Sydney – A few days ago, we presented a case of Islamic architecture gone contemporary, by way of a cultural centre in a city right outside of Lisbon. The Muslim diaspora seems to be using architecture to send a new message of self-representation, as there is now a second case under our radar: the Punchbowl mosque.
The recently completed institution is located in Punchbowl – a dense, diverse suburb of Sydney named after the curvaceous sides of a nearby valley – and designed by local firm Candalepas Associates, best known for robust yet refined urban housing. Its raw concrete exterior has attracted the inevitable ‘brutalist’ tag, but its matte finishes are surprisingly soft and enticing, while its strong angles and occasional curves present a series of striking profiles.
The half-dome forms were cast in situ to exacting standards – a significant feat of engineering in itself – and pay homage to the ornamental muqarnas vaulting of traditional Islamic architecture, in which highly decorated niche-like forms, often arranged in tiers with hanging elements, cover the undersides of arches, gateways and dome chambers. Here at Punchbowl they have an austere grandeur, but also afford visual pleasure, as light from the oculus and clerestory windows of the timber-clad dome moves across their surfaces, articulating their precise, layered geometries and reaching deep into their patinated recesses.
During the project’s 20-year genesis, architect Angelo Candalepas was inspired by his trips to Ahmedabad and Agra to ‘embrace the playful nature of concrete,’ and has succeeded here in creating a humane, intimate space, yet one that also provides hints of the sublime through its simple materiality and its rich geometric forms.
