A SPACE FOR REFLECTION
A moving monument unveiled in Aljada pays tribute to the memory of Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
By Helen Jones
In June, developer Arada unveiled Al Janah Pavilion, a striking architectural structure at its Sharjah megaproject Aljada, designed and built in partnership with students from the College of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah.
Al Janah, meaning “wing” in Arabic, is designed to offer a space for reflection, contemplation and inspiration at the heart of the Madar district. The design was inspired by muqarnas, a traditional and primary feature of Islamic architecture, a form of ornamental vaulting typically found on the underside of domes and characterised by fluidity and replication. In this contemporary interpretation, it is an intricate canopy that allows for playful shadows that change with the movement of the sun.
The pavilion pays tribute to the memory of Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi. As Chairman of the Sharjah Urban Planning Council, leader of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, and founder of London-based fashion house Qasimi, Sheikh Khalid strove to balance the forces of modernity and progress with his passion for culture and custom.
“The beautiful structure is an example of what can be achieved when youth and creativity are inspired by the rich heritage and traditions of those who came before us,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada. “These same values inspired Sheikh Khalid, who revered our past but was also open to progress and new ways of thinking.”
Visitors to the pavilion can learn about causes and themes that were important to Sheikh Khalid—compassion, justice, creativity, and youth—through inscriptions on stone benches beneath the canopy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ARADA
