Green Mosque by MDW Takes “Public Space/Future” Grand Prize
Mental Design Works (MDW) has won the grand prize in the “Public Space/Future” category at The Plan Awards 2025 with its Green Mosque project—an innovative design that harmonizes contemporary architecture with nature while foregrounding cultural meaning and future-oriented vision.
A Vision Beyond Space: Culture, Intellect, and Future
Led by architect Salih Çıkman, MDW approaches architecture not merely as spatial design but as cultural representation, intellectual stance, and forward-looking vision. Designed to crown a hill within a centuries-old forest in Bolu, the Green Mosque synthesizes site history, cultural context, and landscape, inviting users to reconnect with nature.
Form, Light, and Contemplation
Conceived as an understated, context-sensitive structure, the Green Mosque brings worshippers together while creating conditions for a deeper bond with the divine. Its architectural language—minimal and restrained—embodies humility and purity, transforming worship into a refined, personal experience. The design also articulates the dialogue between below and above, earth and sky, through spatial sequences and light.
A Vertical Marker in a Horizontal Forest
A slender concrete minaret rises quietly among the organic lines of the forest, serving as a vertical wayfinding element within the predominantly horizontal landscape. The mosque’s expansive forecourt allows for communal prayer outdoors when weather permits, enabling an immersive worship experience within the forest atmosphere.
Growing International Recognition
With Green Mosque’s category win at The Plan Awards 2025, MDW continues to expand its international acclaim—adding to recent awards and finalist distinctions at platforms such as the World Architecture Festival, World Architecture Community Awards, Future House Awards, and The International Property Awards.