A new competition has been launched to find a talented and ambitious architect to design a mosque in Preston.
AdvertisementThe Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has opened the competition on behalf of a local charity.
The mosque will be located at the western end of D’Urton Lane on the northern fringe of the city centre – close to the Broughton roundabout for the M55 junction.
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RIBA states the site is in a prominent and elevated location alongside the recently completed Broughton bypass and the client it looking for a landmark building that is enduring of time but also modern and on trend.
The outline RIBA has set out states: “This site is located close to the city centre but in its own, prominent setting, visible from a large part of the surrounding area including key routes into Preston therefore there is a great opportunity to design a building which will become a proud element of Preston’s skyscape for many years to come.”
It also says: “The intention is to produce a strong and bold design that is clearly identifiable as a place of worship but not necessarily to the extent that it is dominated by the traditional Islamic designs.
“Similarly, it is acceptable to have an element of Islamic flair or features but this is not paramount and if the building has minarets they should be subtle and modern in appearance. The building should have a clear focal point or strong design features which gives character and visibility at some distance.
“It should not be so institutionalised as to simply have the look of a contemporary office building.
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“Consideration should be given to the potential for the creation of an external courtyard area or sahn which would be part of the public realm and available for informal meetings or relaxation.
Phase one will see initial anonymous design concepts. A shortlist of up to five teams will then be selected to develop their designs.
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The RIBA competition is open to registered architects worldwide and the deadline for phase one is 22 April.
A full brief and more detailed information can be found here.
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What do you think about the competition? Let us know in the comments below