The British architect behind UAE’s historic Abrahamic Family House

A British architect is behind the newly-dedicated Abrahamic Family House in UAE, which aims at bringing Judaism, Islam and Christianity together. 

Sir David Adjaye is considered one of the leading architects of his generation. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and was recognised as one of the 100 most influential people of the year by TIME Magazine.

He is also the brains behind the Holocaust memorial and learning centre planned for Westminster in London.

In 2019, Adjaye’s company was selected to design the Abrahamic Family House. “Essentially, the inspiration was to understand that the three religions really emanate from this extraordinary region,” Adjaye said last year.

“As an architect I want to create a building that starts to dissolve the notion of hierarchical difference – it should represent universality and totality – something higher, that enhances the richness of human life,” he said about the Abraham Family House.

The design of the newly-dedicated Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi aims to both “meaningfully represent, and support diverse communities of worshippers, residents, and visitors, unlocking a contemporary spirit that draws from tradition but looks towards the future – a future defined by acceptance, inclusion, and peace,” according to a statement from the Abrahamic Family House.

Born in Tanzania in 1966, Adjaye moved to England with his parents at the age of nine. In 1993 he graduated from his MA at the Royal College of Art. Since then, Adjaye has left his mark in the architecture industry, designing libraries, museums and galleries across the world.

Adjaye’s largest project was the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC, which opened on the National Mall in Washington DC in 2016 and was named Cultural Event of the Year by The New York Times.