The section "The Contemporary" takes up the development of a unique architectural language that represents Islam as a contemporary and modern religion. In this vein, a cubic mosque in the Upper Bavarian town of Penzberg was built in 2005. The muezzin's call to prayer is cut into the steel sheets covering the minaret in the form of Arabic calligraphy.

http://www.dw.de/exhibition-documents-architectural-evolution-of-mosques/a-15853767

 It has a breathtaking design that sets well with the architecture of its surroundings. Jasarevic arranged the prayer room, the communal and administrative rooms and an apartment under a single roof on an L-shaped ground plan. The sand-colored building has a full-height decorative blue glass façade and a minaret – a column decorated with Arabic words calling the faithful to prayer. The entrance features two concrete slabs that swing out of the wall like open gates, inviting visitors into the house in German and Arabic script. The building, which is flooded with light, has a specious prayer room, a big library, two halls and classes for students. Inside, one is greeted by a classical, open-plan staircase that is flooded with daylight. To the right, the view opens up into the prayer room. The way the light falls draws attention to the ceiling and wall panels. The abstract star motifs contain the 99 Names of Allah – such as "The Most Merciful" – in calligraphy. In the middle of the hall, there's a second floor. This is a gallery which is reserved for women, so that men and women cannot see each other.http://www.darulkautsar.net/print.php?page=&ArticleID=892

The defining characteristics of the mosque led by the imam from Macedonia are the fact that sermons are also delivered in German and that it has a public kindergarten and library and maintains contact with other religious communities, schools and institutions.

With its distinctive but in no way provocative or confrontational appearance, the building and its delicate tower fit into the surroundings. The architects arranged the prayer room, the communal and administrative rooms and an apartment under a single roof on an L-shaped ground plan. But, the façades, which are clad in pale stone, give a clear indication of the different functions of the rooms behind - especially the slightly recessed, full-height decorative blue glass window on the east side. The entrance features two concrete slabs that swing out of the wall like open gates, inviting visitors into the house in German and Arabic script; the actual door,made of stainless steel, is open to all. In the prayer room,shoes must be removed, but anyone may enter - women are not even required to wear a headscarf.

http://www.algeria.com/forums/open-board-forum-libre/17711-architecture-50.html

Idriz regards his project for a "Centre of Islam in Europe, Munich," which includes an academy for the instruction of imams, as his contribution to a genuinely German Islam, one that no longer requires endorsement from the nations where Muslims originate.

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The Islamisches Forum Penzberg

When world religions approach each other this has also an impact on architecture. An exemplary projects can be marveled at in Penzberg in Bavaria.

Currently, there are about 3 million Muslims living in Germany, the majority of which

came here during the past 50 years. Meanwhile, believing Muslims have been practicing

their religion here in the third generation. This is why there was a growing need for new,

integrative places of prayer. A showcase project for modern Islam in Germany is

the Islamisches Forum in Penzberg in the rural district of Weilheim-Schongau in Upper

Bavaria.

The Muslim place of prayer and encounter in the town of Penzberg by Jasarevic

Architekten has only little in common with traditional ideas of a mosque. For instance,

no oriental minaret embellishes the building, only a plain tower. This place of prayer,

opened on September 18, 2005, today serves as a role-model for a modern, European

Islam.

Spanish Inspiration and Upper Bavarian Rock

The Islamisches Forum in Penzberg was designed by architect Alen Jasarevic. The son

of Bosnian parents, who was born in 1973 in Germany, made his dream of a new,

European mosque style with an identity of its own come true in the 16,000 inhabitants

town of  Penzberg. “A mosque neither needs a dome nor a minaret”, we learn from Alen

Jasarevic, “With a mosque we have to distinguish between what’s tradition and what’s

religion.” The only precondition is that the prayer rooms needs to point towards Mecca,

this is all the Koran dictates.  

