Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil
Encyclopedia
Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil is an Egypt
ian architect
who designed over 15 mosques in Saudi Arabia
and is considered by many as the foremost contemporary authority in Islamic architecture
.
was at the British schools of Victoria College
and the English School
. In 1960, he obtained his GCE and graduated with a distinction in Applied Mathematics
, Art
, Physics
, and Chemistry
.
In 1960 he joined the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University
and in 1965 acquired with Distinction and First Honours Degree a BSc
in Architecture. It was while studying for his degree that El-Wakil became acquainted with the writings of English critic John Ruskin
. Ruskin's descriptions of what he termed an "arborescent" quality in architecture (where a bold structure of decoration, legible at a distance, reveals ever-finer sub-structures as you approach it) had a lasting effect upon El-Wakil.
From 1965 to 1970, he was appointed as Instructor and Lecturer at the Architecture
Department of his Faculty.
In 1967, El-Wakil’s whole approach to architecture was altered when he met with his mentor Professor Hassan Fathy
. Having previously built three apartment buildings in the idioms of his former education in Modern Style Architecture, El-Wakil decided to become an apprentice to Hassan Fathy. As with Frank Lloyd Wright
, Hassan Fathy’s mention was taboo at the Ain Shams Department of Architecture and that forced El-Wakil to end his teaching post at the Faculty and begin his new education with his mentor.
’s quest for indigenous architecture had taken momentum from the post-war crisis of World War II
. The war caused an economic shortage in industrial construction materials. It then occurred to Hassan Fathy that the Nubia
ns of Upper Egypt
managed to build the most beautiful houses with mud
- the humble material below their feet.
After five years of working with Hassan Fathy, El-Wakil had the opportunity to design and build a house by the beach of Agamy near Alexandria
. The socialist regime of Nasser and the Six-Day War
of 1967 had brought Egypt into an economic disaster and again modern building materials became scarce and expensive. It was a unique opportunity for El-Wakil to interpret Hassan Fathy’s design philosophy of architecture for the poor. The Halawa house at Agamy made use of the abundant limestone within the area introducing the first indigenous Egyptian architecture in a resort that began with a pseudo French Riviera
style and finished with pseudo Modern.
El-Wakil built two more houses in Egypt. The Hamdy House, and the Chourbagy house, both by the Pyramid
s Road at the outskirts of Cairo.
The Hamdy house was conceived as a small week-end house with a sleeping loft. The design encapsulated in an embryonic form the main elements in traditional Arab
houses.
The Chourbagy House was conceived as a model for a typical townhouse on a narrow frontage plot. The house made extensive use of traditional design elements and local craftsmanship.
boom in 1973, Saudi Arabia
provided a majority of commissions for El-Wakil. He undertook the design of a number of grand mansions developing a design approach of internalised spaces of atriums, patios and courtyards, which appeared unfamiliar to the prevailing trend of extrovert villa
type houses.
The first in this series of houses was the Zahran mansion, as a precursor to the Suleiman palace in Jeddah
. The Suleiman palace became a unique expression of contemporary architecture applying traditional Arab design concepts. In a survey of architecture in Saudi Arabia, the AIA Journal nominated it as one of the best designs accomplished.
Two more houses were built in Saudi Arabia; the Alireza mansion in Riyadh
and the Kandiel house in Jeddah, both in load-bearing brick construction.
Another three interesting house designs in Saudi Arabia, that failed to get built, were the Mansur Badr residence in Riyadh, the Mansur Badr town house in Makkah, and the Hossam Khashoggi residence in Taif.
in Kuwait. The University of Durham in UK taught the design of the Farouk Sultan house as an example of environmental design.
Another small house was designed on the Island of Hydra in Greece. In his book ‘A Vision of Britain’, The Prince of Wales
presented it as an example for his ideas on traditional architecture.
