In 2009, Cambridge Mosque Trust commissioned Marks Barfield Architects to create Cambridge Central Mosque – a breath-taking, highly-sustainable place of worship for the local Muslim community that took over ten years to complete.
Consisting of an Islamic Garden and prayer hall, with capacity for over 1000 worshippers, it was inspired by Islamic and English architectural traditions and offers a calm oasis to its visitors. Within the main prayer hall wooden columns or ‘trees’, constructed using sustainably sourced timber, support the gothic-style ceiling. Above the columns sit large roof lights, which illuminate the main space.
Cambridge Central Mosque has been recognised by numerous 2021 RIBA Awards, including four RIBA East Awards, a RIBA National Award and is shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2021.
Chair of the RIBA Client of the Year jury Jo Bacon said: “Cambridge Mosque Trust, spearheaded by Dr Timothy Winter, Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies, and Director of Studies at Wolfson College, demonstrated personal commitment and tenacity to deliver a highly sustainable work of contemporary architecture, which is culturally embedded in the history of those who use the building but also appropriate and generous to the civic life of the city. Cambridge Mosque Trust is a worthy winner of RIBA Client of the Year 2021.”
The RIBA Client of the Year 2021 jury was chaired by Jo Bacon, Partner at Allies and Morrison; with Dav Bansal Partner at Glenn Howells Architects; and Anthony Dewar Head of Buildings and Architecture at Network Rail.
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Images/ credit: Cambridge Central Mosque © Morley von Sternberg