Architects Journal has a picture of a planned expansion to the Haram in Mecca.
The Journal explains:
According to sources, the scheme for Islam’s holiest city could create a huge new structure around the central Haram mosque that will eventually be capable of holding three million people, making it the ‘highest occupancy’ building in the world.
The top-secret plans are being backed by King Abdullah ben Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia who has asked a hand-picked collection of starchitects to ‘establish a new architectural vision’ for the 356,800m2 mosque complex.
The AJ believes that the project is likely to be phased, with phase one transforming the mosque from having an official capacity of 900,000 to 1.5 million. This will then go up to three million with the completion of several phases over the following five to 10 years.
In addition, there are also plans to build an additional 130 skyscrapers in the city.
Up to 130 new skyscrapers are anticipated, including the Abraj Al Bait Towers, a seven-tower project that will be one of the largest buildings in the world, with a 2,000-room hotel, a 1,500-person convention centre, heliports and a four-storey mall that will house hundreds of outlets.
4 comments ↓
Hajj is overcrowded, and there is enormous pressure on the facilities. Having more apartments, hotels and so on will be good.
I know some old buildings will need to be knocked down but that’s progress. We should celebrate the fact that there are so many Muslims in the world and so many want to do hajj each year that we need to redevelop the area in this way.
There is nothing wrong with developing Makkah tul Mukkarramah, but this is just ridiculous!
130 skyscrapers?!! One can only imagine how hideous the landscape can become with that many buildings. We don’t want this Holy city to become another urban jungle like new work or dubai.
I pray that the Allah knock some sense into the saudis because from what i’m looking at, this is going to destroy the look and the spiritual feel of Haram AlSharif.
On the one hand the argument will read that this is a great idea and that an increase in the number of people able to complete hajj is fantastic, considering it is one of the pillars of Islam.
On the other there will be the argument that this could risk destroying the serene feel of the holiest city in Islam.
The Saudi Government will need to tread carefully in how it proceeds, I think any increase in the capacity is great and obviously would need a massive investment in hotels to make it viable, 130 sounds about right considering how many hotel rooms would be needed (it might not even be enough). But investment would also be required on safety of the pilgrims.
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