Sacred Spaces Unite: David Adjaye’s Architectural Celebration of Interfaith Harmony

The United Arab Emirates recently completed the ‘Abrahamic Family House,’ a famous interfaith mega-complex on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. The 6,500-square-meter masterpiece houses a mosque, a church, and a synagogue since it is designed to juxtapose the similarities of the three Abrahamic religions. The structure, designed by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, is a stunning artwork adorning the current era of change in the region. The Middle East has been on a transformational path, diversifying its core industries to shift its overdependence on oil to other critical sectors, such as tourism. As a result, there have been significant cultural and economic transitions from conservative standards to a more open society. Acceptance of online casino games by Arab-specific sites such as Arabic-Casinos.org is an ideal example of such development.

Development of The Magnificent Interfaith Center

The Saadiyat Cultural District megaproject is Abu Dhabi’s newest liturgical education, practice, and assembly center. It has three distinct buildings of worship and a fourth communal space for collaboration and informal gatherings. Surprisingly, each of the three temples is inspired by classic designs found in buildings of worship worldwide. In a press conference following the opening of the synagogue, Adjaye stated, “The deep history of all the religions was the inspiration for the synagogue, named after the 12th-century rabbinic philosopher Maimonides, the His Holiness Francis Church, named after St. Francis of Assisi, and the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, named for the grand imam of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.”

According to the architect, each temple measures 30-by-30-by-30 meters, making them cube-shaped and equal in capacity. However, although symmetrical on the outside, each has a distinct ambiance on the inside. Each of the extrinsically similar places of worship features a courtyard with water as a feature, as well as an additional space tailored to specific religious traditions and customs.

Exploring The Houses Of Worship

The synagogue, interestingly, faces Jerusalem. Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish feast, inspired the architect to create this orientation. Its crisscross beams extend to the ceiling, allowing light to pass through the apertures. It resembles palm fronds or greenery covering the Jewish festival, allowing people inside to ‘gaze up to the heavens’. A bronze mesh tent mimicking the biblical Tabernacle is also included in the project. It cascades from the illuminated ceiling, letting in light and creating a magnificent speckled shade effect. The impact can also be seen in the other two temples of worship. The architect was inspired by the idea of the New Testament when designing the chapel. It faces east, embracing the divine viewpoint of the sun rising. According to the architect, the deeper meaning is ‘the Spirit of the Lord is with you‘. It means the Lord’s energy has taken over the entire chamber, not just the altar. Finally, the mosque faces the Saudi holy city of Mecca. It is intended to embody the concept of ‘the breath of God’s Word,’ according to the architect.

Final Word

The newly opened ‘Abrahamic Family House’ is the creation of an accomplished architect whose portfolio includes other notable works, such as Ghana’s National Cathedral and Washington, D.C.’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The mega complex is magnificent not just for its stunning appearance but also for its wholesome message. It goes beyond architectural mastery to curate the concept of religious unity, which the world desperately needs.