Why not take advantage of local architects, as they seem to have engaged themselves to design great buildings. Being no inferior to the foreign colleges, Pacarizi and Sadiku pointed the strengths of local architecture. See below the description and other details of their Central Mosque of Prishtina International Competition proposal.

Architects: Gezim Pacarizi & Arber Sadiku
Location: Prishtina, KOSOVO
Design Team: Gezim Sadiku, Bekim Mustafa
Status: International competition
Site Area: 8,200 sqm
Building Area: 63.926,64 sqm

Exterior rendering

Aspirations: We propose an architecture which is related to the tradition in a way that defines both the present and the tradition. Typical mosque elements like the dome, minaret, portico are incrusted in our collective memory as the expression of the Islamic religious building. We used all those elements; we redefined them again, and assembled them in the new way, coherent to our contemporary expression and aspirations. The mosque of Prishtina will be the building the people of Kosovo will identify with. Our relation to religion is particular and this building is its expression. We accept and cherish the past and tradition but we look forward to the future. This building will be like all the mosques are supposed to be: the place to gather for praying but also the place to meet, to discuss, a place for our last respects to the one leaving as well as the place to forge the spirit of our community.

Front street, exterior rendering

Situation: The site for the Mosque of Prishtina is an important crossroad of two main axes. The boulevard in front of the future mosque, is an important East-West line connecting the mayor institutions of the city. Perpendicular to the Boulevard runs the most important pedestrian axis, connecting several western neighbourhoods of Prishtina, from North to South. The mosque will enforce this particular point.

The creation of the large open court-terrace, reference to the traditional Hayat, will bring the necessary attraction to this point.

Interior rendering

To release the maximum available space for the outside gatherings and meeting we have placed the Mosque above the ground level. The gained open court “Hayat” surface, plays the role of the traditional portico space, which is important transitional space between the city and the praying hall itself. This space is large enough to enable the gatherings for the particular Muslim celebrations. The several stairs and elevators “towers” connect the “Hayat” level with the praying hall, two eastern “towers” for the women and two northern “towers” with the Monumental stairs for the men.

The praying hall is unique circular space covered with 55m diameter dome, which culminates at 39m above the Boulevard. 3 mezzanine levels (Mahfils) develops inside the dome space. Light from above accentuates the religious feeling of this space. This central space is surrounded by servants spaces, entrance hall, library and the Small praying hall. This provides absolute silence for the praying hall.

The portico surface is accentuated by the circular openings which brings the light in the lower levels. One secondary court, in the east-south corner, leads to the various secondary functions of the Islamic community Centre, like the conference hall, school, restaurant, administration etc.

The multifunctional building, the base for the mosque, sits above three levels of underground parking. Two first levels are office retail space, while the third level is shopping centre with the bazaar typology. This programme is organised carefully with independent accesses and no confusion with the basic mosque spaces.

Front facade render

Building: The whole building will be constructed in the red concrete. Its inspiration comes from the mogul Islamic architecture but the aim is to express the uniqueness of the institution. The inside of the dome covered praying hall will be white with red carpets. The building is conceived with double skin envelope, with European standards of thermal insulation. The heating is organised in several zones, permitting the maximum energy saving. All the materials will be local origin and locally made.

Economy: Since we release the whole ground level and create a large public space, we could use more available space for the retail part. This retail space will help finance the building and later its management. We suppose that long term leasing of the rental office space and of the shopping centre will finance the whole building. On the other side the three levels of underground parking will produce enough yearly income for the support and management of the whole Institution.