British architects to redesign Mecca

Two of Britain’s most successful architects have been approached to redesign the holiest city in Islam, Mecca.

Norman Foster and Zaha Hadid are two of 18 architects in line to take on the high profile, multi-billion pound redevelopment project for the 356,800m square mosque complex at the centre of the Hajj.

The scheme backed by King Abdullah ben Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, is intended to increase the 900,000 capacity of the al Haram mosque centre to three million, making it the highest occupancy building in the world.

However, a source close to the project told the Architects' Journal: “This study is not meant to be a competition.

“The main objective of the design studies is to enrich our discourse on how we should address the future architecture of the Haram and its growth.”

Every year more than three million people make the pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Hajj – a journey all Muslims are obliged to carry out at least once in their lifetime.

Each year Mecca suffers from severe overcrowding which has previously had fatal consequences. In 2006, more than 300 pilgrims died after a stampede.

The source added: “These design exercises, in addition to other investigations, will be subject to an exhibition to his Majesty.”

The Architects' Journal article suggests that the proposals have been split along two tracks: London-based firm Foster & Partners has been asked to look at possibilities for the northern expansion of the Haram mosque, while Ms Hadid is one of six world-renowned architects to have been given the task of “revisiting the whole area of the central district” and re-envisioning the al-Haram mosque itself.

Lord Foster and Ms Hadid are both former winners of the Pritzker prize, considered the highest honour in the architecture world.

Lord Foster designed the iconic ‘Gherkin’ building in central London, as well as Beijing's new airport, while Ms Hadid is currently involved in designing the Aquatic Centre for the London 2012 Olympics.

British-based engineers Adams Kara Taylor and Faber Maunsell are also purportedly under consideration for the project.

The redesigning of the Hajj facilities is part of a wider project to redevelop the infrastructure in Mecca by 2012. A report by the Saudi British Bank, one of the Kingdom’s biggest lenders, estimated earlier this year that foreign and Saudi companies are likely to invest £15 million in the scheme.

Alongside the two-phase redesign of the mosque, it is planned that residential districts and hills dotted around the city will be replaced by about 130 skyscrapers including Abraj Aj Bait Towers which, when built, is expected to be one of the world’s biggest buildings.