Grand Mosque Interview with Jonathan Speirs Part III

The Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, lighting by Speirs and Major Associates, Part III

About the mosque
The mosque is named after Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan, the late ruler and founder of the United Arab Emirates, and is a building of extraordinary dimensions: it is the third largest mosque worldwide, and features the largest dome of a mosque in the world. Behind the design are architects Halcrow, Spatium and Speirs and Major Associates, UK (Lighting Architects).

About the lighting
In keeping with other religious buildings, the mosque attaches special symbolic importance to light. Within the interior, all light appears woven into the fabric of the building with equipment hidden from view. Most striking of all is the exterior lighting which ebbs and flows according to the lunar-based Islamic calendar. Director Jonathan Speirs explains: "In the same way as the moon has an impact on the tides, we wanted the moon to have an impact on the building. Our idea was to have a building that, by full moon, is lit pristinely with white light, but with a textural quality evocative of clouds slowly drifting by. As the moon wanes over its 28 day cycle, the lighting grows gradually bluer to signify darkness. On the fourteenth evening the mosque is lit in deepest blue."

http://www.samassociates.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Sheikh
• Zayed
• Bin
• Sultan
• Al
• Nayhan
• Grand
• Mosque
• Abu
• Dhabi
• Lighting
• Design
• Speirs
• Major
• Martin

[boxermaf]

@keter1234 it is a masjid so the purpose of the building is congregational prayer and teaching

[emjaynie]

It truly is a national monument, and a work of art at the same time. Like the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the King Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the beauty and artistry of all 3 buildings really moved me. All great works of architecture funded by governing bodies draw criticism at the time of building, but when they're old and the pain of the money spent is gone, they become beloved historical national treasures. Enjoy this beautiful mosque for what it is, a true work of art.

[keter1234]

I wonder who they are trying to impress with this building. What is the building for?

[ayumur]

Wow! Excellent work!

[660ccRaptor]

@SayfAlMujahid99

there is no hundred of thousands of homeless in Abu Dhabi !! there are poor and homeless people in all over the world even in Ka3ba u will c a lot of poor and homeless wouldnt it be better helping them instead of building those towers around ka3ba.......and al7amdolellah we r helping them a lot.

[JunaidAli88SZz]

@SayfAlMujahid99

well said

[Turkish68Gurbet]

MASALLAH

[Falisia11]

Inshallah... some day i will pray taraweeh prayers in that mosque.... manshallah so beautiful... worth every dollar

[korgpadude]

mashallah