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The three 30m3 buildings may be modest in shape and colour, but are profound in purpose, rich in context and groundbreaking in design. Welcome to the newly opened Abraham Family House, a multi-faith complex on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi that includes not only a church, a mosque and a synagogue, but also an expansive area for interfaith dialogue and related events .
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the construction of the Abraham Family House in memory of Pope Francis and His Holiness the Grand Imam Dr Ahmed Tayeb in 2019 Historic visit to Abu Dhabi culminated in the signing of the Abu Dhabi Declaration.
One of two golden menorahs flanking a wooden cabinet in the Moses ben Maimon synagogue in the Abraham family home
Image credit: AFP
Inspired by the principles contained in the Human Fraternity Document signed by the Pope and the Grand Imam, the complex was designed by award-winning Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye and his organization Adjaye Associates.
The Abraham Family House was opened on February 16 this year by Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence unveiled.
The outstanding Ahmed Tayeb Mosque. The geometric pattern allows natural light to filter through the latticework in the pattern on the floor.Ceiling domes amplify sound as it travels through the room
Image credit: AFP
The multi-level façade of the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue was inspired by the Jewish festival of Sukkot, when palm trees are harvested and communities set up tents in their gardens as designated areas for gatherings and meals
Image credit: AFP
The mosque has two external ablutions – one each for male and female worshipers
Image credit: AFP
Additional Information
The Abrahamic Family House consists of a single-story plinth with a central welcoming forum and three houses of worship – the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque, the His Holiness Francis Church and the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. The three buildings are of similar scale, but each has its own characteristics in architectural design. Each structure has a courtyard with a water feature and additional space. The houses are connected by an elevated garden. Sunlight is the main design feature of the complex, entering each building at different times of the day.
Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque
Each side of the mosque has seven slender arches, reflecting the importance of the Islamic number seven. The walls are covered with more than 470 filigree lattice panels representing mashrabiya – one of the most revered features of Islamic architecture.
St. Francis Church
The church faces east, towards the rising sun, as light is considered a symbol of divinity. The crucifix has a minimalist design to emphasize that the church is open to all and will be used by multiple denominations. As the sun moves during the day, it creates amazing light and shadow effects in the space.
Moses ben Maimon Synagogue
The synagogue faces Jerusalem. Daylight is refracted in the colonnades and suspended bronze mesh, creating a soft, filtered effect of light within the synagogue. Skylights provide nighttime views of the stars and reference the chuppah, a temporary structure used at Jewish weddings.
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