The central mosque of Basuna, 70 years old, collapsed in 2014. The villagers found it a chance to redesign & build their only funerary mosque.
Limited in their resources, they sought the help of Dr. Usama Al-Azhari; a prominent public & religious figure in Egypt, who happens to be a member of the family that has donated the land years ago. Dr. Al-Azhari, an architecture enthusiast & a close friend of Waleed Arafa asked the architect for his assessment about whether the building was worth conserving or should it be redesigned and rebuilt as demanded by the people.

A conservation statement conducted by Waleed Arafa concluded that the collapsed building held no tangible or intangible significance, in addition to the many design flaws it had as stated by the worshipers. A survey of the village’s buildings actually suggested that the old mosque being the most important public building in the village may have been responsible for the obvious decline in the level of architecture present in the village, especially if compared to much older buildings.

Redesign was everyone’s choice. The brief was then crafted between the main client Dr. Al-Azhari, the people & the architect. A mosque and community center was the answer to the village’s needs, as well as it being in line with the true function and meaning of what a mosque really is. Inclusivity, sustainability & a reconnection with the last chapters of architectural excellence of this, now forsaken, village were the most important points discussed.

The client provided the biggest percentage of the funds needed, while the architect designed & built the project directly, some elements like the mihrab with his own hands and for no fees at all. The architect’s family & friends donated the rest of the funds needed. Today the building serves as the main mosque in the village, welcoming women and children, as well as a community center ready to be utilized by an NGO active in development and service for everyone regardless of their religion. The building now is capable of hosting diverse activities around the hour and is no longer limited to 2-3 hours of use per day.