Location: Doha, Qatar.
Architect: Trust Engineering Consultancy.
In Doha, Qatar, the Sheikha Moza Bint Mohammed Quran and Da’awa Center is a place of Islamic learning that specialises in training women how to preach Islam and the Quran.
One of the biggest Islamic education facilities in the MENA region is planned for the Centre.
The new construction is seen as a rebirth of the previous centre, which had been situated on the same piece of land but had been dismantled because of the growth of the city’s infrastructure.
The flower of the local Sidra tree, which was referenced numerous times in the holy Quran as a reward for believers, was an inspiration for the design of the building.
The geometrical design of the centre was motivated by the Sidra tree’s flower petals. The building took on the exact geometry of the flower and evolved into a pentagon. The Pentagon form was also used to represent the five points of Islam’s five pillars and the five times it is customary to pray. Thus, in order to promote sustainable environmental design while protecting women’s privacy, the centre includes a number of ideas that were prominent in Islamic architecture, such as Central courtyards and Mashrabiya. A lovely court garden is used as an informal learning environment and gathering area. Building massing that serves as a shade covers the garden’s contour, providing users with a comfortable setting.
