KUWAIT: The College of Architecture at Kuwait University held a workshop on “Environmentally Friendly Mosques” as a joint research program between the College of Architecture at Kuwait University and another team from Cardiff University. This was held with the support of the British Embassy and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), at the exhibition hall of the College of Architecture on the campus in Adaliya.

In this regard, the Associate Professor of Architecture at the College, Dr Omar Khattab, said that this research took one-and-a-half years to complete the samples of mosques located on the campuses of Kuwait University and Abdullah Al-Salem University. The research team consisted of faculty members at Kuwait University and Cardiff University in addition to master’s and doctoral students at the two universities.

The research team will look at two case studies, namely Al-Othman Mosque in Al-Khalidiya Campus, which is currently affiliated with Abdullah Al-Salem University, and Al-Shadadiya Mosque, which is affiliated with Kuwait University,” he added, explaining that public and private entities are participating in the project.

Dr Khattab said that the convergence of environmental work within the community will have a multiplier effect and help society as a whole to make the right choices regarding environmental policies. Moreover, the basic principle of building sustainability is to achieve harmony with the environment and not to have a negative impact on it.

Dr Khattab explained that the goal of establishing environmentally friendly (eco-friendly) mosques is to work for a contemporary environmental entrance that enhances energy efficiency and effective building maintenance.

At the same time, they provide comfort to users, noting “the construction of the mosque must take into account the possible weather condition, in addition to taking into account meeting people’s need for religious activity, and reducing energy consumption.”

Dr Khattab pointed out that the mosque can influence the advancement of the sustainable development process forward, based on its position in the hearts of Muslims, pointing out that it is the purest and most spiritual place.

“Muslims are associated with it on a daily basis. They depend on it to learn what benefits them,” he explained, adding that sustainable development has become vital in the world at the levels of government and people.

“Achieving sustainable development through the mosque needs effective management and proper planning in order to generalize the idea of a green mosque and that the management and planning aspect is the first step to put the mosque on the path of sustainability,” Dr Khattab added. He said that the project aims to achieve green building strategies and environmentally friendly building designs, hoping that this will become the existing system in the design and construction of buildings in Kuwait as a whole and not limited only to mosques. — KUNA