Grand Mosque of Algiers

The ‘Great Mosque of Algiers’ is Algeria's new landmark, built in the centre of the Bay of Algiers on a plot of around 269,000 m² and unites religious and secular facilities in a unique way.

The world's third largest mosque complex has a campus-like structure and is designed to accommodate up to 120,000 visitors a day.

An esplanade, which houses a cinema centre and shops, is arranged above two basement levels of an underground car park for 4,000 cars. The 265 metre high minaret, which is the tallest in the world (and also the tallest building in Africa), is divided into various functional areas: Museum, research centre and administration. On top of the minaret is a visitor platform enclosed by a steel and glass façade. To the east is the sacred area of the mosque with the prayer hall and the forecourt. The 70 metre high prayer hall is crowned by a dome with a diameter of 51 metres.

The cultural centre located in the southern part of the site houses an extensive library as well as a video and film library. Another building houses a congress centre that can accommodate up to 1,500 participants.

The greatest challenges for the structural design were earthquake safety and the requirements for the monumental durability of the building materials, taking into account local feasibility.The project is located in an area with the highest risk classification and should remain intact and functional even after an earthquake.