The villagers had initially considered demolishing the old mosque and replacing it with a modern concrete structure. However, the architects, Mariam Kamara of Atelier Masōmī in collaboration with Yasaman Esmaili’s Studio Chahar, advocated for its restoration and reuse as a library.

Next to the repurposed building is the new mosque, accommodating 1,000 people. It has two prayer halls and two ablution spaces and is separated from the library by a landscaped plaza that is used as a playground and for community events.

Traditional knowledge in a new light

To restore the old building, Kamara invited the original masons to join the project’s team, calling on their skills and know-how to complement some of the contemporary techniques being used. That approach allowed local craftsmen to get familiar with adobe-enhancing additives and erosion protection. Reinforced concrete, cast in-situ, was favored for walls to be rebuilt or repaired. In place of wood – a traditional but scarce resource – metal was used to create partitions, stairs, and a new mezzanine floor in the library.