The Abrahamic Family House in the Saadiyat Cultural District of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has been revealed by Adjaye Associates.
The newly constructed complex includes a mosque, a church, and a synagogue, along with communal gathering spaces, and aims to serve as a hub for learning, discussion, and religious practice.
‘I believe architecture should work to enshrine the kind of world we want to live in, a world of acceptance, openness,
and constant advancement. As an architect, I want to create a building that starts to rise above the notion of hierarchical difference and enhances the richness of human life. Our hope is that through these buildings that celebrate three distinct religions, people of all faiths and from across society can learn and engage in a mission of peaceful coexistence for generations to come.’ shares Sir David Adjaye. The Abrahamic Family House was officially inaugurated and opened to worshippers on February 16, 2023.
The Abrahamic Family House – A Harmony of Religious Diversity
The Abrahamic Family House by Adjaye Associates is an architectural marvel that combines three houses of worship under one roof. The one-story plinth has a central forum that welcomes visitors and connects the three cubic houses of worship. The houses are of equal size, yet each building has a unique architectural arrangement and is oriented towards its location and religious references. The design is centered around natural light, which enters each building at different times of the day.
The mosque, designed to face Mecca, has seven elongated arches on each side, reflecting the significance of the number seven in Islam. The walls are covered with over 470 movable panels of filigree latticework, representing the mashrabiya -one of the most admired features of Islamic architecture- on a large scale. The mosque has a four-column interior grid that forms nine soaring vaults directing visitors’ gaze to the mihrab. The ablution rooms are shaped like an inverted pyramid and an inverted sphere, respectively, adding a sense of weight and wonder when preparing for prayer.
The church faces east, towards the rising sun, as light is considered a symbol of divinity. The forest of towering columns symbolizes the vertical rays of light, and the vault is made of more than 13,000 linear feet of wood. The crucifix is intentionally minimalist to emphasize that the church is open to all and will be used by multiple denominations. The baptistery is octagonal, like ancient baptisteries, in a conical shape with small openings. As the sun moves during the day, the light penetrates the cone and creates additional light shadows in the space.
The synagogue is oriented towards Jerusalem, and the V-shaped columns reference overlapping layers of palm fronds at the sukkah. The hanging bronze tent of mesh, suspended from the central skylight of the ceiling and draped over the congregation, symbolizes both the tent-like structure of the sukkah and the original tabernacle. The skylight provides a view of the stars at night and references the chuppah, a temporary structure used at Jewish weddings.
The Abrahamic Family House is a unique and innovative architectural design that is a perfect representation of religious diversity. The flexible floor plan of the synagogue ensures that seating can be changed for both Sephardic and Ashkenazi congregations, and modern construction methods have been used to comply with religious regulations for the construction of the mikvah. The houses of worship are connected by an elevated garden, a shared space of encounter and connection. The Abrahamic Family House is a testament to the power of architecture to unite and inspire people of all faiths.
