Preston Mosque Competition

A City Follows in the Footsteps of an Honored Tradition

Winning entry by Luca Poian Forms Image ©Filippo Bolognese images

Good design seldom happens in a vacuum. And so it was with an international competition for a new mosque in Preston, U.K. A mid-sized city of 95,000, and located in Lancashire near the west coast and almost equally distant from London and Glasgow, Preston has a storied past, going all the way back to the Romans and the late Middle Ages, where it was the site of significant battles. During the Industrial Revolution, the city prospered, and it was not until after World War II that Preston experienced the British version of the U.S. Rust Belt. In the meantime, the city has experienced an upswing in economic activity, with an unemployment rate of only 3%. Aside from the appearance of new industries, the city has benefitted from the establishment of Central Lancashire University (CLU), which employs over 3,000 faculty and staff, and, as such, is one of the regions major employers. Any new university requires new facilities, and one of the most outstanding examples of this at CLU was the new Student Centre and Plaza, a result of a 2016 RIBA-sponsored competition won by Hawkins/Brown (below).

Hawkins/Brown’s winning design for the CLU Student Centre and Plaza (competition (2016)

The Preston Bus Station
In 1969 a new city bus station was built, cited by many as a prime example of the brutalism style. By the early 21st century, the city began to include its demolition as part of a new city plan. Opposition to the demolition plan initially led to several failed attempts to save the building by having it listed as a “Grade II” structure. However, a 2013 filing was successful, causing the city to plan for the refurbishment of the building at a £25M price tag. For the choice of an architect, an international competition, also sponsored by the RIBA, was staged and drew 90 entries from around the world. After being won by a British firm, John Puttick Associates, with a close second place by another U.K. firm, Cassidy + Ashton, the client decided to hire both firms as a team. The resulting refurbishment in 2018 by the two partners won wide acclaim, and even was a candidate for the Stirling Prize. So from this competition, and the one for CLU, one can well assume that a competition style process was not only familiar to the Preston community, but also was well received.

Preston Bus Station (2015 Competition) Photo: courtesy City of Preston

The Preston Mosque Competition

Why a competition for another mosque in Preston when twelve mosques were already in existence? After the dissolution of the British Empire and the resulting arrival of a large number of immigrants from the former colonies, Muslims now make up 20% of the city’s population, and probably increasing. Judging by the vote on the Brexit referendum in 2016, Preston displayed a higher degree of tolerance toward immigrants than its neighbours, most of which voted in large numbers to leave the EU.

The two-stage competition for the new mosque was launched in the spring of 2021 and concluded with a second stage in June of the same year. The competition brief was clear in asking for a design that was not simply a replication of traditional mosque design:

“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.”

As for the area surrounding the main building, it was more specific:

“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.”

The guidelines foresaw a building with a maximum of four-stories, featuring a large main hall with capacity for 450 prayer mats plus circulation. As for sustainability, proposals were required to ‘seek to achieve a zero carbon development or as close to this as is reasonably possible’.

Based on the subject matter of the competition, and the fact that it was open internationally, over 200 entries were received from 40 countries around the world. At the conclusion of the first stage round of judging, five designs were shortlisted to continue to the second stage.

The jury panel consisted of:

• 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)

The authors of the shortlisted presentations were:

• LUCA POIAN FORMS, London, UK (winner)
• Sam Mcheileh Architecture, New York (Highly Commended by the Evaluation Panel)
• BLANKPAGE Architects, Lebanon
• Borough Architects + buchhandler-nelli + Hinich, Cambridge, UK
• TABE SHOURI, New York

In the absence of detailed jurors’ reports, the RIBA released the following statement which encapsulated the jury’s findings in succinct terms:
“The client was looking for a truly inspirational design to create a timeless landmark building on a site near Preston city centre and visible from the surrounding area. The competition provided a unique opportunity to design a building which will become a proud part of Preston’s skyscape for many years to come.

Following lengthy consideration and discussion, the Evaluation Panel unanimously selected the Brick Veil design by LUCA POIAN FORMS as the overall winner.

In the winning proposal for the new iconic mosque, the building’s elliptical design allows visitors to observe and appreciate the structure from various viewpoints. The minaret tower makes reference to Lancashire’s well recognised cotton mill chimneys, celebrating the local history whilst announcing the mosque’s presence in the skyline of Preston.”

