In the cultural district of Abu Dhabi (UAE), Saadiyat opened the “House of the family of Abraham” – a temple of three religions. From March 1, you can go on guided tours here.
The “house” combines three prayer buildings: a mosque, a church and a synagogue, as well as spaces for meetings and communication. The temples are named after Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, the great Imam of Al Azhar; the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis; and the 12th-century Jewish philosopher Moses Ben Maimon.
The creators of the complex wanted to unite the three world Abrahamic religions in this way (that is, religions whose representatives believe in one god, and the traditions of their beliefs go back to the patriarch of the Semitic tribes Abraham). Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the history of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, study various rituals, and join solemn rituals.
Each prayer house is a cube with edges of 30 meters. The total area of the complex is 6500 square meters. During the tour, the guide, among other things, tells the guests about how the designers chose shapes and materials, relying on the practices of different faiths, so that the same volumes of the building-“cubes” acquired unique and explicable images, and together they formed into a harmonious architectural composition, where everyone interacts on equal terms.
The implementation of the ambitious project was handled by the Adjaye Associates bureau. The award-winning British architect David Ajaye is sure that architecture should “strengthen the world in which we want to live: a world of acceptance, openness and continuous progress.” In the new project, Ajaya wanted to “rise above hierarchical differences” and contribute to the peaceful coexistence of people regardless of their religion.
The entrance to the “House of Abraham’s Family” is free, but the visit must be booked in advance.