For me, as an architect, the recognition of an architectural image is one of the main components of the quality of architecture. First of all, the presence of a dome, a minaret and an arcade are among the classical parameters of the mosque's recognizability. In the modern architecture of Islam, there are architectural masterpieces built very recently. But I would single out just those that are based on a classic functional building and have a recognizable image, although architectural forms can be different in composition and decoration.

 

COMPOSITE SOLUTION. BORROWING AND INNOVATION

 

 The main views of the New Cathedral Mosque open from a distance from the Kremlin embankment. And the background is a multi-storey residential building. Therefore, preference is given to large architectural forms. The large round dome of the mosque rests on a quadrangle of a cubic shape. Such simple forms of architecture can be seen in the Bolgar Historical and Architectural Reserve. By function, this is the main prayer hall. Traditionally, an atrium courtyard with galleries adjoins the main prayer hall on the northern side, but in our case it is covered with a glass ceiling. The simple triangular shape of the arches is borrowed from the Kazan Nurulla Mosque (7th Cathedral Mosque). The entrance group adjoins the atrium hall on the north side. This is an open courtyard with an entrance portal. This main façade, dome and minaret will be perceived classically orthogonally from Dekabristov Street. The free-standing minaret is also traditional for Kazan. It is not built into the body of the mosque, but plays an independent important role in the overall composition and organizes the space of the mosque from the side of the dam. In terms of proportions, it is closest to the Azimov minaret (Kazan Azimov Mosque, 1887), but stylistically it is more modern. The baroque complexity of Asimov's minaret here is evident in the rich stone carvings at the top of the architectural design. The shape of the arch of the window of the Asimov mosque is unique in its own way and was borrowed in the project for the arch of the niche of the mehrab of the main prayer hall.

  The architecture of the dome of the mosque can be attributed to an innovative solution. It is a semi-circular dome with a diameter of 62 m in shape. The dome structures are formed by reinforced concrete arches with annular reinforced concrete ties of each step, which serve as a roof support. The roof structure is of interest. In fact, this is a warm contour of the dome, consisting of vertical stained-glass windows with colored glass. The horizontal sections of the sandwich panels are covered with blue Union Zinc steel. Mosaic of stained glass pattern is ornamental. Primary colors are blue, yellow and red. These are the colors of the sun and the sky. In the interior during the daytime, natural lighting will have a cold shade of a clear cloudless sky. The design of the vault provides lighting that gives light in the evening inside the mosque. There are options for computer colored illumination of the dome for indoor and outdoor lighting.

 

 

 

 

 

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DESCRIPTIVE PART

 

1. MASTER PLAN

 

 The Grand Mosque complex is located on a dedicated land plot, elongated along the main axis (in the direction of the Kaaba) with main dimensions (in the axes) of 218.4 meters along the main axis and 100.4 meters across. A separate minaret is located between the main complex and Dekabristov Street (Kremlin Dam).

 

1.1 ORGANIZATION OF THE RELIEF

 

 The northern part of the site, forming the front square in front of the main entrance, is poured up to the level of the intersection of Dekabristov and Komsomolskaya streets with a gentle slope towards the main entrance to the mosque complex, while preserving_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf598d_05-cc7 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ drainage channel along Komsomolskaya street. Thus  thus, the relative mark of 0.00 of the complex corresponds to the absolute mark of 57.00. Most of the site remains at the existing level, and the basement floor is located at around 52.00 (-5.00). The high and low parts of the site are connected by pedestrian and car ramps, in the western part of the site along a single landscaped slope, in the eastern part between the ramps there is a retaining wall.

 

1.2 ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE SITE

 

 A square with a fountain has been organized from the north of the site. In front of the main entrance through the Portal, the space flows freely into an open courtyard with galleries. There are multifunctional premises and the main entrance to the atrium hall of the mosque. In the eastern part of the site, between the mosque and the Kremlin dam (Dekabristov Street), there is a festive square, which can be used to organize additional places for worshipers on major holidays. On this square, in its northern part, there is a minaret, and from the south the square is separated from the rest of the complex by an arcade, indicating the direction to the Kaaba. At the top of the arcade there is a walking bridge connecting the mosque with the Kremlin dam. The bridge can be used as a tourist viewing platform. Farewell square adjoins the mosque on the south side, from which the entrance to the farewell hall is organized in the center. Also from the south are the entrances to the VIP zone for honored visitors. The southern part of the territory smoothly flows into the park. From the western side there are entrances to the covered car park located in the basement of the complex; there is also an open parking lot for tourist buses.

