A vibrant pink installation titled Ramadan Pavilion: Infinite Light has been unveiled in Bradford, the 2025 UK City of Culture. Designed by Faum Architecture and artist Zarah Hussain, the pavilion fuses architectural references from Mecca, Córdoba and Victorian Bradford, creating a symbolic space celebrating community, faith and connection during Ramadan.
A Cultural Landmark for Ramadan 2025
Commissioned for the Ramadan Tent Project’s annual festival, the pavilion sits prominently in front of Bradford’s 18th-century City Hall. As the city marks its year as the UK City of Culture, the installation reflects the 2025 festival theme: Connection. Its repeated arches echo the colonnaded courtyards found in sacred Islamic sites and civic European architecture.
Operational Details: Architecture, Form and Symbolism
Originally planned as an open courtyard, budget considerations led the designers to create a walk-through passageway of repeating arches.
Key design features include:
- Lower arches inspired by Ottoman architecture found in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque in Mecca
- Upper pointed arches referencing the 19th-century gothic design of Bradford City Hall
- A rhythmic spatial sequence intended to create an “illusion of infinity,” recalling the double arches of the Great Mosque of Córdoba
The pavilion’s pink and teal colour palette was selected to symbolise celebration and to mimic the shifts of sky at sunrise and sunset—the moments that bookend each fasting day.
Economic and Social Impact: A Beacon for Community Engagement
Placed at the heart of Bradford, the installation acts as a public gathering space, encouraging people of all backgrounds to explore, interact and learn about Ramadan. As Bradford welcomes increased cultural tourism in 2025, the pavilion contributes to civic programming that boosts local participation and visibility.
Integrated lighting ensures that as evening arrives, the structure becomes a glowing beacon—signaling the end of the fast and drawing visitors into the space. Its eye-catching colours brighten an otherwise grey season, supporting community activity across both day and night.
Strategic Significance: Strengthening Intercultural Dialogue
By blending Islamic, gothic and civic architectural traditions, the Ramadan Pavilion embodies Bradford’s diverse identity. The project advances the Ramadan Tent Project’s mission to foster understanding and unity through design, while showcasing the role of contemporary architecture in cultural celebration.
This is the second edition of the Ramadan Pavilion, following the inaugural 2023 structure by Shahed Saleem exhibited at the V&A Museum in London.
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