Later, in 1993, El-Wakil designed a mansion for Thomas Kramer
in Miami, Florida. Vincent Scully
, in his book ‘Between the Two Towers’ gave it generous mention.
By the time the Suleiman mansion had been completed, El-Wakil’s work had caught the attention of Sheikh Said Farsi, the mayor of Jeddah
, who appointed him as advisor.
and Endowment, a program for Mosque
Architecture was established for the reconstitution of traditional architecture, for the first time enabling the construction of compressive brick structures devoid of concrete.
With support from Mayor Said Farsi and Deputy Minister Hossam Khashoggi, El-Wakil now proceeded to achieve an opus of over fifteen mosques within a period of ten years. Designing single handed, he managed to delve into the evolution of the finest detail, to develop innovative building techniques, and simultaneously to achieve minarets, and vaulted and domed structures, of great daring.
Four little mosques; the Island mosque, the Corniche mosque, the Ruwais mosque and the Abraj Mosque were commissioned as part of the beautification of New Jeddah.
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Five other grand mosques were commissioned in Jeddah; the Suleiman mosque, the Harithy mosque, the Azizeyah mosque, the Jufalli mosque and the monumental King Saud Mosque
. They were all in brick construction and provided an opportunity to develop traditional building crafts. The brick dome of the King Saud mosque with a diameter of 20 meters and a peak height of 40 meters challenged structural engineers who refused liability for its construction without concrete. El-Wakil signed an affidavit taking full responsibility for its structure. Being directly commissioned by King Fahd and promoted by the mayor of Jeddah, El-Wakil managed to circumvent all the bureaucratic regulations that would have prevented the mosque ever being built.
Four Pilgrimage mosques of great historic significance were commissioned in Medina
( Al–Madinah Al-Munawarah - the Holy city of the Prophet):
Two mosques were later designed in Riyadh and one in Diraiyah on the outskirts of Riyadh. The Maydani Mosque in Riyadh was the only one built.
Another two mosques were designed for the city of Makkah:
Taken as a body of work, the mosques of El-Wakil can now be seen to show great leaps of the imagination, while invariably being rooted in tradition. Not only are the fine ornamental details remarkable, the vast variety of columns and stalactites, pendentives and multiple other elements all created without repetition. The structural forms, such as the triangular minaret at Miqat in Madinah, grow organically from functional and programmatic exigencies.
forced the closure of El-Wakil’s offices in the UK. Being aware of the situation, Andrés Duany
invited El-Wakil to come to Miami as visiting Professor at the University of Miami
. El-Wakil also joined a charette organised by Duany for the development of South Beach. The developer Thomas Kramer, impressed by El-Wakil, asked him to design his new residence on Star Island. Duany presented El-Wakil with several consultancy opportunities of which The Kemer County Development offered him the opportunity to experiment with Traditional Turkish Architecture in the Design of the Country Club. El-Wakil kept a base in Miami until the tragic events of 911.
El-Wakil has been championed by The Prince of Wales who shares his approach to architecture. The Prince selected him among his advisors for the Prince of Wales School of Architecture, and as Patron to the Oxford
Centre for Islamic Studies; the Prince commended him for the design of the centre’s building. El-Wakil cherishes this recognition as he personally believes Prince Charles to be the true patron of Tradition.
The Oxford
Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS) went through a long and sometimes painful process but has recently neared completion. The building blended the tradition of Oxford architecture with the spirit of Traditional Islamic Architecture. The medieval character of both architectures made it a happy marriage. The building reintroduced load bearing brick structures, eliminating steel and concrete.
The almost-completed centre appeared on the front cover of the UK Financial Times
Magazine March 10/11 2007.
El- Wakil has also participated in many International symposiums and lectures; in the USA at Pratt Institute
and the Museum of Modern Art
in New York, the Rowlett Lectures at Texas A&M University
, and the University of Texas at Austin
.
