Energyefficiencynowisakey
factorevenintheGulfStates,whichiswhyERCO?slightingtools
arefittedwitheconomical,long-lifemetalhalidelampswherever
dimmingisnotrequired.
Themosquewasawardedthe"MiddleEastLightingDesignAward
2008"forthebestlightingprojectintheentireMiddleEast.
Thegroundsofthemosquewillnowalsofeatureproductsfrom
ERCO:severalhundredsofspotlights,recessedfloorluminairesand
overathousandstairlightswithmodern,energy-savingLED
technologywillsoonprovideefficientvisualcomfort.
Visitorinformationat:
www.visitabudhabi.ae/de/what.to.do/mosques.and.other.places.of.wor
ship/sh.zayed.mosque.aspx
Furtherinformationandbookingofguidedtoursviae-mailat:
zayedmosquetour(at)adta.ae
InformationontheMiddleEastLightingDesignAward:
palme-middleeast.com/melda/Press_Release_6.html
Partiesinvolvedintheconstruction
Interiordesign:SpatiumArchitects,Milan
www.spatium.it
Executivearchitect:Halcrow
www.halcrow.com
Lightingdesign:SpeirsandMajorAssociates,Edinburgh
www.lightarch.com