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Symbol. ONL wanted to find an appropriate symbol for the new Organisation of the Islamic Conference headquarters in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In our intuitive search for the right symbol we decided that the symbol should be based on a natural phenomenon. We were looking for a natural material which has an important meaning for the Islamic world, and especially for the Middle East region. We were also looking for a material which is dynamic in its behaviour, a material which may represent continuity and flow. After a brief intense research we were convinced that water may be the ideal material to use as a reference for the development of the OIC. It is said that water is the most important raw material for the 21st Century, even more important then oil. Life on earth - people, nature, industrial processing - is very much dependant on a secure and steady supply of fresh water. Old civilisations from Babylon through the Romans to the Western and Asian civilisations were treating water with the highest respect. water was used for irrigation, for supplying households, for thermal baths and lustrous gardens. Water means prosperity, while the good treatment of water builds the foundations for agriculture and artistic culture.

Rising waterdroplet. The design challenge was how to apply the characteristics of water in the building concept for the OIC. We have been looking at the behaviour of water ripples generated by droplets of water falling into the water surface. This concept is deemed very adequate for the OIC landscaping concept but not for the OIC building itself. Therefore we looked at the behaviour of water droplets falling into and rising from the water. The behaviour of the droplet is very interesting indeed. First it dives deep into the water surface, causing the water to ripple. Then it rises up impressively forming a smooth vertical water column. This powerful image we used for the further development of the OIC headquarters building. A smooth impressive shape rising up from a rippling surface. Symbolising the renewed strength of the Islamic world, and symbolising the spread of the Islamic culture from the local epicentre in Jeddah.

Elevated lobby. We have added another symbolic element to the general concept of the water droplet rising from the surface. The uprising feeling of the building body is strengthened by the big void on ground floor level underneath the main volume. We opened the ground floor to the public as to form a giant covered plaza. Here people can gather together, meet informally before entering the conferences. At the plaza level formal protocols may unfold, and memorable ceremonies can be held. The plaza level is slightly raised from the surrounding rippling landscape. The plaza gives access via the two strong legs with sloping elevators to the elevated main lobby above the plaza. The spatial lay-out separating the plaza level from the main lobby level allows for extra security. The plaza gives direct access to the conference spaces. The two legs also refer to the attentive pose of a lizard, listening carefully to sounds from their immediate surroundings, at the same time showing their power. All in all our OIC headquarters design represents pride and attention, seriousness and generosity, power and continuity, strength and smoothness at the same time.

Design: ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénárd]

Design team: Kas Oosterhuis, Ilona Lénárd, Michael Gorczynski, Paulina Gurak, Rafael Seemann

Site: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Client: O.I.C. Organisation of the Islamic Conference

Date: 2006