International design competition: Preston mosque winner picked
London-based Luca Poian Forms beat more than 200 entries from 40 different countries with its design for the large mosque on land south of D’Urton Lane.
Run by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the competition said the unnamed client wanted an “inspirational design” that would make a “timeless landmark building.”
The RIBA evaluation panel unanimously chose Luca Poian Forms’ “Brick Veil” design. The proposed building has an elliptical design and includes a minaret tower that alludes to Lancashire’s cotton mill chimneys.
“By virtue of its scale, form, and materiality, the mosque will be executed as a highly refined building that celebrates Islamic tradition whilst also paying homage to British craft,” said architect Luca Poian.
Luca Poian Forms was chosen from a shortlist of five practices, including Blankpage Architects in Lebanon, Borough Architects + buchhandler-nelli + elca in Cambridge, Mcheileh Studio in New York and Tabe Shouri, also from New York.
A rendering showing how the mosque will look when complete. Credit: Luca Poian Forms via RIBA
Having a design will play a key part in getting the mosque planning permission, which had been deferred at a Preston Council meeting on 8 July. At that time, planning committee members had said it would wait to give a verdict on the application until details for the design and layout of the building, more information on parking and evidence of need were given. The committee also said it would undertake a site visit.
The application had proven contentious even before it made its way to the council. It was recommended for refusal from Preston Council’s director of development and housing, over concerns of the design, the site itself and traffic issues. The council had also received 427 formal letters of objection to the scheme, including from Ben Wallace MP and Broughton Parish Council. There were also 652 letters received in support of the mosque.
The proposed mosque at dusk. Credit: Luca Poian Forms via RIBA
Is that enough parking?
By Cal
People will end up parking on the side of the road during Fridays. Where’s the solar panels?
By Meeseeks
Parking should be enough for the locals who live nearby. The solar panels are on top of the building.
By Parker
What an eyesore
By Anonymous
Absolutely beautiful what an amazing design
By 2MV
It is a stunning design. I love the nod to Lancashire’s industrial mills heritage where many of the Muslim textile workers came to be employed when they first arrived on these shores.
By Cllr Pav Akhtar
Looks FANTASTIC.
By Preston
Will be nice to have such an iconic building in Preston. Put us on the map.
By ✌peace
Lovely
By Anonymous
Elegant proposed design.
By SW
Please give permission good for Preston people
By Abdul khaleq
Wow, I like it!
By CFN
Awful just awful
By Anonymous
Kool new design adds some wow factor to preston!!
By Hanif
Object, object, object.
By Tom
Whatever happened to keeping work within the local community?
By A Cynical
Looks good, but is the location appropriate. Should really be in the City Centre, with good public transport links.
By ALL
Huge Statement on the Landscape and not a statement everyone wants to see.
By Rivendale
Nobody goes to a mosque on public transport
By Dan
Who’s this ‘nobody’?
A regular bus service passes right by this site.
I’m guessing there will be a fair amount of car-sharing too – religious communities tend to put ‘we’ before ‘I’.
Looking forward to seeing this building built.
By SW
That certainly makes an impact. New religious buildings have no place in a modern Britain. This will be hugely divisive, but we all know that’s something the local party doesn’t want to hear.
By Anonymous
Just awful
By Fg