In his design, Jasarevic orients himself at the history of Penzberg. Ore mines used to be

here, something which inspired the architect to build the mosque with punched steel.

Apart from that, the whole ashlar-shaped building is faced with rock from the area. The

building is illuminated from inside at night and thus marks a pleasant and plain contrast

between the downtown and the industrial area in front of the backdrop of the Alps.

Ornamental influences from Spain and India along with blue recycled glass all contribute

to the objective of multi-facetedness. In his design, Alen Jasarevic avoided any type of

pomp and any obtrusive detail. Only the message of peace, this faith’s most important

element, was to be emphasized and expressed in the architecture of the Penzberg

mosque.

The minaret of the forum silently calls to prayer, the tower displays a writing. Unlike the

traditional mosque, the minaret in Penzberg is not walkable. Also the entrance, used by

men and women alike, shows a connecting element. Visitors are welcomed in Arabian as

well as in German language. The entrance hall is the connecting element between the

mosque, using a third of the ashlar, and the place for encounter, filling the rest of the

building.  

Religion, interpreted the modern Way  

The clear and plain concept of Alen Jasarevic continues in the carpet. A blue industrially-

manufactured carpet with two color tones has been chosen, the transitions between the

tones are used by the praying for orientation. The prayer room displays a peculiarity:

Men and women pray in the same room. The men in the bottom part, the women upstairs

on the gallery. Thus, visiting the prayer room together is possible, yet still men and

women can practice physical religious rituals separated from each other. For Friday

prayer, the imam steps on the pulpit only up to the penultimate step, so he can be seen

by men and women alike. 

The prayer niche points, like with all mosques, towards Mecca and shows the believers in

which direction to pray. Unlike in a traditional mosque, the prayer niche in Penzberg is a

free standing work of art with filigree sheets of gold. Frosted, golden calligraphies can be

seen all across the prayer room and on the glazed side walls. The large glazing is

supposed to emphasize the transparency and openness of this Islamic center. The

designer’s goal: a reverse of inside and outside. To still be able to provide the believers

with a protective framework, arches of fair-faced concrete have been attached to the

side walls, decorated in a star-shaped pattern, in which the “99 names of God” are

engraved. The pattern continues on the false ceiling. 

Particularly obtrusive from outside and the inside alike is the blue main window,

consisting of recycled glass. When the sun shines, it bathes the room in blue light. Vice

versa, the interior lighting coming to the outside through the window, paints the area in

front of the mosque blue. At the center of the mosque you will find the washing rooms,

which are also deliberately held functionally and without any decorations.

Integration of Culture and Religion

During the first three years after the opening ceremony, more than 15,000 people have

visited the Islamisches Forum. German language classes for members of the community,

a children day-care center, inter-religious mother-child groups and a supporting program

for young pupils are just a few things the center has to offer. The statutes specify that

the members of the board need to be able to speak German in writing as well orally.

Friday mass is regularly held in German, the language the members use to communicate

with each other is German. This is supposed to promoteintegration and

mutual understanding between the religions. The Penzberg project has caused a stir

down to the Arabian peninsula. Sheik Sultan bin Muhammed al Qasimi gave the parish in

Penzberg the three million building as a present. The nearly 600 members finance the

premises from private funds.

In order to meet modern requirements of energy generation and environmental

protection, solar collectors are planned on the roof. However, the Islamic parish was

not able to collect 40,000 Euro for this. Only the friendliness of entrepreneur Faraj Ali bin

Hammudah from Abu Dhabi allowed the planning of the nearly 40 m² large solar facility

to be continued. The entrepreneur paid nearly 80% of the costs, 8,000 Euros were paid

by the Federal Republic of Germany for using renewable energies.

tags: Islamisches Forum PenzbergJasarevic ArchitekturPenzbergrss

constructor: 

Islamic parish of Penzberg

architect: 

Jasarevic Architekten

status: 

Completion: 2005

size: 

   GFA: 2,335 m2