Fremderman

        The Stereotomic module investigated the characteristics of stereotomic (mass-based) materials through its form and construction processes.  The aim of the embedded project was to explore the potential experiential qualities of mass in architecture.  The goal of the embedded project was to create a reflective space on a given site in a mountainous area near Boone, NC. The Hajj Mosque was designed to personify the teachings of Islam through its embodiment of the five pillars of Islam. Oriented to face Mecca, the Hajj Mosque features an engraved ottoman sundial that signals the five prayer times.

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        The goal of the embedded project was to explore sterotomic form by creating a small reflective space in the mountains of North Carolina. I chose to research Islamic mosques and create a mosque that embodied the teachings of the five pillars of Islam as a tribute to a former classmate, Rosan. The biggest challenge of the project was spent refining the general idea of the project into a space that personified the teachings of Islam through its form and geometry.

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        The Hajj Mosque is a celebration of the teachings of Islam. The central pillars of Islam (commitment to faith, prayer, the giving of alms, Ramadan, and pilgrimage) are the driving forces that guided the design of the mosque. The entrance of the mosque is only 18 inches wide and passes through a small stream, which personifies the commitment to Allah that Muslims make each day as they dedicate themselves to Allah. The mosque is oriented to Mecca so that prayer may begin immediately. A sundial is engraved onto the ground of the prayer space which signals when it is time to pray. The orienting wall is made of reflective granite, which creates a space for internal reflection as an individual prepares for prayer. Ramadan is a festival for light; the prayer spaces features several reveals that allow light to echo into the mosque.