In Beirut, Lebanon, he has designed three projects including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a prominent downtown site within the Solidere master plan; a town house re-interpreting traditional Levantine architecture to accommodate contemporary usage; and the Bank of Kuwait in the downtown Solidere district.
In Qatar
he is undertaking the Master Planning of a city quarter, integrating best contemporary low-energy planning practice with climate-tempered Islamic built form.
El Wakil has recently designed a boutique hotel in El-Gouna
, Red Sea
, Egypt
, and a mixed-use residential quarter within the Solidere International project Cairo Eastown.
He is also doing small town houses, and a new mosque, in Riyadh.
With Prince Sultan, the Saudi astronaut
, he worked on developing and restoring a the old Al-'Udhaibat traditional farm in the Wadi Hanifa
in Diriyah
on the western outskirts of Riyadh. A book ‘Back to Earth’ recorded the project.
On a recent visit with the President of Senegal
, El-Wakil was invited to develop experimental social housing in mud brick.
He has also been involved in the design development of a compressed-earth brick making machine in South Africa
with the development of interlocking brick shapes.
El Wakil, empowered now with third generation CAD programmes, is very technologically savvy. He retains his aim of designing, one day, in homage to Fathy, a sustainable village retaining the culture and forms of tradition. He avows that green architecture need not look industrial.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who designed over 15 mosques in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and is considered by many as the foremost contemporary authority in Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
.
Education
El-Wakil’s early education in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
was at the British schools of Victoria College
Victoria College
Victoria College is or was the name of several institutions of secondary or higher education, including:* [Victoria College, Chulipuram], Sri Lanka* Victoria College, Alexandria, Egypt* Victoria College in Victoria, Texas...
and the English School
English School
The English School of international relations theory maintains that there is a 'society of states' at the international level, despite the condition of anarchy...
. In 1960, he obtained his GCE and graduated with a distinction in Applied Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, Art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, and Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
.
In 1960 he joined the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University is an institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.-History:...
and in 1965 acquired with Distinction and First Honours Degree a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Architecture. It was while studying for his degree that El-Wakil became acquainted with the writings of English critic John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
. Ruskin's descriptions of what he termed an "arborescent" quality in architecture (where a bold structure of decoration, legible at a distance, reveals ever-finer sub-structures as you approach it) had a lasting effect upon El-Wakil.
From 1965 to 1970, he was appointed as Instructor and Lecturer at the Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
Department of his Faculty.
In 1967, El-Wakil’s whole approach to architecture was altered when he met with his mentor Professor Hassan Fathy
Hassan Fathy
Hassan Fathy was a noted Egyptian architect who pioneered appropriate technology for building in Egypt, especially by working to re-establish the use of mud brick and traditional as opposed to western building designs and lay-outs...
. Having previously built three apartment buildings in the idioms of his former education in Modern Style Architecture, El-Wakil decided to become an apprentice to Hassan Fathy. As with Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
, Hassan Fathy’s mention was taboo at the Ain Shams Department of Architecture and that forced El-Wakil to end his teaching post at the Faculty and begin his new education with his mentor.
Career
Hassan FathyHassan Fathy
Hassan Fathy was a noted Egyptian architect who pioneered appropriate technology for building in Egypt, especially by working to re-establish the use of mud brick and traditional as opposed to western building designs and lay-outs...
’s quest for indigenous architecture had taken momentum from the post-war crisis of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The war caused an economic shortage in industrial construction materials. It then occurred to Hassan Fathy that the Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
ns of Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt is the strip of land, on both sides of the Nile valley, that extends from the cataract boundaries of modern-day Aswan north to the area between El-Ayait and Zawyet Dahshur . The northern section of Upper Egypt, between El-Ayait and Sohag is sometimes known as Middle Egypt...
managed to build the most beautiful houses with mud
Mud
Mud is a mixture of water and some combination of soil, silt, and clay. Ancient mud deposits harden over geological time to form sedimentary rock such as shale or mudstone . When geological deposits of mud are formed in estuaries the resultant layers are termed bay muds...
