African project Mahmud Qabadu Mosque – Tunisia
hitecture
This privileged setting signifies unity and centrality , reflecting the role played by Islam in everyday life . The mosque has two main entrances ( one for men and one for women ) opening directly to the non-commercial pedestrian plaza which can accommodate groups of worshippers before entering or exiting the mosque . Two reflecting pools establish a reverential distance and a peaceful quiet threshold between on one side , the park , and the other , the main street . At the same time the pools flow from the place of worship to the origin of the irrigation system , suggesting the sublime connection between the nourishment of the soul and that of the earth .
The enclosure walls do not wholly seal the interior , since , as they soar upwards they gradually become more porous , ultimately transforming into Moucharaby . The cooling breeze and natural light from the park flow freely through the walls , letting the building naturally breathe , meanwhile the floor is constantly kept warm at human body temperature .
The overarching vault is erected by local masons using local materials . Its parametric design and digital fabrication involve the use of RhinoVAULT software ( Funicular Form Finding The Rhinoceros ® Plug-In RhinoVAULT ). It is a structural form using the Thrust- Network-Approach to intuitively create and explore compression-only structures .
Mahmud Qabadu ( 1812 – 1872 ) of Tunisia , also Muhammad Qabadu , was a scholar of Quranic studies , a progressive member of the ulama , and a long-time professor at the Zaytuna mosque academy . AD africandesignmagazine . com 61