The design team sought inspiration in traditional Islamic architecture, re-interpreting several characteristic features like pointed horseshoe arches and groin vaults through a design language of contemporary minimalism. Underpinned by a monochromatic, mostly white palette, and the extensive use of marble, the introduction of such curvaceous features into an otherwise rectilinear architecture results in fluid spaces that sculpturally unfold in a tight-knit sequence. What’s more, the harmonious combination of traditional Islamic motifs with a modernist architectural language of less is more imbues the spaces with a sense of spirituality that is neither doctrinal nor mystical, and symbolically conveys the Centre’s role as a place of cultural dialogue.

At the sparse, all-white entrance space, an olive tree, which is considered a “blessed” fruit in Islam, functions as a subtle indication of the venue’s spiritual character, while the corridor’s dynamic flow of arches transports visitors both spatially and psychologically between the venue’s spaces. Highlighted by black details, while the all-white colour palette predominates throughout the communal spaces it’s diluted in the male and female prayer rooms, which feature timber panelling and coloured vinyl respectively, in order to provide visual and tactile comfort. It’s an astute gesture that evocatively encapsulates Estúdio AMATAM’s incisive approach.