The holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to begin tomorrow (28 February 2025), and will see observant Muslim colleagues embark on a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, doing good deeds in their communities, and increasing their spiritual activity.
During this important time of reflection and observance, attention naturally turns to how an employer can best support colleagues who take part in the holy month’s traditions and requirements. Many practices, particularly larger companies, are used to making special provisions for their Muslim staff – flexible working hours and extra consideration during meal times, for instance – and are familiar with their obligation to pray five times a day.
While Ramadan is the most visible period of religious observance for employers, it’s important to recognise that staff members may have spiritual needs that require support all year round. With this in mind, constructing and installing a multifaith space can be a great way to underpin this support, and can form a crucial part of an employer’s commitment to staff from different religious groups.
However, constructing and installing a multifaith space that caters for all staff members’ spiritual requirements can be challenging and requires thoughtful planning. So where should employers start?
What is a multifaith space?
Kathryn Gundry, Acting Design Team Lead at Motionspot - the award-winning inclusive design consultancy - has advised on multifaith rooms in a variety of work and education environments. She says that designers and employers sometimes struggle to know how to design multifaith spaces due to a lack of guidance and engagement. However, the demand for multifaith spaces within workplaces is growing.
A typical situation Kathryn encounters is a well-intentioned employer who provides a space that tries to meet too many typologies. It often becomes a combination of multifaith space and a first aid room, a lactation space or parents’ room, and/or a quiet room. However, any dual-use room may give rise to competing needs of use and potentially devalue the very private spiritual activity a colleague needs to undertake. Ideally, a multifaith room should be considered as a private room set aside for prayer or quiet reflection, but an employer must not simply think that all needs are the same. For instance, providing a lactation/parents' room sometimes conflicts in timing and needs with another employee who requires a dedicated quiet area or room in which to follow their faith.
Often, dedicated provision comes down to space constraints.
Kathryn says: “You have to make sure that everyone understands what the room is and what it isn’t. I’ve worked on projects where it was only through engagement that we learned that a meeting room was also used for well-being, including quiet/multifaith needs. What happens then is that the room gets booked for day-long meetings or used for people to make phone calls.”
It’s clear that in sensitive areas like spiritual and mental health, one size does not fit all, and engagement is essential.
How do you construct a multifaith space?
When constructing a multifaith space in practice, it’s important to start by engaging with the staff that will be using it and to consider future needs. Key questions to ask at this time are: what are the current experiences within the workplace, what is important to employees, what current barriers do they face in the work environment, and what do they require from a multifaith space?
The search for an appropriate space is likely to face space constraints in an existing building, but the spatial exercise can be informed by some common principles.
Kathryn says that the multifaith space should be calming, quiet, and welcoming. It should be located away from noisy areas, but convenient to work areas to reduce travel time to and from the facility and it should also provide occupants with good levels of privacy – including door locations, windows, and sightlines.
Drainage is another consideration as multifaith rooms require access to water for ritual washing. For example, Islamic prayer can only be performed by a person who has performed ablution (Wudu). The act of Wudu involves sequential washing of the hands, mouth, nose, face, lower arms, head, and feet. Similarly, Judaism asks the believer to wash their hands before prayer as a symbolic act of self-purification. If provision within the room is not possible then the room should be positioned with toilet facilities nearby minimising travel distances.
Read more about how architecture practices can support Muslim colleagues during Ramadan
What should be inside a multifaith space?
With dimensional, positional, and exterior considerations addressed, the interior of the multifaith space can be tackled.
To begin with, any multifaith spaces should welcome all faiths and beliefs and accommodate respective practices. Thoughtful use of finishes and colour, natural and artificial light sources, as well as the most appropriate storage, equipment, furniture, and room signage can create a welcoming space for everyone. Acoustic absorbent finishes and sound insulation to reduce background noise could also be introduced.
The design should neither favour nor prejudice any single faith. However, some beliefs have more specific requirements in room design than others. Kathryn says that it’s very important to avoid any religious iconography that will give the impression that the room is dedicated to one particular religion.
Motionspot suggests that internally the multifaith prayer room should provide:
- an area where shoes can be removed prior to entering the room or associated washing areas, and a shelf on which to place footwear
- hand and foot-washing facilities in the room or nearby. These units should be divided from the actual prayer space if it is intended to be used by multiple people at one time and/or the space is going to be used by men and women. The ideal solution would be an accessible Wudu station, however, if a permanent station is not possible, portable units can be provided or ablution facilities enhanced in the closest toilet
- clear floor space for prayer. Spatial requirements for Islamic prayer, for example, require approximately 1.2m x 0.6m of floor space for Salat, which allows placing the forehead on the floor while kneeling facing forward
- enclosed storage for any prayer items required for the practice of different faiths such as prayer mats and floor cushions
- a discreet arrow sticker on the wall or ceiling to indicate the Qibla direction
- a moveable privacy screen/curtain to allow separation and privacy. In some faiths like Islam or Judaism men and women pray separately
- a table and chair for people who study as part of prayer or for people who cannot stand for a prolonged period; avoiding leather and provide light and easy-to-move furniture
How can a small practice with space considerations install their own multifaith room?
Small practices, of course, may not have the space or the need to provide a dedicated multifaith room. This often comes down to engagement with members of staff whereupon they may look at co-opting a meeting room or an office that can be taken off the timetable.
Clear ‘in-use’ signs are required here – this could be as simple as a sliding indicator on the door, at a reachable height for all users, to let people know when the room is free or occupied. This can be a surprisingly useful tool in this situation.
Kathryn highlights that religion and belief are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, and employers have a duty to accommodate the religious needs of their employees where it is reasonably possible. Beyond legal requirements, she advocates that an employer who actively develops and implements policies to support religious observance creates a more inclusive and attractive workplace for prospective employees. She encourages practice managers to consider the faith-related needs of both current and potential staff, including those who may have been hesitant to express their feelings on the subject.
How has RIBA installed its own multifaith space?
RIBA has recently added a multifaith room for staff members in its office at 66 Portland Place, London.
Abu Uddin, a Regional Engagement Partner, says that the space – which was converted from an office – is important for him and his Muslim colleagues.
“As a Muslim working for an organisation like RIBA, I have been blessed to be around colleagues who understand the significance of Ramadan,” he says. “It’s important for me to worship and get closer to God, and at the same time to reap the rewards of fasting. It gives me the time to work on my good deeds and take regular intervals at the same time”
Having a space where he and Muslim colleagues – as well as other colleagues who observe other religions in different parts of the year – feel so welcome and can worship privately is a key part of his spiritual observance.
“The multifaith room welcomes individuals from all religious backgrounds, as well as those who do not follow any specific faith but seek a peaceful space for contemplation,” he adds “It provides an opportunity to step away from the desk and give yourself a break.”
Thanks to Kathryn Gundry, Acting Design Team Lead at Motionspot. To speak to Kathryn please connect on LinkedIn
Read more information Motionspot’s multifaith space guidance.
Text by Neal Morris. This is a Professional Feature edited by RIBA Practice team. Send us your feedback and ideas.
RIBA Core Curriculum topic: Inclusive environments.
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