New Mosque near Preston, Lancashire

 

Type: International, open, anonymous, two-stage

Competition manager: RIBA, U.K.
Eligibility: Open to all registered architects in their countries of origin or in their present location
Registration fee: £35 + VAT
Once your payment has been processed, you will be issued with a Unique Registration Number (URN) and a Declaration of Authorship Form.
Process: Up to five (5) teams will be shortlisted from phase 1 of the competition
Evaluation Panel:

• Fanos Panayides, RIBA competition adviser, John McAslan + Partners
• David Cockrell, Retired architect, Cassidy + Ashton
• Jonathan Carter, Director, Rolfe Judd Architecture
• TBC, Preston City Council representative
• x3, Client Representatives
*Joanne Wallis, RIBA Competitions (observer only)
Timetable:
12 March 2021 – Q&A period ends
22 April 2021 – Deadline for Phase I submissions (digital)
10 May 2021 – Shortlisted winners notified
15 June 2021 – Deadline for phase II submissions

Honoraria
It is intended that five teams will be selected to proceed to the second phase. Each shortlisted team who submits a Phase 2 entry will each receive an honorarium of £4,000 +VAT.
(It is the intention, funding permitting, to commission the author of the winning scheme to develop and implement their winning design, working in association with the client to take the scheme forward and through to completion.)
Submission requirements:
• A maximum of 2x landscape sheets (equivalent to A3 in PDF format only) 

• A written design statement (maximum 1000 words) 

• A completed declaration form 

• One visual image 

Design Challenge:

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. 

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. 

*sahn (Arabic: ṣaḥn), is a courtyard in Islamic architecture, especially the formal courtyard of a mosque. Most traditional mosques have a large central sahn, which is surrounded by a riwaq or arcade on all sides. In traditional Islamic design, residences and neighborhoods can have private sahn courtyards.

To receive further information:
RIBA Competitions 

+44 113 203 1490 

riba.competitions@riba.org