- the humble material below their feet.
After five years of working with Hassan Fathy, El-Wakil had the opportunity to design and build a house by the beach of Agamy near Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. The socialist regime of Nasser and the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
of 1967 had brought Egypt into an economic disaster and again modern building materials became scarce and expensive. It was a unique opportunity for El-Wakil to interpret Hassan Fathy’s design philosophy of architecture for the poor. The Halawa house at Agamy made use of the abundant limestone within the area introducing the first indigenous Egyptian architecture in a resort that began with a pseudo French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
style and finished with pseudo Modern.
El-Wakil built two more houses in Egypt. The Hamdy House, and the Chourbagy house, both by the Pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
s Road at the outskirts of Cairo.
The Hamdy house was conceived as a small week-end house with a sleeping loft. The design encapsulated in an embryonic form the main elements in traditional Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
houses.
The Chourbagy House was conceived as a model for a typical townhouse on a narrow frontage plot. The house made extensive use of traditional design elements and local craftsmanship.
Saudi Arabian career
With the oilOil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
boom in 1973, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
provided a majority of commissions for El-Wakil. He undertook the design of a number of grand mansions developing a design approach of internalised spaces of atriums, patios and courtyards, which appeared unfamiliar to the prevailing trend of extrovert villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
type houses.
The first in this series of houses was the Zahran mansion, as a precursor to the Suleiman palace in Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
. The Suleiman palace became a unique expression of contemporary architecture applying traditional Arab design concepts. In a survey of architecture in Saudi Arabia, the AIA Journal nominated it as one of the best designs accomplished.
Two more houses were built in Saudi Arabia; the Alireza mansion in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
and the Kandiel house in Jeddah, both in load-bearing brick construction.
Another three interesting house designs in Saudi Arabia, that failed to get built, were the Mansur Badr residence in Riyadh, the Mansur Badr town house in Makkah, and the Hossam Khashoggi residence in Taif.
Other works
Beyond Saudi Arabia El-Wakil designed a contemporary Arab courtyard town house for Farouk SultanFarouk Sultan
Farouk Ahmed Sultan is the Chairman of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, the highest judicial court in Egypt. He was appointed in 2009 by President Hosni Mubarak....
in Kuwait. The University of Durham in UK taught the design of the Farouk Sultan house as an example of environmental design.
Another small house was designed on the Island of Hydra in Greece. In his book ‘A Vision of Britain’, The Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
presented it as an example for his ideas on traditional architecture.
Later, in 1993, El-Wakil designed a mansion for Thomas Kramer
Thomas Kramer
Thomas Kramer is a German real estate developer and venture capitalist noteworthy for his part in the redevelopment of South Beach, Miami, Florida. He is also a well-known high society figure and philanthropist, hosting charitable events at his Star Island mansion...
in Miami, Florida. Vincent Scully
Vincent Scully
Vincent Joseph Scully, Jr. is Sterling Professor Emeritus of the History of Art in Architecture at Yale University, and the author of several books on the subject...
, in his book ‘Between the Two Towers’ gave it generous mention.
By the time the Suleiman mansion had been completed, El-Wakil’s work had caught the attention of Sheikh Said Farsi, the mayor of Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, who appointed him as advisor.
Mosques works
In collaboration with the Ministry of PilgrimagePilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
and Endowment, a program for Mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
Architecture was established for the reconstitution of traditional architecture, for the first time enabling the construction of compressive brick structures devoid of concrete.
With support from Mayor Said Farsi and Deputy Minister Hossam Khashoggi, El-Wakil now proceeded to achieve an opus of over fifteen mosques within a period of ten years. Designing single handed, he managed to delve into the evolution of the finest detail, to develop innovative building techniques, and simultaneously to achieve minarets, and vaulted and domed structures, of great daring.
