On my way to New Delhi, the plane schedule allowed for an extended 12hr layover; enough time to venture downtown and explore the surroundings – A spontaneous visit, I had only one place on my checklist: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Completed in 2007, the Mosque was intended as the state’s main place of worship, one that conveys the historical and modern values of architecture and art – A fusion of Persian, Mughal and Moorish influences with a contemporary twist of minimalistic efficiency.

Where this place really shines, is in the journey it creates. From the outside experience, the surrounding gardens, the inside court and archways, to the main worship area – each steps allows you to experience the building in a different ways, shifting your appreciation of its massive scale to a more intimate perception. From the perimeter, you're struck by the contrast of this all white building; with its domes and minarets, cutting through the yellow dust and deep blue sky. Inside the central court, it is the pious atmosphere that fills you; the silhouette of the worshipers and the background voice of the Imam’s prayer. If your into details, it is a visual feast. Pristine white, carved stone laid-out in subtle patterns, polished floor and reflective pool blurring the dimensions, all of this hi-lighted at night by a precise lighting work. Everything as been conceived to convey a vaporous feeling of infinity, yet one that’s to scale with the human body.

Undoubtedly one of the modern wonders, the mosque is a successful blend of traditional culture and modern reality – the proof that we’re still able to build an impressive, timeless masterpiece.