Three cubic buildings – a church, a mosque and a synagogue – are a new project in Abu Dhabi (the United Arab Emirates), supported by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF).
‘The Abrahamic Family House will be a beacon of mutual understanding, harmonious coexistence and peace among people of faith and goodwill. This is a unique space of coexistence and exchange between Islam, Christianity and Judaism,’ HCHF noted.
The Abrahamic Family House is the name given to the complex being built on Saadiyat Island, the cultural centre of Abu Dhabi. There will be a mosque, a church and a synagogue in the same square. These three temples represent the three religions that count Abraham as their prophet.
The design, which was commissioned from respected Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Ajaye, attempts to capture the values shared by Islam, Christianity and Judaism in order to create a space for interreligious dialogue, reflecting the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to tolerance and hospitality.
In 2017, Sir David Ajaye was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year.
The architect set a goal to complete the project in 2022. Sir David Ajaye’s studio has designed a space formed by the central square. Around the square there are three temples of a cubic shape, and each of them has their own distinctive features.
Adjacent to this complex there will be a cultural centre aimed at promoting interreligious dialogue, harmony, brotherhood and solidarity in Emirati society, which values mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and unique character of each faith.
The Abrahamic Family House is supported by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Francis and is inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which was signed by both religious leaders in 2019.
The design was presented that year by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, during the second session of the High Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF), held in New York.
As Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture of Abu Dhabi and a member of the committee, noted at the time, ‘the Abrahamic Family House will embody Abu Dhabi’s vision of consolidating human fraternity and introducing interreligious dialogue into the diverse cultural fabric of the United Arab Emirates’.
In this impressive video, shot by Sir David Ajaye’s studio, you can see what the project will look like when completed.
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Photo: adjaye.com