In Doha, a mosque like no other: Al-Mujadilah, a place designed by and for women

At the heart of Education City, in Doha, a unique place has just been created: Al-Mujadilahfirst contemporary mosque specially designed for women. This ambitious project, carried out by its Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser and carried out by the New York agency Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS + R), marks a real revolution in the world of religious architecture.

More than a place of prayer, Al-Mujadilah wants to be a space of knowledge, exchange and community. We come there to pray, but also to debate, learn, and weave links. Courses, conferences, and even an annual summit are organized around the role of Muslim women in society. “Design a mosque for women was a real challenge. It was necessary to create a multifunctional place, open and alive, ”explains Elizabeth Diller, co -founder of DS+R.

The architecture of the place is both poetic and functional. A large undulating roof, pierced with thousands of conical openings, lets in a soft and changing light throughout the day. Two olive trees literally cross the roof, a symbol of peace and anchoring in the living. Inside, the 875 m² prayer room, oriented towards Mecca, can accommodate up to 750 people. A huge carpet, inspired by a traditional Turkish model, was reworked in a contemporary version with soft and blurred shades. During Ramadan, modular spaces increase the capacity to 1,300 faithful.

Another strong architectural gesture: the minaret, revisited in an innovative way. A 39 -meter tower, fine and openwork, rises slowly five times a day, punctuating the call to prayer in a silent and almost magical ballet. “We wanted to put the ritual back in the gesture, while remaining anchored in our time,” says the architect. Thought in an eco -responsible approach, the mosque aims at the most demanding environmental certifications, with sustainable materials, intelligent management of water and light, and careful landscape integration.