EAST Architecture Studio Wins Inaugural AlMusalla Prize for Islamic Arts Biennale Prayer Pavilion

EAST Architecture Studio, in collaboration with AKT II and artist Rayyane Tabet, has won the first AlMusalla Prize, an international architectural competition organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. The prize calls for designing a Musalla, a space for prayer and contemplation, to be installed at the Islamic Arts Biennale site within King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After the biennale concludes, the structure will be disassembled and rebuilt elsewhere. The winning design emphasizes nearness in Islamic prayer, merging artistry with devotion, and uses sustainable materials like waste from date palm trees, drawing inspiration from traditional building methods of Jeddah's historic AlBalad district. It aims to be a flexible, inclusive space for both Muslims and non-Muslims, fostering personal contemplation and shared spirituality. The jury, chaired by Prince Nawaf Bin Ayyaf and including Farrokh Derakhshani, Lina Ghotmeh, Azra Akšamija, and Ali Malkawi, selected the project from a shortlist. Prince Nawaf praised the design for its innovative use of local materials and modular structure, calling it a revolutionary prototype rooted in tradition. The Musalla will open on January 25, 2025, coinciding with the launch of the second Islamic Arts Biennale, which runs until May 25, 2025.