UK’s Cambridge Central Mosque Wins International Environmental Sustainability Award at COP31

UK’s Cambridge Central Mosque Wins International Environmental Sustainability Award at COP31
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Cambridge Central Mosque in the United Kingdom has received an international award for environmental sustainability at the International Sustainable Buildings Competition, held in Antalya, Türkiye, alongside the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31.

The mosque was recognised for its innovative architectural design and environmentally friendly technologies aimed at reducing energy consumption and conserving natural resources.

The award was presented as part of the honorary YeS Sustainable Building Awards, organised in cooperation with the Turkish COP31 Presidency and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Described as Europe’s first eco-friendly mosque, the building features an architectural design inspired by trees, with branching wooden columns supporting an intricate roof that combines Islamic architectural aesthetics with sustainable construction principles.

Its environmental features include natural lighting and ventilation, solar panels for electricity generation, energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting systems and the reuse of greywater for garden irrigation and other facilities.

Arıoğlu said the mosque represents an example of Turkish-British cooperation in sustainable architecture, with its design focused on reducing energy consumption, waste and carbon emissions.

Opened in April 2019, Cambridge Central Mosque can accommodate approximately 1,000 worshippers. It also houses educational and community facilities, gardens and green spaces, while hosting charitable activities, social programmes and environmental awareness initiatives.