The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has recently announced the winners of the AlMusalla Prize, a competition celebrating innovative and sustainable designs for a prayer space to be built at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The winning design, created by EAST Architecture Studio in collaboration with artist Rayyane Tabet and engineers AKT II, is a modular structure inspired by regional weaving traditions and constructed using sustainable materials from local date palm trees. The Musalla will be disassembled after the Biennale and rebuilt at a new location, showcasing its commitment to sustainability and adaptability.
The winning team’s design reflects Islamic values of togetherness and proximity in prayer while also addressing environmental sustainability. It serves as a prototype for future regional architecture, with its unique use of local materials and modular design offering a blueprint for sustainable construction rooted in tradition. Paying homage to Jeddah’s vernacular architecture, the Musalla includes references to traditional methods seen in the city’s historic district of AlBalad. The structure’s open central courtyard and woven-like prayer spaces evoke a loom, while the use of natural dyes and textiles adds to its aesthetic appeal.
The Musalla is set within a landscape grid inspired by the layout of palm-tree plantations, further connecting it to the region’s heritage. The project was praised by the jury, chaired by Prince Nawaf Bin Ayyaf, for its innovative blend of architecture, art, and engineering, as well as its inclusive and community-oriented design. The Musalla is expected to be unveiled during the Islamic Arts Biennale in January 2025. Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, commended the winning team for their ability to merge creativity, sustainability, and cultural heritage, describing the Musalla as an inspiring space that will invite reflection and connection.
The AlMusalla Prize competition, part of the Islamic Arts Biennale, sought to showcase innovative and sustainable designs for a prayer space at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The winning design, created by EAST Architecture Studio in collaboration with artist Rayyane Tabet and engineers AKT II, is a modular structure inspired by regional weaving traditions and constructed using sustainable materials from local date palm trees. The Musalla will be disassembled after the Biennale and rebuilt at a new location, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and adaptability.
Reflecting Islamic values of togetherness and proximity in prayer, the winning design also addresses environmental sustainability. It serves as a prototype for future regional architecture, utilizing local materials and a modular design to offer a blueprint for sustainable construction rooted in tradition. The Musalla’s design pays homage to Jeddah’s vernacular architecture, incorporating references to traditional methods seen in the city’s historic district. The open central courtyard and woven-like prayer spaces evoke a loom, with natural dyes and textiles enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
The Musalla is set within a landscape grid inspired by palm-tree plantations, further connecting it to the region’s heritage. The project was praised by the jury for its innovative blend of architecture, art, and engineering, as well as its inclusive and community-oriented design. The Musalla is expected to be unveiled during the Islamic Arts Biennale in January 2025. Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, commended the winning team for their ability to merge creativity, sustainability, and cultural heritage, describing the Musalla as an inspiring space that will invite reflection and connection.