Where available, finalist’s narratives have been made available with their presentations. Due to length in some cases, editing may have been necessary.

WInning entry and Commission
LUCA POIAN FORMS
Team:
Luca Poian, Mohammed Rahmany, Luciano Preci
Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
London, UK

3rd level (left); rooftop (right)

Above diagrams @Luca Poian Forms

Section diagrams ©Luca Poian Forms (above)

View from expressway

Project Narrative
Sited in a prominent location in the outskirts of Preston, our proposal for a new iconic Mosque envisions an architectural language that is timeless in its materiality and honest in its tectonic approach. Conceived as an elliptical extrusion at the south-western end of the site, our design features an abstract and legible massing that is not only iconic and memorable, but also highly kinetic.
Its most notable feature is its textured brick facade, which is conceived as an urban-scale curtain that pleats away to frame the main entrance of the building. Inspired by the veil-like qualities of traditional Mashrabiyas, the facade’s pleating form has inherent structural stiffness that allows it to exist as an independent system whilst endowing the building with a rich tectonic language.
The materiality and careful treatment of the mosque’s exterior not only harmonises the relationship between the new and the existing, but in fact further enhances the building’s cultural identity by harkening back to the textile manufacturing industry that has characterised the region throughout history. Located at. the south-western end of the site, the minaret tower makes reference to Lancashire’s well recognised round-section cotton mill chimneys—celebrating the local history whilst announcing the mosque’s presence within the skyline of Preston.
By virtue of its scale, form, and materiality, the mosque will be executed as a highly refined building that celebrates Islamic tradition whilst also paying homage to British craft. -Luca Poian Forms

Unless otherwise noted, all above renderings ©Filippo Bolognese images

Finalist – Highly Commended by the Evaluation Panel!
Sam Mcheileh Architecture
Architect – Sam Mcheileh
Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
Mechanical Engineer: Skelly & Couch
Images: Sam Mcheilleh Architecture
New York, NY

Mosque from carpark

Courtyard (left) Conservatory (right)

Main hall

Floor plans (above)

Project Narrative (abridged)
Our proposal for a new mosque was envisioned as a unification of Islamic symbolism and the rich history of the English garden.
Central to our design is a full-height conservatory garden, a verdant oasis nestled within the ribbon-like facade that adorns the mosque. Beyond serving as a stunning visual focal point, the conservatory plays a crucial role in fostering social interaction. Symbolizing the significance of gardens in Islamic and English architectural traditions, this semi-outdoor space extends the community areas on the upper levels and encourages year-round use.

Functioning as an atrium, the three-level conservatory contributes to the mosque’s environmental sustainability. Beyond its role in social engagement, the conservatory aids in regulating internal temperatures. It harnesses solar heat gain in colder months and offers natural ventilation in warmer periods, minimizing the reliance on mechanical systems.

The exterior of the mosque unfolds as a seamless expression of the surrounding landscape, characterized by ribbons of locally sourced brick. This nod to Lancashire’s masonry heritage not only enhances the visual continuity but also regulates natural light within the interior spaces. The varying spacing of these ribbons carefully controls the porosity of the enclosure, creating intimate prayer spaces while opening up communal areas to an abundance of natural light. –Mcheileh Studio

Finalist
Borough Architects + buchhandler-nelli + Michael Henich
Team: Michael Hinich, Valerio Nelli, Yonatan Buchhandler and Ze’ev Feigis
Strructural engineers – Smith and Wallwork
Landscape – LDA Design
Cambridge, UK

Project Narrative

The proposal separated the everyday functions from the sacred space, expressed in two masses: A tall rectalinear mass over three storeys with prayer halls and learning spaces and a low wing along the boundary which contained the offices, kitchen and storage facilities and separated the prayer hall from the nearby road. The entrance was positioned between the two parts, allowing visual connection between the arrival courtyard and the garden beyond, marked by the free standing minaret.

The landscape design was developed as a key principle of the scheme between the carefully planted entrance and the re-wilding of the north garden with its existing mature trees and a rainwater collection pool attached to the building. The opening of the garden to the public was a welcoming gesture to the public, connected the complex to the street and provided a quiet repose away from the city.

Finalist

BLANKPAGE Architects
Lebanon