Muslim Space – Architecture Rooted in Faith and Desert Heritage
A spiritual desert community shaped by Islamic traditions, sustainable design, and timeless vernacular architecture to nurture prayer, learning, and daily life.
"Muslim Space" is a thoughtful architectural exploration rooted in the cultural, spiritual, and environmental context of the Sahara Desert. Designed by Lee Bomin, the project envisions a self-sustaining Islamic community that harmonizes religious life, traditional construction, and climate‑responsive planning. Reflecting the rhythms of prayer, social connection, and modest living, the project demonstrates how vernacular desert architecture can evolve into a resilient contemporary settlement.
At its core, the project responds to one fundamental truth of Saharan communities: Islam is not just a belief system—it is a way of life. With prayer occurring five times a day and community bonds shaping everyday routines, the architecture becomes a vessel for devotion, learning, and shared identity.
Why This Project Is Called Muslim Space
The concept arises from the desire to create a dedicated environment for Muslim residents of the Sahara. With Islam serving as the guiding cultural and spiritual foundation, the project provides a haven where people can live meaningful lives deeply connected to their faith.
The settlement allows:
- Residents to practice their religion peacefully
- Travelers to experience Islamic culture
- Missionaries and students to study in a focused, community-driven environment
All built forms in the project reinterpret traditional Saharan structures, using local geometries, compact masses, and thermally resilient materials to support prayer, daily life, and communal unity.
Who Uses This Space?
A. Islamic Residents
Purpose: Daily Islamic lifeDuration of Stay: All day, long-term
B. Travelers and Cultural Visitors
Purpose: To explore Islamic traditions and desert cultureDuration: 3–7 days
C. Missionaries and Students
Purpose: Religious study and service far from homeDuration: Several months
What Exists Within the Settlement?
The project is much more than a prayer space. It forms a complete community infrastructure that includes:
- Employee Building – A gathering and organizational space
- School – Divided into elementary, middle, and high school sections
- Bathhouse – Separate male and female facilities, essential before prayer
- Houses – For individuals, families, and groups
The settlement acts as a shared platform for prayer, education, socialization, and cultural continuity.
Massing and Urban Layout
The design process unfolds in four main steps:
- Create four major zones with a central core
- Divide each part based on function and circulation
- Allow each quadrant to develop unique communal use
- Highlight interaction nodes that strengthen community bonds
The masterplan uses organic pathways and shaded courtyards inspired by desert towns. The result is a clustered, walkable urban fabric that reduces sun exposure and enhances social life.
Material Palette – Sustainable and Contextual
The material strategy honors local Saharan construction while ensuring environmental performance:
- Desert Sand Pavement
- Eco-Friendly Soil Pavement
- Concrete Pavement (limited use)
- Jujube Trees
- Palm Trees
- Cactus
Structures rely heavily on compressed earth brick, rammed earth, lime plaster, and flat roofs, all chosen for durability in hot, arid climates.
Residential Architecture
Individual Unit Space
A minimal single-building layout designed for prayer, rest, and reflection. It includes:
- Living + prayer room
- Kitchen
- Bedroom
- Toilet
The compact plan supports personal devotion and simple living.
Family Unit Space
By aggregating multiple private spaces around a shared center, the family units emphasize:
- Privacy between genders
- Communal outdoor activity
- Natural ventilation
Two-Story House Development
First Floor: Kitchen, living area, public space, bathroomSecond Floor: Bedrooms, prayer zoneRoof: Open-air prayer space and thermal buffer
Construction layers include:
- Earth walls (compressed + rammed)
- Lime-concrete foundation
- Clay-lime roof finishing
Community Buildings
Dormitory
Male and female accommodations are separated, reflecting Islamic customs. Room modules create orderly, functional living zones for long-term residents.
School
A long, shaded structure with segmented classrooms for different age groups ensures continuity of Islamic education.
Bathhouse
Separated male and female facilities emphasize privacy and ritual cleanliness before prayer. Rounded earth roofs enhance thermal performance.
Employee Building
Located in all four quadrants, this large gathering space welcomes residents for announcements, meetings, and communal activities.
Identity Through Vernacular Architecture
"Muslim Space" shows how vernacular desert architecture—using earth bricks, low-rise massing, shaded walkways, and inward-looking courtyards—remains one of the most sustainable and culturally expressive design approaches in the world’s harshest regions.
Lee Bomin’s project demonstrates that architecture can hold the soul of a community. Each building, pathway, and courtyard honors Islamic values while responding intelligently to environmental realities.
This is a desert community where faith, culture, and architecture come together to shape a peaceful and resilient way of life.