Four little mosques; the Island mosque, the Corniche mosque, the Ruwais mosque and the Abraj Mosque were commissioned as part of the beautification of New Jeddah.
King Saud Mosque
His Majesty King Saud Mosque is the largest mosque in the city of Jeddah and is located in Jeddah's Al-Sharafeyyah District.The Mosque was designed by Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil and was finished in 1987. It is mainly build of brick and covers an area of 9700 m² with the prayer hall alone covering 2464...
. They were all in brick construction and provided an opportunity to develop traditional building crafts. The brick dome of the King Saud mosque with a diameter of 20 meters and a peak height of 40 meters challenged structural engineers who refused liability for its construction without concrete. El-Wakil signed an affidavit taking full responsibility for its structure. Being directly commissioned by King Fahd and promoted by the mayor of Jeddah, El-Wakil managed to circumvent all the bureaucratic regulations that would have prevented the mosque ever being built.
Four Pilgrimage mosques of great historic significance were commissioned in Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
( Al–Madinah Al-Munawarah - the Holy city of the Prophet):
- The design and reconstruction of the Quba MosqueQuba MosqueThe Quba Mosque in the outlying environs of Medina in Saudi Arabia, is the oldest mosque in the world. Its first stones were positioned by the Islamic prophet Muhammad on his emigration from the city of Mecca to Medina and the mosque was completed by his companions...
built on the site where the very first mosque in Islam was erected.
- The design and reconstruction of the Qiblatain MosqueMasjid al-QiblatainMasjid al-Qiblatain is a mosque in Medina that is historically important for Muslims as the place where the Islamic prophet Muhammad, leading the prayer, is said to have been commanded to change the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Mecca. Thus it uniquely contained two prayer niches...
said to have been the mosque where the worshipers first changed the direction of their prayers from Jerusalem towards Makkah according to divine revelation.
- The design and reconstruction of the Friday MosqueFriday MosqueFriday Mosque is the English translation of the Arabic term masjid al-jumʿa or Jama Masjid . This term is applied as a proper name to many mosques worldwide...
said to have been the mosque where the first Friday prayers in Islam were performed.
- The Miqaat Al-Madinah Mosque Complex designed for pilgrims to perform their purification rites and prayers before entering the Holy city of Madinah.
Another two mosques were designed for the city of Makkah:
- The Bilal Mosque, unfortunately never built, was named after the muezzin who announced the call to prayer for the Prophet Muhammad. The earlier mosque had been unfortunately demolished with the new expansions of the Haram.
- The Hafayer mosque in proximity to the Haram has just recently been completed for prayers in the month of Ramadan 2008.
Mosques outside Saudi Arabia
Several mosques were designed outside Saudi Arabia:- The Kerk Street mosque built in downtown JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, replaced the 150 year old mosque to accommodate a larger number of worshipers. The restricted site imposed five prayer levels and an unsparingly efficient utilisation of space.
- The Yateem Mosque in BahrainBahrain' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
designed on a challenging narrow plot. The minaret is unique as it incorporates a custom designed clock.
- The Houghton Mosque and community centre on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. This project is undergoing construction.
- A mosque in BruneiBruneiBrunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
designed to consider the traditional spatial character of Malay architecture.
- A Muslim Community Centre in Miami: the design of which went no further than its conceptual stage.
Taken as a body of work, the mosques of El-Wakil can now be seen to show great leaps of the imagination, while invariably being rooted in tradition. Not only are the fine ornamental details remarkable, the vast variety of columns and stalactites, pendentives and multiple other elements all created without repetition. The structural forms, such as the triangular minaret at Miqat in Madinah, grow organically from functional and programmatic exigencies.
Other Buildings
Apart from mosques and houses, El-Wakil has designed and built a variety of building types:- An early project in Jeddah was the design of a car showroom and officeOfficeAn office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
s, a pioneer example of the integration of Saudi Arabian elements with conventional concrete structure.
