Solar Lighting Upgrade Project of Great Mosque of Algiers Outer Compound, Algeria

Project Overview

This project is located in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. The Great Mosque of Algiers is a representative modern Islamic religious building in Africa, with a monumental structure, iconic minaret, spacious courtyard, arcade facade and large outer compound. It serves religious activities, cultural visits, public leisure and urban landmark presentation. The scope covers the outer courtyard, compound areas, landscape walkways, entrance plaza and green nodes, excluding the interior prayer hall.

Before the upgrade, parts of the outer compound relied on long-distance mains lighting. Some walkways, entrance nodes and green areas were under-lit, creating safety risks during post-event dismissals. Algiers has hot dry summers and mild wet winters, with strong sunshine and UV, noticeable temperature differences, and occasional dust and humid sea breeze. Traditional cables and fixtures were affected by temperature variation, dust and moisture, resulting in high maintenance costs. The upgrade covers the outer compound, entrance plaza, landscape walkways, courtyard nodes and green areas, with a total area of approximately 38,000㎡ and about 1,420 linear meters of pedestrian paths.

The scheme adopts solar garden lights and solar wall lamps. Solar garden lights are placed at the entrance plaza, landscape walkways, courtyard nodes and green areas to provide continuous soft functional lighting. Solar wall lamps are installed on outer arcade columns, compound walls, entrance porticos and platform side walls to highlight the mosque outline and Islamic architectural layers. The system operates independently on solar energy, reducing long-distance cabling. Warm-white static lighting is used throughout, without coloured or dynamic effects, preserving the solemn, quiet and restrained night atmosphere of the religious building.

Local Environmental Conditions

Algiers has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers, mild wet winters, abundant sunshine and strong UV. Diurnal temperature differences are noticeable, and dust and humid sea breeze occur occasionally. Outdoor fixtures must withstand high temperature, UV, dust and moisture while maintaining stable charging and endurance during wet winter periods. Solar garden lights and solar wall lamps require reliable sealing under temperature variation, dust and humid air.

The Great Mosque of Algiers often hosts evening religious events, visitor dismissals and security patrols, with larger crowds during festivals and religious activities. The lighting system must ensure continuous illumination at the entrance plaza, courtyard walkways and outer nodes, balancing religious atmosphere with evacuation safety.

Project Objectives

1. Increase average illuminance of outer compound walkways, entrance plaza and courtyard nodes from 7–12 lux before the upgrade to 20–26 lux, ensuring safety for visitors and event dismissals at night.
2. Achieve illuminance uniformity of ≥0.67 in main pedestrian areas, eliminating dark zones at entrance nodes, courtyard paths, platform edges and green areas.
3. Deploy solar garden lights at the entrance plaza, landscape walkways, courtyard nodes and green areas; install solar wall lamps on outer arcade columns, compound walls, entrance porticos and platform side walls for clear night guidance.
4. Apply unified warm-white static lighting without coloured or dynamic effects, preserving the solemn night atmosphere of the religious building.
5. Keep the annual luminaire failure rate within ≤3%, adapting to Algiers’ high temperature, strong sun, dust and humid sea breeze.
6. Reduce long-distance cabling and mains dependency, lowering maintenance workload by approximately 58%–62% and reducing long-term electricity and cable maintenance costs.
7. Support visitor dismissal, religious-event evacuation and security patrols, accommodating about 3,400 night-time users daily.

Project Outcomes

After completion, the average illuminance of outer walkways, entrance plaza and courtyard nodes reached 23 lux, within the 20–26 lux target range. Illuminance uniformity in main pedestrian areas was 0.70, meeting the ≥0.67 requirement. Dark zones at entrance nodes, courtyard paths and platform edges were significantly reduced, making night evacuation routes clearer.

Solar garden lights were evenly arranged along the entrance plaza, landscape walkways and courtyard nodes, forming a continuous soft pedestrian light belt. Solar wall lamps created solemn guiding light along outer arcade columns, compound walls and entrance porticos, strengthening the mosque outline and Islamic architectural layers. Powered by Algiers’ abundant sunshine, the system remained stable under high temperature, strong UV, dust and humid breeze, with good sealing and corrosion resistance. The measured annual luminaire failure rate was 2.4%, below the 3% target. Maintenance workload decreased by approximately 61% compared with the old system.

The night environment is solemn, quiet and restrained. Solar garden lights and solar wall lamps together form the pedestrian lighting and religious landscape guidance system for the outer compound, ensuring safe night circulation while preserving the elegant and restrained night image of the modern Islamic landmark.