Design Directory
A curated archive for spatial design and Muslim community wellbeing. From prayer rooms to public squares, we explore how spaces foster belonging and imagination; how design emerges through thoughtful, community-rooted processes; how values like beauty, sustainability, and care guide decisions; how materials from traditional craft to digital tools carry meaning; and how early ideas and quiet shifts are already reshaping sacred and social environments. Design here is more than form. It’s memory, rhythm, and intention.
Cognitive Architecture & Craft
Discover designs that foster unity and accessibility for all.
Elements of a Mosque Re-imagined
Exploring innovative trends transforming mosque design for sustainability and community engagement
Mosques: An Environment for Healing
Rethink the mosque as more than a place of worship a civic anchor for British Muslim life.
Sustainable Features in Traditional Islamic Architecture
Many UK mosques are adapted from existing buildings by drawing on traditional Islamic architecture, we can integrate sustainable features that enhance both functionality and spiritual wellbeing.
Muslim Diaspora and Reshaping of Urban Spaces
See how the East London Mosque shows the Muslim diaspora’s impact on urban spaces transforming them into centres of faith, support, and community life.
Belonging and the Urban Form
Belonging in cities is shaped by design and daily interactions. This piece explores how built form and spaces like the mosque can transform a space into a place of connection and meaning.
Lessons about forming community from Suleymaniye Kulliye, Istanbul
This article explores how the Kulliye and Suleymaniye Mosque in Turkey show the mosque’s potential to serve communities through thoughtful architecture and spatial design.
Mosque by Example
This piece reflects on the history and origins of the mosque during the Prophet Muhammad PBUH times, and explores how these principles can be applied to the future development of mosques in the UK.
Evolving Mosques: Navigating Promise and Pitfall
The mosque has the opportunity to not only serve as a place of worship but an environment of discussion, learning and personal growth.
Mosque as community centres – A design approach
Early UK mosques, born out of necessity, offer key lessons in adaptability, community-led design, and cultural integration reminding us that purpose and people should shape mosque architecture.
Designing for Spatial Equality in Mosques
Mosques should reflect the needs of all users. Thoughtful design especially for women’s spaces can foster inclusion, dignity, and deeper connections within the community.