Sliding Domes – Medina

Jay Bonner designed the interior ornament for the 27 Sliding Domes for the Prophet’s Mosque Expansion Project, Medina, Saudi Arabia (al-Masjid al-Nawabi): 1990-93. Each dome has an approximate diameter of 20 meters, and is engineered to slide open and closed, thereby turning a domed chamber into an open courtyard. This commission included the development of a pan-Islamic floral style that would be recognizably Islamic to all pilgrims from all areas of the world, yet not associated with the ornamental style of any particular epoch or Muslim culture. The ornament is elaborate and is comprised of hand-carved floral panels produced in Atlas cedar from Morocco. These are inlaid with semi-precious amazonite stones set in gold-plated bezels. The wood carving for this project was undertaken in Morocco where some 150 wood carvers were employed for over a year to complete the project. Jay Bonner also provided quality control during the manufacturing of the domes.