bürO kOrAy dumAn rEvEAlS A
neW islaMiC
Cultural Center
PrototyPe
bürO kOrAy dumAn ArcHiTEcTS
aSMa (aMeriCan SOCieTy FOr MUSLiM aDVanCeMenT) and
Büro Koray Duman is working on a new cultural center prototype
that will aim the full integration of American Muslims to the
society while promoting and enriching their religious identity. The
new center will be in New York City and is currently in fundraising
process to acquire the land.
THe neeD
There are approximately 800,000 Muslims living in NYC. A majority
of the gathering places for Muslims are Mosques that focuses
on Religion as Practice which does not leave enough room for
developing Religion as Culture. In 2015, ASMA and Büro Koray
Duman embarked a research and design project to develop the
first Muslim-sponsored multi-faith community center, promoting
progressive change, inter-religious coexistence and cultural
exchange. The new center will provide recreation, culinary, art,
education, retail and office spaces with a total of 100,000 square
feet.
VerTiCaL LanDSCaPe
In section, each use is placed in relation to access: large gathering
spaces near the base, public programs in the center and
DESiGN
Inspired by historic Islamic Cultural Centers - Kulliyes, the design
implements the horizontal experience of inner alleys connecting
various civic functions of a Kulliye into a vertical typology in NYC.
The design studies the idea of a vertical public landscape. The
public landscape wraps around the solid, stacked volumes inside,
carving out necessary public volumes: auditorium, library and
galleries creating a new kind of cultural center.