Jeddah, October 9, 2024

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation is proud to announce the winner of the 2024 AlMusalla Prize: a collective composed of EAST Architecture Studio, based in Lebanon and the UAE; international engineering firm AKT II based in the UK; and Beirut- and San Francisco–based artist Rayyane Tabet.

The AlMusalla Prize is an international architecture competition for the design of a Musalla, a space for prayer and contemplation to be built on the site of the Islamic Arts Biennale – the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The winning team was selected from a shortlist of architects including AAU Anastas (Palestine), Sahel AlHiyari (Jordan), Dabbagh Architects (Saudi Arabia), and Asif Khan (United Kingdom).Jury members for the competition are Prince Nawaf Bin Ayyaf (jury chair), Farrokh Derakhshani, Lina Ghotmeh, Azra Akšamija, and Ali Malkawi. The inauguration of the Musalla will coincide with the opening of the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale on January 25, 2025.

The competition brief asked architects to form teams that included an artist and engineer, to collaboratively design a Musalla that is a versatile, modular space for prayer that welcomes both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors. The brief specified that the structure should meet all the requirements for prayer, be of at least 150 square meters in size, and be sustainable in its method of construction. The brief also stressed the importance of the structure being easily disassembled and reassembled, emphasizing the afterlife and the legacy component of the project—for the structure to live past the duration of the Islamic Arts Biennale.

The concept developed by EAST Architecture Studio, in collaboration with AKT II and Rayyane Tabet, addresses togetherness and proximity, core dimensions of prayer in Islam. It is inspired by how craftsmanship and spirituality come together in weaving. The design consists of an open central courtyard and prayer spaces that form a structure that resembles a loom. The winning concept envisions a pavilion built primarily from the waste of local date palm trees—a natural resource that is found in abundance across the region. Instead of taking its waste to a landfill or burning it, the design showcases how it can be used as a building material. The winning proposal hopes it can prove the viability of this sustainable resource.

The material palette refers to vernacular architecture and draws inspirations from traditional methods of building in Jeddah, in particular AlBalad, the city’s historic district. The Musalla proposes a revitalization of these vernacular forms and methods. It introduces a modular tool kit of parts that can be assembled and disassembled to travel to other parts of Jeddah and beyond. The interior of the Musalla conveys the delicate, sublime beauty of woven fabric with a layered structure that is rooted in the ground and tapers gently as it soars upwards towards the canopy of the Hajj Terminal. The walls and floor of the central space are lined with textiles that have been treated with natural dyes. It is situated in a landscape that is defined by a 6 x 6 meter grid, inspired by the dimensions of palm-tree plantations in Saudi Arabia.

Jury members selected the winning project for its nuanced interpretation of the architecture of Muslim societies as being rooted in the natural and environmental context, and the sense of belonging that this fosters. The winning project also showed great potential to serve as a blueprint that can become quite revolutionary should it succeed in its material exploration and construction experimentation. The design demonstrates how vernacular materials that are uniquely suited to a particular site continue to offer lessons and inspiration for the way people live and share space today. Places of worship in Islam are also community spaces, and the project reflects this fact through the openness and inclusiveness of its interiors and through its presence at the Islamic Arts Biennale and the Hajj Terminal, which are both places of gathering and sharing cultures.

The design is both grand and intimate, offering visitors an experience that is simultaneously shared and deeply personal. This echoes the space of the Hajj Terminal in microcosm. The terminal’s monumental architecture serves as a symbolic gateway for pilgrims on their journey to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The Islamic Arts Biennale also brings visitors from around the world together at the Hajj Terminal, with the arts of Muslim societies as a unifying focal point. The AlMusalla Prize bridges art and spirituality, inviting audiences to contemplate the artistry that has been inspired by Islamic faith over centuries, and through to the present day.

The Musalla will be operational for the four months of the Islamic Arts Biennale and will be dismantled, transported to a new destination, and reassembled after its closing.

Prince Nawaf Bin Ayyaf, jury chair of the AlMusalla Prize: “The winning design brilliantly marries sustainability with an original perspective on Musalla architecture, utilizing not only local materials like palm timber in a modular structure, but also inspired by the rich local tradition of weaving. This interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, an artist, and engineers has resulted in a contemporary interpretation of Islamic architecture that feels

both sacred and inclusive. The team's demonstrated knowledge of architectural heritage, combined with their forward-thinking approach to creating a versatile space, truly embodies the goals of this competition. The result is a revolutionary prototype that utilizes unique construction materials and methods, which will hopefully serve as a blueprint for an incredibly sustainable future of regional architecture that is deeply rooted in local traditions.”

Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation: “I am proud to announce the winner of the inaugural AlMusalla Prize, an award that celebrates sustainability, creativity, inclusion, and ingenuity in design. The jury has selected a team who has beautifully integrated architecture, art, and engineering to create an innovative and inspiring space for prayer and contemplation. This competition embodies our foundation's commitment to supporting new ideas and fresh perspectives on Islamic cultures and architecture. I can't wait to share this remarkable pavilion with the world when it is built, and to see people come together to enjoy and be inspired by this unique space. The AlMusalla Prize is a testament to the evolving landscape of Islamic arts and architecture, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting journey.”