- A later project was The Souk Al-Dawoodiah at Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah; consisting of a shopping mallShopping mallA shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
and office building, this also was a commercial building utilising traditional forms.
- A LighthouseLighthouseA lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
by the coast in Jeddah, inspired by medieval Islamic towers, was of interesting design although never built.
- Two Public buildings designed but not built were the Ministry of Pilgrimage and Endowment Head office in Jeddah and the offices of Public Waterworks.
International works
In 1991, the crisis of the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
forced the closure of El-Wakil’s offices in the UK. Being aware of the situation, Andrés Duany
Andrés Duany
Andrés Duany is an American architect and urban planner.Duany was born in New York City but grew up in Cuba until 1960. He attended The Choate School and received his undergraduate degree in architecture and urban planning from Princeton University...
invited El-Wakil to come to Miami as visiting Professor at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. El-Wakil also joined a charette organised by Duany for the development of South Beach. The developer Thomas Kramer, impressed by El-Wakil, asked him to design his new residence on Star Island. Duany presented El-Wakil with several consultancy opportunities of which The Kemer County Development offered him the opportunity to experiment with Traditional Turkish Architecture in the Design of the Country Club. El-Wakil kept a base in Miami until the tragic events of 911.
El-Wakil has been championed by The Prince of Wales who shares his approach to architecture. The Prince selected him among his advisors for the Prince of Wales School of Architecture, and as Patron to the Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
Centre for Islamic Studies; the Prince commended him for the design of the centre’s building. El-Wakil cherishes this recognition as he personally believes Prince Charles to be the true patron of Tradition.
The Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS) went through a long and sometimes painful process but has recently neared completion. The building blended the tradition of Oxford architecture with the spirit of Traditional Islamic Architecture. The medieval character of both architectures made it a happy marriage. The building reintroduced load bearing brick structures, eliminating steel and concrete.
The almost-completed centre appeared on the front cover of the UK Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
Magazine March 10/11 2007.
Awards
El-Wakil has received recognition for his contribution to traditional architecture and sustainable building technology for the third world, addressing at an early date the now more widely understood issues of sustainability.- In 1980, The Agamy Beach house claimed the first Aga Khan Award for ArchitectureAga Khan Award for ArchitectureThe Aga Khan Award for Architecture is an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977. It aims to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Islamic societies in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community...
. El-Wakil shared the award with his mason Ala-el-Din Moustafa who was one of the master masons to build Hassan Fathy’s village in Gourna.
- In 1985, he received the King Fahd Award for Research in Islamic Architecture.
- In 1986, El-Wakil’s work was recognized by the American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of ArchitectsThe American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
and was made Honorary Fellow at San Antonio in TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
- In 1987, on the occasion of The International Year of Shelter for the Homeless (IYSH), a competition was organised for New Technological Solutions for Social HousingPublic housingPublic housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
(CINTUS). Out of entries from 75 nations, El-Wakil’s design won him an award.
- In 1988, El-Wakil was accorded the title of Professor by the International Academy of ArchitectureInternational Academy of ArchitectureThe International Academy of Architecture - a non-profit-making company for performing activities for private benefit is a non-governmental and non-profit organization with special status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council , located in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Bulgarian name is also...
and the International Union of ArchitectsInternational Union of ArchitectsThe International Union of Architects is an international non-governmental organization that represents over a million architects in 124 countries. The UIA was founded in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1948. The General Secretariat is located in Paris...
.
- In 1989, El-Wakil acquired a second Aga Khan Award for the design of the Corniche Mosque in Jeddah. The Award Ceremony was held in Cairo, El-Wakil’s home town and was presented to him by the First Lady Suzanne MubarakSuzanne MubarakSuzanne Mubarak is married to the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and was First Lady of Egypt until his ouster on 11 February 2011.-Early life and education:...
.
