New Mosque near Preston, Lancashire (GB)

A local charity is seeking a talented and ambitious architect to develop ideas for a new Mosque on the northern outskirts of Preston, Lancashire.
The design solution should be of the highest quality, both enduring and at the same time modern and reflective of current trends. As such, the design team should seek to create a landmark building.

The intention is to produce a strong and bold design that is clearly identifiable as a place of worship but not necessarily to the extent that it is dominated by the traditional Islamic designs. Similarly, it is acceptable to have an element of Islamic flair or features but this is not paramount and if the building has minarets they should be subtle and modern in appearance. The building should have a clear focal point or strong design features which gives character and visibility at some distance. It should not be so institutionalised as to simply have the look of a contemporary office building.
Consideration should be given to the potential for the creation of an external courtyard area or sahn which would be part of the public realm and available for informal meetings or relaxation. Detailed consideration should be given to the appropriate use of materials as part of the design but also in terms of the future maintenance and operating costs of the building which will be run by a charity. For example, it may be that a material such as marble or other high quality stone is acceptable whereas timber, although having the potential to add a contemporary element to the design, is not due to the ongoing maintenance requirements. Simple composite panels and cladding are unlikely to be the solution and the preference is most probably for the use of more traditional materials such as brick or stone, including marble.
Maintenance should also be considered not simply over 25 years but much longer