Leading lighting design consultants, Lighting Design International, have added another prestigious project to their design portfolio, having created a striking scheme for the Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani Mosque in Doha, Qatar.
The recently inaugurated Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani Mosque at The Pearl Island encompasses 27,720 square metres, with a striking dome towering at 47 metres in height, securing the mosque as a beacon of spiritual significance and boasting breathtaking views of The Pearl Island’s iconic roundabout, clock and fountain.
Architect and interior design studio Zeynep Fadillioglu Design created a New Baroque architectural design style for the mosque, setting it apart as a unique gem on the city’s landscape.
Lighting Design International were chosen to design and deliver the lighting scheme for the exterior courtyard, façade and interiors of the mosque. For the exterior lighting, the consultancy used a variety of colour temperatures creating a dynamic display which thoughtfully played with light and shadow, highlighting the unique architectural features of the structure. This effect was achieved using a palette of colour temperatures, and whilst 3000K was used for the overall lighting scheme, a warmer 2700K was introduced to accentuate the gold pinnacles on the towers adorning the domes, which contrasted brilliantly with a cooler 4000K which was used to uplight the domes beneath.
The façade features a combination of spotlights and linear lighting carefully chosen to highlight selected features. Inground uplighters to the lower levels and lensed linear washes of light accentuate the wall motifs, whilst working alongside surface mounted spotlights, which highlight the column and arch details on the top of the Minaret. Both the glow from the interior and Main Prayer Room and backlighting of the window ironmongery details adds further depth and dimension to the facade.
When entering the mosque, you are greeted by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This is created using a layering of lighting elements including decorative pendants, background ambient lighting from concealed coves and carefully placed accent downlighters. This warm glow, along with soft uplights at the doorways, invites people in and the framed archways then lead people through the route to the Ablution areas and into the Prayer Rooms.
As the mosque is set across many levels, Lighting Design International set a path of uplighters at each level of the exterior drawing your eye skyward. This technique is mirrored on the inside. In the Main Prayer Hall, the architectural features are highlighted, the main pillars are uplit and the windows are framed with light drawing your eye up to the decorative domes above. In contrast, the grand architectural arches are illuminated using a lensed linear wash, ensuring the lighting remains uniform across such a wide area.
The interiors are softly lit using subtle downlights to create the desired illumination, without taking away from the overall design. This technique, combined with decorative chandeliers and pendants help to elevate the aesthetics of the space. In the Main Prayer Hall (also the Ladies Prayer Room), spotlights were integrated into the low hanging decorative pendants to achieve the required lighting levels in the centre of this great space. Up from the Upper Mezzanine level hidden spotlights are used to highlight the Mimber and important artefacts, such as decorative calligraphy shields, which are captured in a narrow beam to emphasise their cultural significance.
Charlotte Svenson, Associate at Lighting Design international, said “Our vision was to create an atmosphere that not only enhances the architectural beauty but also sets the mosque apart from others. The interplay of light and shadow was carefully crafted to evoke a sense of calm and reverence, inviting worshippers and visitors to experience the mosque in a way that is both visually striking but also calm and respectful.”
“It has been an honour to contribute to a project that symbolises such profound cultural and religious significance to the community of Doha."
The beautiful lighting scheme has contributed to the awe-inspiring grandeur of the Pearl Island Mosque, offering tourists and residents a serene haven for worship, and securing its position as one of the region’s most prominent religious destinations.
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Architect and Interior Design - Zeynep Fadillioglu Design
Lighting Design - Lighting Design International
Photography courtesy of Zeynep Fadillioglu Design
About Lighting Design International
LDI have been creating adventures in light for more than 30 years. They believe that lighting should be at the heart of the architectural process, challenging the boundaries of what is possible to create visually stunning spaces that harness the subtle interplay between texture, form and colour. Working at the cutting edge of lighting technology, LDI create lighting that integrates unobtrusively into its environment, creating maximum impact with exceptional results.
The creative team is as diverse as it is experienced. Talent includes graduates in lighting design, architecture, fine art, product design, engineering and theatre – specialists in their fields and without exception passionate about what they do. Working in close collaboration with architects, designers, and clients, LDI combine practical expertise with state-of-the-art technology and with a uniquely creative approach, they deliver a product that is second to none. https://www.lightingdesigninternational.com/
