A true eye-catcher and undeniable landmark thanks to its design, scale, and location
Also known as the Hamad Bin Jassim Mosque, it was named after its initiator and benefactor—a member of the royal family and former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.
He commissioned Zeynep Fadillioglu Design to design the mosque. This Turkish architecture firm has a dedicated department specializing in ceiling paintings and calligraphic elements, as well as in-house artists to apply these artworks.
They gave the façade, as well as the interior, its distinctive style. The mosque officially opened its doors in January 2024.
It is the first mosque in Qatar to embrace the new Baroque architectural style.
Strategically built at the exact point where residents and visitors enter the man-made Pearl Islands in the bay of Qatar, it stands out due to its design, scale, and location—an eye-catcher and a true landmark.
A few figures to illustrate the scale of the project: The land on which the mosque is built covers 27,720 square meters.
To put that into perspective, a plot of this size could accommodate a hospital with multiple departments, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, and other medical facilities—or a large recreational park with various amenities. The mosque itself spans 20,898 square meters and offers space for nearly 2,500 men and just under 250 women to pray simultaneously.
The dome reaches a height of exactly 47.2 meters, with the minaret rising even higher. Surrounding the mosque is a landscaped green area, featuring trees, plants, and a fountain.
Back to the design. In general, mosques tend to have significant sound reflections due to the use of columns, galleries, and domes. When the imam speaks, the sound bounces back and forth across the many surfaces—posing a serious acoustic challenge that calls for an advanced solution. In the design process, Zeynep Fadillioglu Design could have opted for traditional materials such as textiles or wooden panels. While visually appealing, these materials do not allow for post-treatment, such as the application of ceiling paintings.
That is why the designer, with her vision for acoustic plasterwork, turned to Asona.
Asona was asked to send in sample materials so that Zeynep’s art team could test various application techniques. Once the product was deemed suitable, Asona received a request for a specific color: mid-grey.
To ensure complete accuracy, Zeynep provided Asona with the exact RAL color code, making sure the base surface would perfectly match the shade used in their design plans. Only with this level of precision would the ceiling paintings align seamlessly with the overall concept and come fully to life.
Then came the second challenge: applying the ColorCoustics® layer from Sonacoustic to the dome. This product can be applied in such a way that it seamlessly follows any design, in this case the shape of the ceiling and the dome. Moreover, ceiling paintings and calligraphy can be applied directly onto the material without compromising its quality or acoustic performance.
By now, Asona had established its own entity, Asona Middle East, which made it possible to execute the project in close and seamless collaboration.
The application was carried out by Stream Specialized Services, a long-standing partner since 2006 and now part of Asona Middle East. This setup ensures that Asona has the craftsmanship in-house to manage highly specialized work like this—critical when the finish must be perfectly smooth and suitable for detailed artwork.
During the application of the acoustic layer, every square millimeter was meticulously checked for cracks and smoothness. As one project member put it: “The dome is fully covered in artwork. That’s only possible when you’re one hundred percent certain that the surface is flawless. You don’t want the artist stepping off the scaffolding and saying: ‘I can’t paint on this.’”
Because of the intensive quality control and detailed refinishing, Asona required twice the usual time to apply the ColorCoustics layer. Both the precise color of the plaster and its silky-smooth finish were essential to the success of the paintings. In total, around 2,500 m² of ColorCoustics was applied.
The complete construction of the mosque took around four years, including some delays.
The ceiling paintings and calligraphic elements were applied by hand, requiring over a thousand man-hours.
For Asona, the mosque is as much a landmark as it is for the people of Qatar. They knew their product offered outstanding acoustic performance and sustainable uniqueness, but this project affirmed that it also provides a wide range of post-finishing possibilities.
“When the scaffolding came down, the full scale of the artwork was revealed. We were overwhelmed by how impressive the design and craftsmanship truly are. And when you realize that your product is the foundation that made it all possible, it’s an incredibly proud moment.”
With the Pearl Mosque, Asona has proven that the potential of its products goes far beyond acoustic performance. It is a grand, prestigious, and honorable project—one that radiates pride and opens up new doors for the future.
Product information
Asona brings two product lines to the market: SonaSpray® and Sonacoustic®.
SonaSpray was developed by the International Cellulose Corporation (ICC) in Houston. The company has a long history of developing and innovating the product, as well as obtaining the necessary certifications.
The spray is a cellulose-based product that can be applied directly to various surfaces. It stands out not only for its high performance, but also for the material itself—it is made from recycled paper.
Its natural purity, eco-friendliness, and sustainability make it a truly remarkable and unique product.
ICC has been active for over sixty years, and ICC Europe, founded in 2001, has since become part of the Asona family.
The Sonacoustic® product line was developed in the Netherlands in 2006 to enable the creation of a completely invisible acoustic ceiling. The Sonacoustic system consists of a sound-absorbing base board that is glued directly to the structural substrate. This base is then coated with Sonapleister, a spray-applied, acoustically transparent top layer that is available in various finishing options.
The full construction system is classified as A2 non-combustible, ensuring a high level of fire safety. The optical quality of the seamless plaster finish makes this acoustic solution particularly well-suited for high-end architectural projects