This photography project chronicles the journey of constructing the award-winning communal prayer space Titled "On Weaving", capturing every stage of its creation. From the sourcing and preparation of palm tree materials to the intricate assembly of the musalla’s structure
the winning pavilion of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's inaugural AlMusalla Prize reconciles the historic and contemporary, giving new life to the ancient architectural traditions of Islamic prayer.
Created for the Islamic Arts Biennale in January 2025, the musalla is designed and engineered by EAST Architecture Studio in collaboration with international engineering firm AKT II, and Beirut and San Francisco-based artist Rayyane Tabet. Set within the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the gateway for pilgrims to Mecca and Medina, the design of the modular musalla – meaning a space for prayer – is an exemplary study in materiality, craft, contextuality, and communality.
East Architecture Studio
almusallaprize.biennale.org.sa/en/aboutFeatured in
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- Domus, The modular pavilion that reimagines an important place of Islamic culture
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- Designverse, On Weaving | AlMusalla Prize | EAST Architecture Studio
- RIBA Journal, Islamic Arts Biennale gives Saudi Arabia a cultural leg-up
- RIBA Journal, The RIBA Journal - Spring 2025 edition
- Tyréns AKT, ‘On Weaving’ – Islamic Arts Biennale 2025.
- Tyréns AKT, ‘On Weaving’ musalla is star of the show.
- Parametric Architecture, Diriyah Biennale Foundation Moves Forward with Finalists for the 2027 AlMusalla Prize