The proposal, which was created by EAST Architecture in partnership with engineers AKT II and San Francisco-based artist Rayyane Tabet, offers a modern take on the musalla, a flexible area used for prayer and gathering that is prevalent in Islamic cultures. 

Prior to its display as a Collateral Event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, the musalla was initially displayed during the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in Jeddah.

AlMusalla at the Bukhara Biennial. Image © Sara Saad, Courtesy Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Thanks to the generous support of ACWA Power and Vision Invest, the presentation in Bukhara will be on display from September 5 through November 20, 2025.

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation retraces important historical relationships between Islamic communities in two distinct locations and gives them new modern relevance by bringing the winning design of the first AlMusalla Prize edition to the Bukhara Biennial. 

AlMusalla at the Bukhara Biennial. Image © Sara Saad, Courtesy Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Waste palm trees that have been transformed into a new construction material make up the majority of the AlMusalla Prize 2025 winning design, which was developed by EAST Architecture in collaboration with the engineering firm AKT II and artist Rayyane Tabet. The musalla, a multipurpose space for prayer and assembly that integrates Saudi Arabian vernacular customs, was first displayed at the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in Jeddah. 

Intimacy and unity, which are central to Islamic prayer, are addressed in the design. Inspired by the way weaving combines spirituality and artistry, it features an open central courtyard and prayer areas that create a structure resembling a loom.

AlMusalla at the Bukhara Biennial. Image © Sara Saad, Courtesy Diriyah Biennale Foundation

The musalla embraces a new environment in Bukhara that shares many similarities with its original location in Jeddah. 

Both Jeddah and Bukhara have a history of being receptive to both local and foreign ideas and cultures. Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea, serves as the gateway for pilgrims en route to Makkah and Madinah, two sacred places. Muslims from all over the world have lived there, adding to the city's distinctive and hospitable culture. 

AlMusalla at the Bukhara Biennial. Image © Sara Saad, Courtesy Diriyah Biennale Foundation

For more than a thousand years, Bukhara was a major center of learning along the Silk Road, a breeding ground for science, theology, art, architecture, and business. 

In addition to reviving a strong bond between Islamic civilizations, the musalla's voyage between the two towns offers a perspective on globalism that is focused on West and Central Asia through the presence of two international art exhibitions. 

This fulfills the AlMusalla Prize's goal of bridging Islamic architectural legacy with modern design and sustainability. The musalla's existence in Bukhara serves as an example of a dynamic tradition that is complex and influenced by a wide range of factors, much like the history of Islamic communities worldwide.

"I am thrilled to see the winning design of the inaugural edition of the AlMusalla Prize travel to Bukhara. The competition brief called for a versatile, adaptable and modular space for prayer that welcomes Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and the fact that the musalla is now taking root in an entirely new context demonstrates these qualities. Islamic cultures have always been shaped by movement and openness to different influences, and the architectural heritage of Muslim societies demonstrates this fact," said Prince Nawaf Bin Ayyaf, chair of the AlMusalla Prize.

"The musalla architectural typology in particular draws attention to the transient nature of temporary prayer spaces in Islamic societies, and I am thrilled that the project developed by EAST Architecture, AKT II, and Rayyane Tabet is embodying a new chapter in a living architectural tradition," Bin Ayyaf added.

"I am proud to see the AlMusalla Prize continue its life at the Bukhara Biennial. The musalla’s presence in Bukhara establishes a new connection across cultures in Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan that draws on centuries of history with remarkable points of contact and shared influence," said Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.

"Making this connection has relied on close collaboration between the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, two institutions with a common goal of fostering contemporary creation and supporting the preservation of heritage and history. It gives me great pleasure to participate in this shared mission," Al-Bakree added.

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

The AlMusalla Prize is an international architecture competition for designing modular spaces for prayer and contemplation, open to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. 

Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the prize celebrates innovative architectural practices while honoring Islamic cultural traditions. 

The top image in the article © Marco Cappelletti.

All images © Marco Cappelletti unless otherwise stated.

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