 

1.3 VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN WAYS

 

 For entrances to the site, an exit from the Kremlin dam is provided in two directions. Laying a tunnel under the Kremlin dam solves the transport problem (the existing marks make it possible to maintain a travel height clearance of 4.5 m).  Entrances and exits from the covered car park are concentrated on the western side. On the east side, one entrance-exit is provided to minimize intersections with pedestrian paths. The main pedestrian path to the mosque complex is provided from the metro station "Kozya Sloboda" through the park with a direction to the main entrance. A pedestrian connection is also provided for the embankments of Sibgat Khakim and Proletarskaya streets using a pedestrian tunnel under the Kremlin dam, parallel to the automobile one along the southeastern edge of the site. With a large gathering of believers, the exit and entrance to the mosque from the parking lot are provided directly to the festive square, then along gentle pedestrian ramps you can go to the main entrance of the mosque.

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2. ARCHITECTURAL PART

 

2.1 SPATIAL COMPOSITION

 

 Elongated along the direction to the Kaaba, the complex of the Cathedral  The mosque forms a parade movement along this line. In axes 21-25  there is an open front yard. In the center of the courtyard in the axes E-Zh there is the main entrance, on the other sides of the courtyard there are entrances to auxiliary and commercial premises. Along axis 25, in axes B-C and M-N, exits from the car park with stairs and escalators.

 

 The main entrance leads to a two-height vestibule with outerwear wardrobes  in axes D-I, 18-21 from where we get into a covered hypostyle courtyard-atrium with overhead light through zenith_cc5-78c19 -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ lights. The device of the heated courtyard-atrium is determined by the climate of the city of Kazan. In addition, there are 6,000 additional places for worshipers on the first floor. A fountain is traditionally placed in the center of the atrium in axes G-E, 14-15, and daartakans are provided for ablution in axes 12-18, B-C and L-M. Bathrooms are located next to the daartakans  . At the corners of the atrium there are stair-lift nodes that provide communication at all levels, starting from the parking lot, as well as fire evacuation with access to the street at around -5.00. khanaki) through dressing rooms for shoes in axes 10-11. In axes 11-12, A-B and M-N, passages to the side galleries for climbing to the mezzanine of the prayer hall (khanaki) on elevators in axes 7-10 and stairs in axes 5-6, which also provide fire evacuation from all levels . In addition, the stairs in the axes A-B, 5-6 are connected with the bridge that goes along the arcade of the festive courtyard. The square multicolored prayer hall (khanaka) is covered with a round glazed dome, designed for 10,000 worshipers, of which 7,500 are located on the ground floor at 0.00, and 2,500 worshipers on the mezzanine at 12.40, where there is also a wardrobe for shoes of this level.

 

 Behind the mihrab, in axes 1-2, there is a VIP zone with its own wardrobe, buffet, rest rooms and daartakana with access to the prayer hall. Honorary visitors get here through the basement, directly from the street or through the VIP sector of the car park.  Most of the basement at around -5.00 is occupied by an arena-type car park that can accommodate 552 cars._cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_

 

 Also on the ground floor in axes 1-2, E-Zh there is a farewell hall, in axes B-E it is adjacent to the farewell service office, and in axes G-M the entrance group of the VIP zone with with its dedicated parking area. The clergy enter the farewell hall from inside the complex, through the VIP zone. In axes 24-25 there are technical premises with the input of urban communications - a heating point, pumping stations, transformer stations. On the ground floor around the open courtyard there are: a cafe for 300 seats (with access both from the courtyard and from the atrium), a halal food store attached to the cafe. There are also shops for Muslim goods and souvenirs. There are also entrances to the lobby of the administrative part and two completely autonomous lobbies of commercial offices (leased), located on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

 

 On the second floor around the atrium courtyard, at around 6.20 in the axes Zh-N, 12-21, administrative premises are located, and in the axes F-B 12-21 the premises of the Sunday school. In axes 18-20, on the third level at around 12.40 there is a conference hall for 700 seats and a banquet hall for 300 seats (with the possibility of weddings) with a foyer and auxiliary rooms. The serving room of the banquet hall is connected with the kitchen of the cafe by cargo lifts.

 

 The stand-alone minaret has an open and glazed viewing platform, is equipped with two elevators and two stairs (to ensure the regulatory evacuation of tourists).

 

BUILDING SOLUTIONS

 

The constructions of the complex are provided from monolithic reinforced concrete on a grid of columns 9.1 by 9.1 m. The external decoration of the walls is made of natural stone (marble), decorated with stone carvings, including through in the form of gratings. Most of the roofs are flat, with an internal drain and paving slabs. The interior decoration of the main premises provides for facing with natural stone (marble) with stone carvings. Internal galleries and mezzanines with stone balustrade. The floors in the khanaka are carpeted, floor heating is provided. The floors in the atrium, vestibules, galleries are made of natural stone (marble and granite), mosaic with heating.