Look inside Europe’s most eco-friendly mosque that transformed an old John Lewis warehouse

Five years ago today, Cambridge Central Mosque on Mill Road opened its doors to the public for the first time. Today, the front garden is in full bloom and visitors are encouraged to explore it in all its splendour.

The award-winning building was designed by the architectural firm Marks Barfield, whose other projects include the London Eye and Brighton i360.

The site on Mill Road was previously a bowling alley, a petrol station, and a John Lewis warehouse, before it was purchased in 2008 for £5 million. Construction of the mosque began in September 2016.

Read more: Drivers and pedestrians 'absolutely appalled' as roadworks leave busy route 'needlessly unsafe'

Julia Barfield, co-founder of the architectural firm, studied mosques from around the world. Her research is reflected in the details. The huge timber structures that hold up the portico take inspiration from the gothic vaulting inside King's College Chapel and the mosque uses Gault brick, the traditional building material of Cambridge.

The Islamic Garden that is usually found in a mosque’s courtyard was moved to the front of the mosque where it is visible from Mill Road, to evoke the English front garden.

Ms Barfield told CambridgeshireLive: “One of the most powerful things about the project was the idea that it could be a cultural bridge between East and West, Islam and Christianity.”

Ms Barfield discovered that her great grandfather was involved in building the first purpose-built mosque in the UK in 1889. Ms Barfield's partner, co-innovator, and the other half of Marks Barfield, David Marks, passed away in October 2017 during the construction of the mosque.

Cambridge Central Mosque is not only a place for worship but a pioneer of eco-friendly design. A sophisticated rainwater collection uses recycled water to flush the toilets and water the gardens. Additionally, the roof is equipped with solar panels, reducing the building’s carbon footprint and setting a standard for sustainable building practices.

Five years on from the completion of the mosque, Ms Barfield says the project remains important for many reasons: “Although we've always done sustainable buildings, this is the first mass timber building that we built, and it is something that we’re quite proud of.”

The interior is just as impressive with its capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers. During festive periods, an additional 200 to 300 people can fit into the prayer hall, a significant upgrade from the days when prayers spilled out onto the streets outside smaller mosques in Cambridge.

The mosque also serves as a cultural hub, representing 70 different nationalities within the Muslim community in Cambridge, and it's a popular venue for weddings held under the graceful portico.

Take a look at the images to see inside this breath-taking building.