Interfaith centre features church, mosque and synagogue
Adjaye Associates has unveiled plans for an interfaith centre featuring a church, a mosque and a synagogue in Abu Dhabi.
The architect beat a host of international practices with its proposal to create the three distinct places of worship alongside a shared gathering space.
Abrahamic Family House will be built on Saadiyat Island, one of a collection of islands which joins the mainland and forms part of the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The site is designed as a community for inter-religious dialogue and will give visitors the opportunity to observe rituals and listen to scripture in each of the temples.
The project is being delivered for the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, a new body which aims to implement a pledge between religious leaders to promote respect and dialogue.
David Adjaye, founder and principle of Adjaye Associates, said: “As an architect I want to create a building that starts to dissolve the notion of hierarchical difference – it should represent universality and totality – something higher, that enhances the richness of human life.
“The form is translated from the three faiths: we use the lens to define what is similar as opposed to what is different and we use the power of that revelation to make the form,” he added.
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