First look at sketches of the Ground Zero mosque... but why does it appear to be covered in symbols similar to the Jewish Star of David?



It's the building that has divided New York and forced a national debate on what it means to be American.

Now these artist's sketches show the first glimpse both inside and out the proposed Ground Zero mosque - and you may be surprised at what is planned.

The futuristic-looking building is wrapped in a honeycomb of abstract shapes - symbols that have already forced the centre's developers to issue a clarification, after observers pointed out that many of the shapes appear to resemble the Jewish symbol of the Star of David.

Day and night: The building's futuristic honeycomb exterior would feature traditional Islamic themes - including the hexagram, which also features as a symbol of Jewish identity



Past and future: Developers have taken traditional Islamic arabesque design and added contemporary and abstract elements, creating a unique and arresting environment The developers took to their Twitter account to clarify that the hexagram is a powerful symbol in Islam and Christianity as well as Judaism.

' Intrafaith engagement is also in the works for when programming ramps up in 2011,' the developers added on the Park51 Twitter account last night. The renderings are preliminary, but they project the development team's desire to build something cosmopolitan and fun on a site now known only for controversy. 'I don't think that once this thing gets built, anyone will be picketing,' said Sharif El Gamal, the project's developer.

SYMBOL OF RELIGIONS AROUND THE WORLD: USES OF THE HEXAGRAM

It is instantly recognisable as the symbol of Jewish identity, the Star of David. But the six-pointed hexagram is also a powerful symbol in many other world religions - especially Islam and Christianity. In Islam, it is also known as the Star of David - or as the Seal of Solomon. Multi-faith symbol: A traditional Star of David is seen on the wall of a Jewish house

Solomon and David were both prophets and kings, and as such are revered by the Muslim faith, according to the Koran.

The hexagram can be found today in many mosques and Islamic artifacts around the world. It also features in Christianity, where it is often known as the star of creation. A Star of David can be seen in the ceiling of the Washington National Cathedral. The symbol is used in many other, smaller religions.

Mormons use it in architecture to declare their affinity with Israel. Rastafarians use a black Star of David for a similar purpose - to identify peoples of Africa with the tribe of Israel.

The symbol is also used in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

Where the symbol first appeared is unclear. Some scholars believe it is such a simple geometric shape that it may have been created by various different peoples with no connection to one another. One unsubstantiated theory claims it is two of the three letters that spell 'David' in the Biblical Hebrew alphabet. But another theory claims the symbol actually has its roots in Hinduism. The star has been found on South Indian Hindu temples built thousands of years ago. It symbolises the 'nara-narayana', or perfect meditative balance between man and God - a state that, if maintained, can result in nirvana.



Groundbreaking for construction is probably two to three years away, 'or hopefully sooner,' El Gamal added.

The largest part of the building - four of 16 floors - would be taken up by a sports, fitness and swimming centre.

Another full floor would be occupied by a child care centre and playground.

Much of the rest of the building would be occupied by a restaurant, culinary school, artist studios, exhibition space and an auditorium for cultural events.

El Gamal said the idea was to build a facility that will attract neighbourhood residents looking for a place to work out, as well as suburban Muslim couples spending 'date night' in the city.

The building's prayer space for Muslims - the part of the centre that has caused critics to brand it the 'Ground Zero mosque' - would be located on two levels in the basement.

The 12th floor would hold a 9/11 memorial and sanctuary open to people of all faiths.

As for the look of the place, it could fit in fine as an annex to Superman's Fortress of Solitude, with white walls and floors and a crystalline feel.

Renderings by Soma Architects show a building exterior that takes a traditional element of Islamic architecture - an arabesque pattern - and weaves it into a geometric mash-up that extends into the interior.

'We want to have a marriage between Islamic architecture and New York City. We want to do something that is green and cool,' El Gamal said.

Actual working plans for the centre are still some time away.

An architect has yet to be selected, El Gamal said.

Planning is just beginning to emerge from a brainstorming phase disrupted when criticism of the centre exploded over the summer.

Fundraising will probably begin in earnest in about 30 days, once the work of establishing a non-profit group to oversee the building is complete.

Like the project's co-leader, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Brooklyn-born El Gamal said he was caught off-guard by criticism from people offended by the concept of building an Islamic institution so close to the World Trade Center site.

Some have called it an exercise in triumphalism, intended to plant Islam's flag at the scene of the attacks and deliberately provoke Americans. Others say they are against the centre because they don't want to see any growth of Islam in the U.S.

'I would have done things a lot differently during this process if I understood what we were up against,' El Gamal said.

But he added that he remained convinced much of the criticism was sparked by 'a campaign of deception and deceit'.

'People have been calling this the Ground Zero mosque. It's not at Ground Zero and it's not a mosque,' he said.

'Our identity has been stolen from us. It has been stolen by extremists.'

Abstract space: Soma Architects provided the renderings of the exterior and interior of the Park 51 development. The developers say the idea behind the design was to provide a futuristic and 'fun' space for all New Yorkers

Opponents have sought to link people involved in the project to Islamic militancy, partly by looking for past public statements in which they were critical of the U.S. or Israel.

El Gamal, who spent his early childhood in New York with his Polish, Catholic mother, then moved abroad with his Egyptian father, a Chemical Bank executive, after his mother died, says those efforts are ridiculous.

But he acknowledged that intense scrutiny of the project will make tasks like gathering donations and selecting board members more laborious.

'We're going to have to run this just like a political campaign,' vetting every donated dollar to see where it comes from, he said.

The centre has set a goal of raising $27million through a nationwide appeal to Muslims, interfaith groups and other philanthropists, but most of the $120million to $140million needed for construction would be raised by issuing a type of bond common in Islamic banking.

The instrument provides some of the same borrowing benefits as a standard construction bond, but complies with a religious prohibition against charging interest on a loan.

Comparisons: The Park 51 plan has been likened, albeit ironically, to the crystalline 'Fortress of Solitude' of all-American hero Superman

El Gamal said he hoped the bonds could be issued by a public development authority, which would allow investors to get them tax-free, but said that is not essential to move the project forward.

Revenue for operations would come from membership dues.

The goal is to have around 4,300 paying members, with about half paying $2,700 per year for a family plan that would include fitness centre access.

Both the centre's programming and business plan were modeled largely after the Jewish Community Centre in Manhattan, a popular facility on the Upper West Side where El-Gamal is a member.

El Gamal said he hoped the prayer space would serve a congregation of around 2,000 people, most of whom would probably be Muslims who work downtown. Around 500 to 600 worshippers are already attending services at the site, a former discount clothing store.

Big steps ahead for the project include resolving the relationship between the new non-profit group that will operate the centre, and the eight-person real estate investment partnership led by El Gamal that controls the real estate on which it would be built.

A protester at the Landmarks Commission meeting that cleared the way for the Islamic centre near Ground Zero, New York

Buying out the investment partnership is probably the first step, El Gamal said, although the details of how that will happen are still not finalised.

One of his partners in the real estate deal, Hisham Elzanaty, has said that while he supports the idea of the center, he also needs his investment to turn a profit.

El Gamal said Elzanaty was a partner, and that 'his consent and approval' were necessary to the project, but he didn't foresee that as any obstacle.

A bigger challenge could be persuading enough New Yorkers that the project is just another community centre.

El Gamal said he is optimistic his message will eventually break through.

He said the group is planning a series of town hall style meetings in which the relatives of 9/11 victims would be encouraged to voice their concerns.

At the very least, he said, the project is on the map.