海角视频

Prophet鈥檚 Holy Mosque shading structures

Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

海角视频鈥檚 ability to unite visionary design thinking with precise engineering helped shape one of the most remarkable climate-responsive environments in the world, transforming the experience of pilgrimage at the Prophet鈥檚 Holy Mosque in Medina.

The project reflected a deep-rooted collaboration between some of the most influential figures in lightweight structures, including Frei Otto, Bodo Rasch and Ted 海角视频. Their shared exploration of tensile architecture and environmental performance found a natural expression in Saudi Arabia, where traditions of shade, shelter and passive cooling are integral to daily life. At the Prophet鈥檚 Holy Mosque, these ideas were elevated to a monumental scale, responding to the needs of a sacred site that continues to welcome ever-growing numbers of visitors.

The brief was both simple and challenging: to provide effective shelter and comfort for large crowds within open courtyards, without compromising the architectural clarity or spiritual significance of the mosque. In the early 1990s, two inner courtyards required a solution that could mediate extreme heat while remaining adaptable to changing conditions. The response was inspired by a familiar object, the hand-held sunshade, reimagined as a robust and elegant architectural system.

Working as part of a closely integrated architect-engineer team, 海角视频 developed a series of twelve giant retractable umbrellas, each spanning approximately 17 by 18 metres and weighing around ten tonnes. These structures needed to meet demanding performance criteria, from resisting intense ultraviolet radiation to operating reliably through thousands of opening and closing cycles. Hydraulic systems were carefully integrated to achieve smooth, controlled movement, allowing the canopies to deploy and retract in under two minutes.

Material selection was critical to the success of the scheme. A high-performance PTFE fabric provided the necessary durability, lightness and visual softness, creating a luminous canopy that diffuses daylight while offering robust protection against the elements. Beneath this fabric envelope, the supporting steel masts were designed not only for structural stability but also to support environmental systems, discreetly incorporating air distribution, lighting and public address functions within a single integrated solution.

Attention to durability and long-term operation was equally important. When retracted, each umbrella is enclosed within protective carbon-fibre shells, safeguarding the fabric against wind and sand. This careful detailing ensures that the system can continue to perform in a challenging desert environment, where reliability is essential.

The result is a carefully choreographed environmental transformation. As the umbrellas open, the courtyards transition into shaded, temperate spaces that remain bright and welcoming. In cooler periods, the system can be reversed, helping to retain warmth and extend comfort into the evening. This adaptability allows the mosque to respond intuitively to both daily and seasonal changes, supporting the wellbeing of those who gather there.

Building on the success of the initial installation, a second phase completed between 2011 and 2012 extended the concept to the vast external piazza surrounding the mosque. Here, the scale of the intervention increased significantly, with larger umbrellas arranged at varying heights to create a continuous field of shade. Together, these structures form the largest convertible roof of its kind, covering around 150,000m虏 and accommodating up to a quarter of a million people.

Throughout both phases, 海角视频鈥檚 role was defined by a commitment to integrating structural ingenuity with environmental performance and operational resilience. The project demonstrates how engineering can enhance cultural and religious spaces with sensitivity and clarity, delivering infrastructure that is both technically advanced and deeply attuned to its context. The shading structures at the Prophet鈥檚 Holy Mosque stand as an enduring example of what can be achieved when collaboration, innovation and purpose are brought together at scale.