AEW hands over South Manchester mosque
AEW, the Manchester-based architecture practice, has completed a mosque for the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community in Levenshulme, South Manchester, administered by the Anjuman-e-Hamidi Trust.
The mosque, which is the second Dawoodi Bohra mosque in the UK, achieved a 'very good' BREEAM assessment for its design, based on its use of re-claimed building materials of recycled teak and stone, as well as environmental features including solar heating, rain water harvesting, underfloor heating and natural ventilation.
The building features a heavily decorated 'jewel box' prayer hall and more contemporary meeting rooms designed around it.
John Hiscocks, associate director at AEW Architects, said: "There was a conscious requirement that the building bridged not only the diverse architectural styles within the community, but also immersed itself into the current interest of green buildings."
Dr Zul Husain of the Amjuman-e-Hamidi Trust added: "AEW helped us gain the planning permission required to enable the mosque to be built in such a way that it adheres to our faith whilst considering the surrounding community."