Watch: You can now visit the world’s first 3D-printed mosque in Jeddah
The recently finished mosque spans 5,600 square metres…
A printed mosque – yes, you read that right. In recent years, 3D printing has been used to build everything from homes to businesses and even bridges. It seems to have reached new heights in Saudi Arabia this week, as the world’s first 3D-printed mosque was completed in Jeddah.
Here’s what we know so far about the first mosque in the world that uses 3D printing technology in its construction.
Situated in the Al-Jawhara suburb of Jeddah, the mosque is part of the National Housing Co.’s portfolio and is named after the late renowned Saudi equestrian Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly.
Saudi businesswoman Wajnat Abdulwahed spearheaded the innovative construction of the new mosque, which she dedicated in memory of her late husband.
في قصة حب و وفاء ..
سيدة سعودية تُهدي زوجها الراحل جامع بتكلفة 20 مليون ريال ؛ هو الأول من نوعه في العالم الذي يُبنى بتقنية الطباعة ثلاثية الأبعاد .
— خبر عاجل (@AJELNEWS24) March 8, 2024
Under her leadership at Fursan Real Estate, the mosque, sprawling over 5,600 square metres, was completed in just six months using four cutting-edge printers from Guanli, the Chinese company renowned globally for its 3D printing technology.
Blending age-old religion with modern technology and contemporary design
The mosque’s design reflects the architectural heritage of Hejazi culture. What’s unique is that the mosque is centred within a circle that can be easily oriented towards the qibla.
في خطوة فريدة من نوعها، أفتتح اليوم أول جامع في العالم بُني بتقنية الطباعة ثلاثية الأبعاد “جامع عبدالعزيز عبدالله شربتلي” في #ضاحية_الجوهرة أحدى الضواحي العمرانية لـ #الوطنية_للإسكان، حيث تبلغ مساحته 5600 متر مربع مما يعزز مجال الابتكار المعماري وممارسات البناء المستدام على مستوى… pic.twitter.com/HFGNCkOan3
— Al-Jawhara Suburb | ضاحية الجوهرة (@AljawharaNHC) March 6, 2024
The building’s mass and its relationship with natural light, as well as the design of entrances and gates and the exterior façades, were carefully designed to reflect the architectural identity.
The innovative 3D printing technology also adds some awe-inspiring elements to the mosque. Another standout feature is the minimalist detailing on the very modern minarets, which doesn’t restrict itself to the traditional form of the delicate, pencil-thin spires sealed with a dome or cone-like element.
The open outdoor area was inspired by Hijr Ismail, the semi-circular wall near the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and serves as an extension for worshippers during Friday prayers, Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan and Eid.
على مشارف رمضان الخير، افتتح #جامع_عبدالعزيز_عبدالله_شربتلي رحمه الله، وسط عددٍ من الشّخصيات المهمّة والإعلاميين والصحفيين بمدينة جدّة في #ضاحية_الجوهرة، بإشرافٍ من #الوطنية_للإسكان @saudiNHC pic.twitter.com/kqM41Jzaos
— وجنات عبدالواحد (@W_Abdulwahed) March 8, 2024
The Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly mosque is a testament to the limitless possibilities that 3D printing technology brings to architecture and religious devotion. As we witness the unveiling of this architectural marvel in Jeddah, we are left to ponder the endless possibilities that lie ahead, where tradition and technology coexist in harmony.
Have you visited this unique mosque?
Images / Videos: Social