Rooted in the rich cultural and religious tapestry of Derbent, the project is a transformative urban vision—a spiritual and civic heart for a future-facing city. Conceived as a place of communion across faiths, generations, and communities, the project integrates three houses of worship—a mosque, a synagogue, and an Orthodox church—within a vast public park, complemented by cultural, educational, and leisure spaces.
The urban design frames the precinct with a structured yet organic landscape. Axial geometries bind the new street grid with curvilinear paths and garden rooms with water features, contemplative groves and fruit orchards.
At its core, the architectural expression draws from the profound and universal symbol of a mother’s embrace. The central mosque emerges as a sculptural composition of two interlocking shells, abstracting the form of a mother holding a child. This gesture of shelter and unity is further amplified by the interplay of light—modulated, diffused, and celebrated—within the mosque’s circular prayer hall, offering both intimacy and transcendence.
