Partly thanks to the colorful tiling on the facade, the Central Jam-e Mosque is one of the most striking buildings in Oslo and perhaps the most beautiful mosque in Europe. Unfortunately, the traditional, hand-painted tiles did not withstand the harsh Norwegian climate. That is why the tiles have been replaced by weather-resistant and durable Steni Vision plates. M2uur bv took care of the translation of the original tiles into digital, reproducible designs.
Respectful
Due to the release of the traditional tiles, it was decided for safety reasons to strip the facades and minarets of the mosque. Although the prayer house is young (1995), it is considered a culturally significant building of the city of Oslo. An important condition for the facade renovation was therefore that the old character should remain intact as much as possible. Manufacturer Steni Vision turned to M2uur bv to realize the transition from tile to facade panel.
Composition
More than 400 tiles with traditional, hand-painted motifs have been digitized by means of scans and photography. This resulted, as it were, in an image bank, from which a new facade-filling design was composed. Because of the calligraphic elements and sleek geometric patterns in combination with the many L and U elements, arches and other transitions in the facade, this turned out to be a very complex job. Of course, visual interruptions and disturbances were not allowed.
Durable carrier
After various proofs and correction rounds, M2uur bv delivered formatted print files to Steni. The files are reproduced on Steni Vision Custom. These plates are created by pressing crushed marble, a waste product, and synthetic resins into solid plate material. Steni offers a 60-year lifetime warranty on this product. This makes Steni Vision a sustainable material and environmentally friendly alternative to many traditional materials.
Given its rightful place
Assembly partner Alliero attached the panels to the facade and minarets with great precision. The end result is astonishing: a fusion of tradition and innovation. The Blue Mosque has been restored to its former glory with this new coat.
Project data
Client: World Islamic Mission - Steni
Architect renovation: WSP
Assembly: Alliero
Location: Facades and minarets
Material: Steni Vision Custom
Format: various
Year of realization: 2021 - 2022
