Gungahlin Mosque

Jalal Anis, designer for the Gungahlin mosque project, emphasized that the intent of the design was to balance Islamic tradition with representation of the multicultural society which both Canberra and Gungahlin specifically represent.

“The Muslim community wanted to find a design vocabulary which represents Australia” Mr Anis said. “The design sought to incorporate traditional and simple mosque planning and contemporary built form. The simplicity also represents the simple lifestyle of the Australian community.”

Project builders, ABA Construction Managers have successfully achieved this look, using contemporary building materials such as stone cladding at the base level, face brick walls for the main prayer hall, and concrete block walls for the ancillary building elements – paying respects to a construction practice common to many public buildings in Canberra. Parts of the mosque have also been contextualised for the Canberra location, including the design of the incorporated skylight, which has replaced the traditional dome as the spiritual link between worshipper and Creator.

Mr Anis highlighted that the current build was just the first stage of project delivery. “What you’re seeing today is only a portion of the design. It’s a long way from the eventual complete product. The real beauty will only be realised once the whole complex is completed.”

To date the cost of the project is approximately $2M, which has been funded by donations from within the community. The local Muslim community hope that the mosque will provide a platform for all to come together and leave in harmony.

Two decades of planning for a Canberra mosque have finally culminated with the city’s Islamic community recently coming together to celebrate its opening at the Gungahlin site. Planning for the mosque began in 2001 and building approval was granted in 2012 but the Concerned Citizens of Canberra Inc appealed. It lost the fight to stop the mosque being built in 2015.

Following the October 8th launch, the mosque is expected to serve between 5,000 and 6,000 Muslims living in the city’s north. The completion of the project will make this mosque just the second in Canberra, the first being built in Yarralumla some 50 years ago.