The Preston Garden Mosque is designed to address the needs of the local Muslim  community. The design nurtures an alignment between the immediate needs of the  community and some of the difficult challenges faced by society today, from climate  change and preservation of wildlife to cultural and religious tolerance.  

The project is composed of three main sections: The Building , The Park and The  Multifunctional Parking . The building complex is designed to be visible from a  distance to become a new landmark for the city. When arriving at the complex, visitors  are welcomed by a promenade that crosses the site to the building—residing on the  highest portion of the site—passing through The Multifunctional Parking and The Park .  Accompanying each section throughout the project is a native perennial garden.  

The Multifunctional Parking 

To provide more space for community activities, while meeting necessary parking  requirements, we divided the parking area into two sections. The spaces on the western  section are multifunctional while the ones to the east are permanent parking spots. The  multifunctional section is set with special outdoor waterproof material for practicing  sports such as football, cricket, and basketball, or to host local events and gatherings  such as weddings, fundraisers and community lunches. These spaces are permanent  and flexible, and are accompanied by small gardens, making this parking area an active  and vital part of the project.  

The Park 

To exalt and preserve Lancashire's fauna and flora, the landscape was designed with a  meticulous selection of native perennial plants that can handle local weather conditions.  The Park provides an appealing space for every season of the year and is available to  host the city-wide community, from cyclists touring through the Preston Guild Wheel  route to neighborhood families relaxing and enjoying the greenery . The landscape  envisions the space as a green field with a pathway and a resting area protected from  road noise by a dense layer of trees, which is also ideal for connecting with nature  through picnics, birdwatching, as well as other communal activities. 

The Building Complex 

The Prayer Hall , The Services and The Library spaces (with a gross area of 1433m²)  compose the Building Complex which can be accessed through The Minaret Walkway .  

The Minaret Walkway , a long exterior space that connects the dropoff and the main  promenade entry, provides access to The Sahn , the lobbies of The Services and The  Library spaces, as well as the Janaza, which is strategically placed for easy access by a  hearse at the drop-off entry. The Minaret stands over the parking lot drop-off entrance  and is accompanied by a Scottish Pine tree. Native to the local area, Scottish Pines are  known for their incredible height and long lifespans. Over time, it will reach its full height  and join the Minaret as a point of reference for the city of Preston. The garden  extending along The Minaret Walkway will be inhabited by other autochthonous plants  that normally grow near the tree such as the Creeping Lady’s Tresses and the Lesser  Twayblade Orchids.  

The Services provide worshippers the facilities needed to prepare for prayer. It is  accessed through The Minaret Walkway via the men’s and women’s lobbies. Although  the two entrances are separated, both enjoy the same facilities and entrance  experiences. The ground floor holds the men's services while the women's are on the  first floor, which can be accessed through the spiral staircase or the elevator in their  lobby. The Services area consists of coat rooms, bathrooms, shoe cupboards and  ablution spaces. These spaces are designed for seamless use with an easy and direct  connection to The Prayer Hall . A series of lightwells illuminate the lobbies and ablution  spaces as worshippers prepare for their prayers.  

The Prayer Hall is clad with a darker brick that gives it the principal hierarchy in the  project. The roof was designed by bisecting a dome to take advantage of the light  disposition in Preston. It generates a unique experience of light and shadow at any  given moment of the day together with stunning night views, creating a perfectly suitable  meditative and spacious interior. The key feature of the space is the backdrop behind  the Mihrab, a glass wall that frames an enclosed sublime and controlled garden that  reinforces the contemplative and reflective experience of praying while exalting the key  element nature holds in throughout the project.  

The Library is accessed through The Minaret Walkway . This space was conceived with  the needs of the larger community in mind. An ideal multipurpose space with generous  views of the park that can function as a space for Ramadan iftars, charity events, book  launches, among others. Beyond the library, visitors can find flexible rooms for study 

groups and occasional seminars as well as childcare spaces for families; a pantry, to  facilitate Iftars; and offices to provide suitable accommodations for the administrative  bodies.  

The Sahn is a semi-enclosed space connecting to The Prayer Hall through a series of  pivot doors and The Library through a transparent façade. This space can be used  during events such as Eid prayers, providing an overflow space for worshippers, and an  opportunity for members of the community to greet each other. Further, The Sahn can  be used in events in the Library Space that can continue naturally to the outside.  

Sustainability 

The project has been developed with a thoughtful selection of materials that will  contribute to having a low Embodied Energy. The Library and The Services will be built  out of cross laminated timber while The Prayer Hall span will be constructed using glue  laminated timber beams. The bricks used across the landmark are made from  sustainably sourced clay, using zero-discharge water cycles and low energy heating  and drying strategies.  

In order to reduce the overall energy consumption required to heat the building, the  design makes use of a horizontal closed loop geothermal system, utilizing the space  under the parking area. A rain harvesting system will reduce the amount of water  needed for restrooms as well as irrigation for the gardens. Water used in ablution will be  heated via solar water heaters installed on the roof of the service block, utilizing  maximum exposure to the southern sun and reducing heating costs.