Altqadum Studio: Shaping the future of Arab architecture

Altqadum Studio is leading a revolution in Arab architecture, offering a design philosophy that fuses public engagement, spiritual depth and innovative construction. Based in Muscat, the Omani design collective bridges the past and the future with stunning clarity. The studio is creating environments that preserve cultural identity while addressing pressing future needs – sustainability, community development and accessibility. With projects like Bab al-Salam Mosque, which has been named one of Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2024, Altqadum—which fittingly translates to ‘progress’ in English – is showcasing how architecture can be both a reflection of heritage and a forward-looking solution that can acclimate sustainably to the landscapes of the region.

Founded by Marwan Albalushi, teaming up with Najd Albalushi and Abdulrahim Alkendi, Altqadum’s design philosophy is rooted in honouring Omani culture. Their approach is distinctly refreshing in their perception of architecture as a vehicle for spiritual reflection as well as sustainable living; Altqadum is not just a studio for architecture enthusiasts, but for those who are invested in the future of urban development across the Arab world. It is what makes Bab al Salam Mosque the culmination of Altqadum’s steely resolve to urging forward-thinking design with cultural preservation.

Anchored in Oman’s capital, Muscat, the mosque is a physical manifestation of the studio’s ability to marry Omani architectural traditions with contemporary design practices. As the project began in 2018, the mosque took more than five years to complete; with a glance at the final product, one is not surprised. The simplicity of the design is prudent in that it holds the clean clarity of modern functionality but also provokes introspection with its grounding lack of ostentation. It’s still staggering in artistry – an arc of water arching around the central building and a dome of over 1,600 crystal bulbs that form a chandelier on the inside – but its restrained, minimalistic character governs the energy. It’s mostly rare in its welcoming of natural light, which washes every turn with ethereal lucidity.

Sustainability was integral to the project’s design. The use of Cobiax technology deployed in the men’s hall functions to minimise concrete usage and reduces the building’s overall weight.  Altqadum’s attention to detail expands to include the ablution spaces, where landscape islands direct water for use in irrigation. While the chandelier composed of the crystal glass balls pays homage to Islamic architectural traditions, the mosque’s innovative construction techniques, such as the staged shuttering system used for the minaret, highlight Altqadum’s cutting-edge methods. 

Beyond its tranquil aesthetic and structural brilliance, Masjid Bab Al Salam redefines the mosque-goers experience through the spiritual ambience it fosters, constructed with faithful precision. Marwan and his team cautiously examined how people came and went from mosque gatherings and considered the physical and spiritual aspects that may enhance the practice of worship in a mosque. The minaret, or women’s prayers hall, towers 30 meters tall, crafting a vast, uplifting space that cultivates reverence and empowerment for female worshippers.

The studio’s recent triumph at the Urban Commissions 2024 competition ahead of Dubai Design Week’s milestone 10th edition is another instance of Altqadum’s work shaping architectural discourse in the region. The competition centered on the theme tawila (‘table’ in Arabic) and called for designs that reinvisioned the table as a facilitator of exchange, dialogue and communal experience. 

The team’s winning project, TukTukDum, did exactly what they asked and more in a culturally rooted way. Inspired by the musical traditions of the Gulf, where communities congregate around musicians, TukTukDum functionally becomes a stage, inviting interaction and performance. TukTukDum’s legs are crafted from traditional Omani drums, encouraging sitters to participate, interact and even become performers themselves. The studio’s design elevated a piece of furniture to a hearth inviting shared experience; one where music, creativity and tradition converge in one standing, functional structure. Altqadum intends to launch this project with a full display, collaborating with Omani musicians to demonstrate how TukTukTum functions in real-time.

Altqadum Studio’s furniture designs reflect their commitment to sustainability and artistic innovation. Take their ‘BARIID’ chair: crafted from a single sheet of aluminum with zero wastage, the chair adapts to its surroundings and offers a fresh way to think about material uses. But the chair’s true intrigue lies in the way it was unveiled: the piece was frozen into a block of ice and left to melt painstakingly in the searing Omani heat over several hours – a slow burn if there ever was one. As the ice melted, the chair retained its coolness, offering relief from the swelter. This theatrical unveiling caught the eye of Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, who personally invited the team to display the piece at the 2024 Design Doha Biennial. The chair has since garnered interest as a permanent exhibit. 

The studio’s portfolio now has projects spanning the UAE, including a mosque in Sharjah, the redesign of an office building in Dubai, homes in Jumeirah and Abu Dhabi, and a new restaurant in Dar Al Wasl. The team’s collaboration with cultural institutions, such as Bait Al Zubair museum in Oman, and its expanding presence in the UAE demonstrate that its philosophy for merging heritage with contemporary design is creating a blueprint for the future of architecture; one that both preserves and evolves.