Mosque and Civic Center, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Designed as ELS Architects, Berkeley
John Ellis Project Designer with Alan Stiles, Kurt Schindler, Al Costa, Ken Kaji
Jubail on the Gulf coast is one of two new towns planned in the 1980’s to accommodate Saudi Arabia’s embrace of industrialization and to house its increasing population. The town was masterplanned on CIAM principles by Bechtel and Colin Buchanan and Partners as a low density suburban community dependent on automobiles and expressways. ELS architects, Berkeley were subcontracted to Bechtel to design a mosque, assembly hall, library and post office for one of the neighborhoods.
The mosque follows traditional design principles with a dome and minarets and is on axis with Mecca. It is set in an arcaded plaza that connects the other buildings that form the civic centre.
Jubail from Space. Located on the Gulf coast it was planned as a vast industrial city with port facilities.
The master plan was laid out by Bechtel with Colin Buchanan & Partners responsible for the highway layout. The plan is auto dependent with a hierarchy of roads serving low density suburbia.
Each neighborhood had a mosque, and other civic buildings.
Jubail site plan showing mosque, assembly building, library, and post office.
The mosque is oriented towards Mecca and sits within a giant courtyard surrounded by arcades. A Community Centre is on the left opposite a Library to the right.
Jubail mosque floor and ceiling plans
Proposed government office building. Rooms arranged around a courtyard.