Mosquée d’Algérie

Text description provided by the architects. As part of the Algerian National Day celebrations on November 1, the cornerstone of the new "Mosquée d'Algérie", designed by KSP Juergen Engel Architekten, was laid in an official ceremony in Algiers. This solemn act marked the beginning of construction of the third largest mosque in the world after the Islamic pilgrimage sites of Mecca and Medina. With its own prayer hall that can seat up to 37,000 people and approx. Minaret 265 meters high. In the future, the mosque will be one of the largest religious buildings in the Islamic world. The complex provides space for up to 120,000 visitors per day, and in addition to the prayer hall and the minaret, the complex includes other facilities such as the cultural center, imam school, library, apartments, fire station, museum, and research. center. More photos and project description after the break.

Just six kilometers east of the historic city center and not far from the airport is the new mosque complex, which has a total area of approx. 400,000 square meters, is an important incentive for the future development of neighboring areas. The new focal point combines religion, culture and research, while at the same time serving as a new hub for the surrounding neighbourhoods. Construction of the complex is scheduled to begin in early 2012, once the necessary preparatory measures have been completed. Operation is scheduled for 2016.

The entire complex is being built on behalf of the Algerian government based on plans drawn up by a consortium made up of KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten and engineering firm Krebs und Kiefer International in Darmstadt, Germany. In 2008 the design submitted by the German consortium won the international competition, and the signing ceremony for the planning services contract was held in July 2008 in Algiers in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In the Bay of Algiers, east of the historic city centre, the complex constitutes the main and initial element of a new urban development in Algiers. The center combines various cultural and religious facilities as well as various educational institutions. A common base of up to five meters in height forms the base of the edifices that make up the mosque complex, which are aligned from west to east on the elevated plateau. The entrance arcades, the minaret, the prayer courtyard and the prayer hall, which can accommodate up to 37,000 worshipers, are located here, staggered on a longitudinal plot extending along an axis in the direction of Mecca.

The prayer hall, or Salle de Prière, is a huge cube with an affinity footprint. 145 meters by 145 meters and 22.5 meters high. A 45-meter-high cube, slightly tapered off the edge, obscures the central dome. The latter reaches a height of about 70 meters at its summit and a diameter of about 50 meters at its base. The prayer hall, with its usual rows of columns 45 meters high, can seat up to 37,000 people. All the traditional religious elements such as the qibla wall, mihrab, minbar and dakkah are integrated into a hall with modern aesthetics. Similar to the architecture of traditional Islamic places of worship, the mosque's exterior is made of natural stone. The mosque's courtyard mediates between the religious prayer hall and the adjacent courtyard in the west, and the open space that includes the main entrance and the adjacent front courtyard.

minaret

Its use, design and size make the minaret unique in the history of Islam. Standing about 265 meters high, the minaret has the proportions of a skyscraper, while being quite slender with 28 x 28 metres, the lower floors attractively open onto the square. Panorama elevators take visitors to the public upper floors that house the Algerian History Museum. On top of that there are two research areas known as Research Center, which are open to accredited researchers only. Translucent decorative elements (known as "mashrabiya facade elements") surround the tower like a second skin, while at the same time serving as protection from the sun's rays. The top of the tower is open to the public. There is a viewing platform for visitors and honorary guests here. At night, the luminous glass skin atop the minaret radiates, visible from afar, as a point of orientation in Algiers and its new landmark.

the garden

The mosque complex is linked to the buildings in the south which are the cultural center, the library and the imam school with a wide garden. This landscaped outdoor area can accommodate a large number of people and also provides a haven of peace. Palm groves surrounding the mosque provide ample shade. Furthermore, fountains promote an overall sense of calm and focus.

Cultural and educational buildings

In terms of height and alignment of the buildings in the south used for culture, such as the cultural center, library, and imam school with apartments for doctoral students, is based on residential development bordering the south, and existing traffic roads. These cultural buildings are an essential part of the mosque complex (and in fact the urban development area used for cultural and religious purposes), which is not only the center of life for all members of society regarding religious matters, but also the center of events and social life. The unity of these buildings, devoted to the doctrine and practice of Islam, is also expressed in the chosen architecture.

"flower column"

For the design throughout the edifice, the floral column with a prominent capital serves as a design leitmotif that connects all areas of the ensemble. As a bearing structure and source of shade, it also takes on functional duties, while meeting technical requirements such as drainage and optimizing acoustics, furthermore structuring the entire complex.