Glenn Murcutt: Architecture of Faith

Overview

Due to open in Newport in the coming weeks, the new Australian Islamic Centre promises to be like no other mosque in Melbourne. Designed by award-winning architect Glenn Murcutt, who has spent close to a decade on the project, the modern centre embraces contemporary design in an attempt to create a community centre capable of fostering intercultural conversation and cooperation.

To that end, NGV Australia's new exhibition, Glenn Murcutt: Architecture of Faith, lets visitors go behind the scenes of Murcutt's design process, and gain unique insight into his unconventional use of material, geometry and colour.

The gallery will also host a pair of related public discussions. On the evening of Tuesday, August 9, Murcutt and his design partner Hakan Elevli will recount the story of the building's ten year design and construction process, while on Saturday, August 13 Elevli will join project builder Mohammed Haddara and Newport Islamic Society representative Dr Abdul Kamareddine, to discuss the centre in relation to the new dialect of Islamic architecture in Australia.

Image: Installation view of Glenn Murcutt: Architecture of Faith at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, 9 August 2016 – 19 February 2017. Photo: Sean Fennessy.