Jeddah hosted the third Hassan Sharbatly Mosque Architecture Competition under the theme “Designing a Model Neighbourhood Mosque in Jeddah,” bringing together student architects from across the Kingdom to reimagine the local mosque as a sustainable community space.
The competition was organised by the Mosque Architecture Division of the Saudi Umran Society, with sponsorship and participation from the Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Foundation for Community Service. In total, 63 projects were submitted by 20 Saudi universities.
Participants were asked to design a mosque on a 2,763-square-metre site within Jeddah’s Red Sea residential development. The planned capacity was 300 worshippers — 250 men and 50 women — and the brief required the mosque to blend into the surrounding urban fabric while offering supporting facilities and services.
Design priorities
Judges looked for projects that reflected local architectural identity and prioritised sustainability, energy efficiency and natural lighting. Shaded pedestrian routes, courtyards and landscaped public spaces were key elements, along with a strong emphasis on community use so the mosque would serve as a true neighbourhood anchor.
Five winning projects received cash prizes, ranging from SAR 15,000 for first place down to SAR 5,000 for fifth place.
The competition reflects a growing focus in the Kingdom on mosques that are environmentally responsible and closely connected to the neighbourhoods they serve, encouraging the next generation of Saudi architects to balance faith, function and sustainability in their designs.
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