The Grand Mosque is part of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) masterplan, which has seen the development of this area of Riyadh that lies at the confluence of three wadis. The mosque is conceived as the "spiritual centre" of the masterplan, and its sculptural form, placed over three levels, and surrounded by a pedestrianised urban plaza, forms a unified link between the wadi and the street level, with its shops, restaurants, buildings and towers. The building’s form is designed to integrate the structure and MEP enclosure, leaving a column-free internal space; a mezzanine level is suspended from the shell.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture