But it’s at the core of what’s described as the “world’s first net-zero energy mosque,” in Abu Dhabi, which is planned to open in October and is designed to operate with no carbon emissions.
Commissioned by Masdar City — a sustainable urban development around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from downtown Abu Dhabi — and designed by British multinational engineering firm Arup, the mosque will generate 100% of its energy needs on-site through solar panels, and employ passive cooling and circular design techniques to reduce operational energy use by a third and water consumption by more than half.
One of the key challenges the designers had to overcome was the fixed direction of the mosque, dictated by the qibla wall, which always faces Mecca.
“Often we would want to optimize orientation to minimize the impact of solar and heat gain,” explained Paul Simmonite, associate director at Arup, in a video call.
Instead, the team had to explore other methods, including canopies, angled windows and skylights, wall insulation, and cooling materials for the exterior.
