Excerpt: Hikma Community Complex by Mariam Issoufou Architects and studio chahar features the adaptive reuse of a derelict mosque into a cultural hub, merging education and faith. Blending traditional architecture with contemporary materials, it preserves heritage while fostering learning and community engagement. Using local earth bricks, the design ensures sustainability, creating a dynamic space where religious and secular knowledge coexist.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] In the 9th century AD, Muslim scholars made remarkable contributions to the sciences and humanities in Bagdad’s Bayt al-Hikma, or House of Wisdom, a library and research center housing the world’s largest collection of books for scholars to engage both theological and scientific matters. Today’s religious climate could use such freedom to pursue knowledge alongside religious practice.
With the support of local leaders, women and youth, the Hikma project re-introduces these values embedded in Islam itself, by transforming a derelict mosque into a library that shares its site with a new mosque for the village of Dandaji in Niger. The project is a culture and education hub where the secular and religious peacefully coexist to cultivate minds and strengthen the community.
To renovate the old building to its previous glory, the original masons are invited to join the project’s team. In the process, they learn about adobe-enhancing additives and erosion protection techniques.
Instead of the region’s traditional but scarce wood, the interior renovation uses metal for study spaces, partitions, stairs and a mezzanine level, as a contemporary touch to a traditional space. The new building in turn re-interprets traditional Hausa mosque organization with contemporary structural support and detailing. Its two blocs and outdoor prayer space are suited to daily prayers, Friday assemblies, or large Eid celebrations. The dialog between the formal structures of the old and new leads to further collaboration between the traditional masons and the construction crew.
The project provides spaces for learning, reading, studying, workshop, play and worship. The outdoor spaces are set to be flexible enough to accommodate community events or simply lend itself to quiet contemplation. The cultural complex acts as a community hub for the region.
The programmed complex includes a 1000-person mosque including two main worship spaces, two ablution spaces and a Minaret, 2 bedroom lodgings for the Imam of the mosque, a library, classrooms, reading and studying spaces, a hands-on workshop area, children’s play area and a garden. The main construction material for the project is Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB) made from soil that is found near the site, which provides better thermal performance and lowers energy consumption. It also lowers the cost of construction.
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