The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced a shortlist of four architecture studios competing for the AlMusalla Prize 2027. Now in its second edition, this international competition challenges architects to create an innovative, adaptable musalla—a flexible space for prayer and contemplation that harmonizes spiritual practices with sustainable innovation.
Shortlisted Firms
The four selected firms are Al-Jawad Pike (UK), Civil Architecture (Bahrain/Kuwait), MILLIØNS (US), and NEW SOUTH (France). Each studio brings a unique approach: Al-Jawad Pike is recognized for its research-driven, design-led methodology and emphasis on atmosphere through materials. Civil Architecture integrates historical and social textures of the region, exploring the civic role of architecture in a globalized era. MILLIØNS, based in Los Angeles, focuses on site-specific work grounded in historical and geographic research. NEW SOUTH, led by an architect-anthropologist team, applies a narrative lens to the intersections of human history and contemporary heritage.
New Challenge: Two Sites
This edition introduces a dual-site challenge: the musalla must be designed for both Jeddah and Diriyah. Unlike the first edition, which required a traveling musalla easily demountable and built first in Jeddah before moving to Venice and Bukhara, the 2027 prize calls for a single intervention adaptable to two distinct contexts. The structure must meet all prayer requirements, with a maximum footprint of 20 x 20 meters and a height limit of 12 meters.
The winning design will be announced in March 2027 and will serve as the centerpiece of the third Islamic Arts Biennale, opening on November 1, 2027. As in previous editions, the musalla will be built at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah—a structure designed by SOM and winner of the Aga Khan Award. After the four-month biennale, the musalla will be dismantled and permanently relocated to the JAX District in Diriyah.
Global Recognition
Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, stated: “In only two years since we launched the AlMusalla Prize, its remarkable growth and international recognition reflect a global appetite for places of contemplation that honor heritage but also engage with the needs and aspirations of contemporary society.” The jury is chaired by Prince Nawaf bin Ayyaf, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission at the Saudi Ministry of Culture. He emphasized: “We are not just selecting a design; we are selecting a contribution to the ongoing global discourse on contemporary Islamic art and design, which has already proven its reach and resonance on the world stage.”
Previous winning designs were showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale and the inaugural Bukhara Biennial, highlighting the prize’s growing international stature.
