Have you noticed how the light dances around us? This is no accident here at Al Rawda Mosque. Al Rawda Mosque is more than just a building. It is a testament to the power of light and modern Islamic art.
Al Rawda Mosque sits in Amman’s Badr Al Jadeeda area. It was opened in September 2011 during Ramadan. The mosque stands on flat land where three roads meet. It is in a quiet area with local homes and green hills.
The design aimed to explore new mosque designs. It also sought to keep the identity and spirit of such a key building. Everything was designed from the architecture to the door handles. This made the concept consistent throughout the project.
As you enter Al Rawda Mosque a roofed porch greets you. Quran verses are carved on the Ajloun stone edge of the canopy. A patterned steel structure stands to the left. It has a planter at the bottom and an opening to the sky. This allows plants to climb and reach for the light. To the right a passageway leads to the ablution areas. A two-story wall of glass reinforced concrete separates it from the street. This wall hides the service area and shoe racks. It also lets light filter through casting shadows and patterns on the stone. The pattern comes from Seljuq designs of the eastern Islamic lands. It was chosen for its geometric complexity and unique look.
The main door is a grand walnut wood door. It stands four meters high with engraved patterns. This leads into the main prayer hall a linear space directed toward Mecca. A suspended wooden partition separates the women’s hall. This mezzanine provides privacy while keeping them connected to the mosque’s spirit.
The building’s concept is to sculpt a spiritual space using light. It uses a minimal architectural style. Masses and openings respond to natural light throughout the day. Light comes in at various angles and shapes. The large eastern glass facade parallels a six-meter high patterned wall. This wall filters the morning light creating patterns on the floor. It highlights the Quranic verses on the walls.
The light changes direction as the sun moves. At noon it hits the thin glass strip above the Karaki stone Mihrab. This Jordanian stone has a deep grey color and unique patterns. Light also emphasizes the calligraphed Quranic verses. They are written in relief around the upper space. The light reflects on the patterned ceiling and five-meter dome showing its depth.
In the afternoon light comes through the wooden Minbar. This light draws different patterns on the simple blue carpet. The carpet also features simple Islamic patterns.
At night the interior lights shine outward. They reflect the same patterns on the outer surfaces and pathways. This extends the mosque’s atmosphere to the surroundings.
This interplay of light mass and material modernizes Islamic art. It creates a three-dimensional sculptural space. Outside the sculpted crescent sits atop the dome. It is made of three intersecting steel crescents. This creates interesting light and shadow effects. The minaret is a freestanding structure. It ends with a GRC pattern that fades into the sky creating verticality and endlessness.
Al Rawda Mosque combines complexity and simplicity. Complex patterns and elements combine in a minimal space. Light enhances the spirituality creating various atmospheres. This interactive space connects with its users. It is architecture of light tradition and the contemporary.