- In 1993, El-Wakil received a Certificate of Appreciation from Dade County in Miami for his entry, within a charette of 20 architectural firms organised by Andres Duany, for the urban design development for South BeachSouth BeachSouth Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
, Miami.
- In 1994, El-Wakil received an Award and Trophy for his achievements within the city Al-Madinah Munawarah, an achievement unique for a non-Saudi.
- In 1994 El-Wakil also received a Certificate of Appreciation from SolidereSolidereSolidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...
in BeirutBeirutBeirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, LebanonLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
for his contribution as president of the jury for the reconstruction of the Souks of Beirut.
- In 1999 El-Wakil was honoured in Riyadh at the International Congress for Mosque Architecture with the First Prize for the Design of the Contemporary Mosque Architecture.
- In 2008, El-Wakil was named the 2009 winner of the Richard H. DriehausRichard DriehausRichard H. Driehaus is a fund manager, businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of Driehaus Capital Management, based in Chicago, a firm which manages US$10 billion...
Prize for his contributions to classical architecture.
Memberships
El-Wakil has also participated as a member of several juries on architecture and advisor to several institutions. He has been:- A Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Heritage Trust (founded by Lord Duncan Sands);
- A Member of the Academic Board of the Prince of Wales school of Architecture;
- Advisor to Astronaut Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud High Commissioner of Tourism and of Saudi Heritage Trust;
- President of the Jury for the reconstruction of the Old Souks of Beirut;
- A member of the Jury and Think tank for the Aga Khan Prize for architecture;
- Advisor to UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
for the development of a village to relocate the Bdul tribe in PetraPetraPetra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited...
, JordanJordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
;
- A member of the King Fahd award for the International Youth of the World Competition for Islamic Architecture;
- A Member of the Jury for the competition of the urban development for Samarkhand historical centre;
El- Wakil has also participated in many International symposiums and lectures; in the USA at Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
and the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York, the Rowlett Lectures at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, and the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
Recent Activities
El Wakil continues in vigorous professional activity, dividing his time between Middle Eastern capitals.In Beirut, Lebanon, he has designed three projects including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a prominent downtown site within the Solidere master plan; a town house re-interpreting traditional Levantine architecture to accommodate contemporary usage; and the Bank of Kuwait in the downtown Solidere district.
In Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
he is undertaking the Master Planning of a city quarter, integrating best contemporary low-energy planning practice with climate-tempered Islamic built form.
El Wakil has recently designed a boutique hotel in El-Gouna
El-Gouna
El Gouna is a tourist resort, developed and owned by Orascom Hotels and Development , dating from about 1990...
, Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and a mixed-use residential quarter within the Solidere International project Cairo Eastown.
He is also doing small town houses, and a new mosque, in Riyadh.
With Prince Sultan, the Saudi astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
, he worked on developing and restoring a the old Al-'Udhaibat traditional farm in the Wadi Hanifa
Wadi Hanifa
Wadi Hanifa is a wadi or valley in the Nejd region in central Saudi Arabia. The valley runs for a length of from north to south, cutting through the city of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia...
in Diriyah
Diriyah
Al-Diriyah is a town in Saudi Arabia located on the northwestern outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Diriyah was the original home of the Saudi royal family, and served as the capital of the first Saudi dynasty from 1744 to 1818...
on the western outskirts of Riyadh. A book ‘Back to Earth’ recorded the project.
On a recent visit with the President of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, El-Wakil was invited to develop experimental social housing in mud brick.
He has also been involved in the design development of a compressed-earth brick making machine in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with the development of interlocking brick shapes.
El Wakil, empowered now with third generation CAD programmes, is very technologically savvy. He retains his aim of designing, one day, in homage to Fathy, a sustainable village retaining the culture and forms of tradition. He avows that green architecture need not look industrial.
External links
- Wakil, Abdel Wahed el- Artnet;
- Information on Archnet.org with links to plans.
- Corniche Mosque, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Halawa House, Agamy, Egypt.