A short piece on a wonderful mosque in sculptural concrete by Candalepas Associates in Punchbowl, Sydney, written for Frame magazine.
A few days ago, we presented a case of Islamic architecture gone contemporary, by way of a cultural centre in a city right outside of Lisbon. The Muslim diaspora seems to be using architecture to send a new message of self-representation, as there is now a second case under our radar: the Punchbowl mosque.
The recently completed institution is located in Punchbowl – a dense, diverse suburb of Sydney named after the curvaceous sides of a nearby valley – and designed by local firm Candalepas Associates, best known for robust yet refined urban housing. Its raw concrete exterior has attracted the inevitable ‘brutalist’ tag, but its matte finishes are surprisingly soft and enticing, while its strong angles and occasional curves present a series of striking profiles...
First published in Frame 129, for the rest of the article, and some great imagery, head here.