Ismaili Jamatkhana House of Worship and Community Center
Project Summary
This Jamatkhana’s design reflects the group’s belief that esoteric knowledge is communicated by the Imam (prayer leader) to the Jamat (community) through numerical symbolism expressed in architecture. The building encompasses a Prayer Hall, Social Lobby, Social Hall and Char Bagh Garden; each of which received special design attention from Bailey Edward.
The Prayer Hall’s wood doors are decorated with stained glass inserts that display the symbolic patterns. The Qibla wall, positioned east towards Mecca, with tall bronze screens over long exterior windows, is flanked by carved wood panels creating a ceremonial backdrop for services. In the Social Lobby, the granite floor features an assembly of heptagons forming the symbol unique to this Jamatkhana. One-of-a-kind tapestry panels decorate the walls and custom bronze-finished lights illuminate the room. The unique heptagon is again reinvented in the design of the fountain within the Char Bagh Garden.
client
IMARA Development Services
location
Glenview, Illinois
size
32,000 SF
client
IMARA Development Services
location
Glenview, Illinois
size
32,000 SF
Layers of Meaning
An ingenious design element developed by Bailey Edward, compromised of seven layers of heptagons, accents the ceiling and centers the design of the Prayer Hall. Each heptagon is made with seven individual triangular wood pieces; ultimately creating an alluring stepped ceiling in the space out of 49 total pieces. Enhanced spirituality is abundant due to the incorporation of esoteric elements rather than exoteric.