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Chelavur (Near Markaz Juma Masjid), Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India-673008
Cultural Centre – Markaz Knowledge City
The Cultural Centre within Markaz Knowledge City is a monumental achievement, a completed and gigantic project that ranks among the largest in India. Spanning 5 acres, it showcases an exceptional fusion of intelligent design, exquisite decor, and core architecture, seamlessly melding natural elements with sophisticated architectural features to create a distinctive and welcoming environment.
The centre’s design draws inspiration from French and Persian architectural traditions, elevating classical Islamic architecture while incorporating modern Indian amenities. As a notable exemplar of 21st-century Indo-Islamic architecture, it was realized over approximately five years with an estimated investment of 12.7 million U.S. dollars.
Distinguished by its rich red earth hue and intricate artistic details, the Cultural Centre features pillars and walls adorned with calligraphic verses from the Holy Quran, seamlessly integrated into the overall design. The building was meticulously crafted to optimize natural light and ventilation, with a carefully orchestrated lighting scheme essential for harmonizing the complex architectural and interior elements. The primary challenge was achieving the perfect balance of indirect light to enhance the building’s natural luminosity, creating an effect of ethereal lightness.
Natural ventilation was a significant advantage, contributing to cost reduction and minimizing environmental impact. The design incorporated perforations in the ground floor slab to position the exhaust high above the inlet, maximizing the stack effect. Ridge vents at the highest point of the roof provided efficient outlets for buoyancy and wind-induced ventilation.
The centre’s innovative pool system exemplifies its creative use of water. A series of water features on the ground floor, coupled with open spaces for air circulation, facilitated evaporative cooling that effectively lowered the local temperature.
The architectural plan features a hypostyle layout with a circular design, complemented by domed Ottoman mosque architecture. It includes a 5-acre basement, a retail area with 150 shops, and a spacious parking facility encircling the basement. The basement accommodates a Ladies’ praying hall, an Auditorium, and Warehouses. The ground floor prayer hall spans 40m x 40m and features a Kaaba wall adorned with Quranic calligraphy, set in an elaborate arrangement of floral and vegetal motifs.
The central dome, rising to 43 meters, is surrounded by thirteen additional domes crowning the cultural centre’s roof. The largest dome, situated above the prayer hall, is illuminated by a grand chandelier. The architect’s brilliance is evident in the design of the space around the main building and ground floor, which has received widespread acclaim. Raised floating columns create perfect symmetry, dividing the area into four quarters, including museum, library, and academic blocks. The construction employed a total of 730 columns.
The mosque’s courtyard, covering 5000 m², accommodates 6000 worshippers simultaneously and features four corner minarets, each 45.6 meters high, with a sophisticated design. The ground floor roof of the cultural centre is designed as a green roof, with a rooftop garden that provides shade and mitigates heat through evapotranspiration. This results in a surface. temperature reduction of up to 90°F (50°C) compared to conventional rooftops on hot summer days.
The architect’s thoughtful integration of natural resources and the surrounding landscape, coupled with the harmonious blend of the environment into the construction, creates a seamless connection between the structure and its setting. The surrounding gardens and reflecting pools enhance the serene atmosphere. The project has been completed and now stands as a distinguished landmark in India, serving as a significant place of worship. The final design exemplifies the architect’s masterful integration of natural resources and the surrounding landscape, seamlessly blending the structure with its environment.
The general plan features a hypostyle layout with a circular design, incorporating domed Ottoman mosque architecture. The central dome rises to 43 meters, and thirteen additional domes crown the cultural centre’s roof. The mosque’s courtyard, spanning 5000 m², can accommodate up to 6000 worshippers simultaneously.