Mosque of Malaysia - Post Modern Architecture

Post-Modern Architecture

The term post modern architecture indicate an approach that contradict the principles and edicts of what was understood as the modern style.

The term post modern or modernistic architecture are sort of revivalism that signify one of the many ways which the post modernist attempts to create an architecture of meaning for the people or public at large  rather than for the elite.

There are two types of Post-Modern Architecture :

• Foreign Revival Architecture

• Vernacular Revival Architecture

Foreign Revival in mosque architecture seems to be the order of the day with such examples as the Putra Mosque, the Shah Alam Mosque, the Wilayah Mosque, the UTM Mosque in Johor, the Sarawak State Mosque, etc

Al Bukhary Mosque - Alor Star Kedah

PutraJaya Mosque - Putra Jaya

State Mosque - Sabah

State Mosque - Sarawak

State Mosque - Shah Alam Selangor

State Mosque - Terengganu

The use of an eclectic array of Iranian and Turkish domes, Egyptian and Turkish minarets, Persian Iwan gateways, lavish courtyards surrounded by the sahn, and an Arabian hypo-style planning composition and pointed or semi circular arches showered in sumptuous classical ‘Islamic’ decorations.

The Vernacular Revivalism calls for a slightly less monumental approach with its use of the three tiered pyramidal roof form built either of concrete or timber.

Conclusions

There is a varied architectural style for mosque design in Malaysia.

Mosque of Malaysia - Modernistic Architecture

Mosque of Malaysia - Modernistic Architecture

Modernistic Architecture are ideas that relate to notion of which true architecture is one that rejects historic revivalism in any form, historical evolution of architectural design, that rejects ornamentation in any form, traditional element of any nature and exclusiveness of design. Modernistic architecture however  celebrates abstraction in forms of practicality and also celebrate the structural expression in architecture. Two important elements of architecture in modernistic architecture are:

1. Expressionism
2. Structuralism

Modernistic Expressionism Architecture

'Modernistic Expressionism’ as any form of architecture that carries a metaphoric message through the use of structurally expressive form.

The Negeri Sembilan State mosque uses a series of intersecting reinforced concrete conoid to refer to the horn-like gable roofs of the Minang traditional architecture.

 

The reference to the ‘bumbung gonjong’ is uniquely expressed in the structural play of the conoids.

The architect had not resorted to the simplistic revivalism alternative of the traditional roof but has reinterpreted it in an abstract but creative way.

 

 

Negeri Sembilan State Mosque - Seremban

2nd level main entrance of the State Mosque of Negeri Sembilan - Seremban

Aerial View of Negeri Sembilan State Mosque - Seremban

The large chandelier in the main prayer hall.

The roofing architecture design gathered from the shape of buffalo horn

.

 

Another view of Negeri Sembilan State Mosque.

Maximum utilization of the main prayer hall.

 

Modernistic Expressionism and Structuralism

The Masjid Negara is the best example of the combination of a modernistic reinterpretation of traditional Malay Architecture with a folded plate ‘dome’ with a metaphor of a royal umbrella.
The Masjid Negara is the best example of the combination of a modernistic reinterpretation of traditional Malay Architecture with a folded plate ‘dome’ with a metaphor of a royal umbrella. Used an extensive set of serambi or verandah space with light courts and air wells to provide ample daylighting and passive cooling to the building.
 

MODERNISTIC STRUCTURALISM

Main structural system used reinforced concrete frames and shell.

The folded plate and intersecting conoidal shells are seen as progressive images that can be attached to the dynamism of Islam.
 

There is also a number of buildings of steel as the main structure with metal decks or Teflon stretched tents as the roofing.

The form of the structures can be said to be borne solely by the architects because clients at whichever level of society are unable to understand or converse in the structural language and intricacies of structural metaphors.

National Mosque - Kuala Lumpur

National Mosque - The compound of the mosque.

National Mosque - Main Prayer Hall

National Mosque - Interior View

National Mosque Malaysia - Aerial View

Modern Venacular Architecture

Modern Vernacular Architecture

Refer to buildings which are constructed using mainly reinforced concrete structural frame with plastered brick.Considered ‘vernacular’ because the practice and availability of these new materials and construction technique in this country presently.

Portray a gable or pyramidal roof with a small dome or the more expensive ones would find a larger single dome over the main prayer space. The verandah would be enclosed by a series of arches.

The plans of these mosques usually contain a single prayer space with the women area being separated on the rear part of the space with a curtain or movable partitions.

These mosques possess an aura closer to that of the Prophet Muhammad’s early mosque as they are used as community centers and places for travelers to rest overnight.

The mosques were built purely for practicality and  the most cost efficient so with the  economic way of construction and that is with the use of reinforced concrete frame with plastered brick.

The basic square or rectangle form derived from the construction system is then ‘decorated’ with the accepted language of ‘mosque architecture which is the use of arches and small or large domes.

The fenced up mosque projects the idea of separation between daily lives and that of the spiritual ones. 

Kampong Baru Mosque - Kuala Lumpur

Tuanku Raden Mosque - Kuala Pilah N.Sembilan

Kg Dato Keramat Mosque - Kuala Lumpur

Tuanku Munawir Mosque - Sri Menanti - N.Sembilan

Mosque in Malaysia - North Indian Style

North Indian Architecture

The term is used to describe the similar Moghul type architecture that once flourished colonial Malaya. The style is imitative of Mogul/Moorish type architecture.

Significant feature such as the small and large onion domes, multitude of spires and smaller dome canopies. More than 1 minaret, multifoil arches over decorated column.
The Ubudiah Mosque in Perak, the Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang, the Jame’ Mosque and Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur are prime examples of this style 

 

The architectural plans of the mosques are similar to other mosques. Where the design architecture with its central domes and arched verandah way.The mosque compound is normally fenced up at the full lengths of its  perimeter with ample parking area and normally with medium to large green grass meadow..
The North Indian Architecture is easily differentiated from any others due to its generous use of small and large onion domes, multitude of spires and small domed canopies, more than one minaret, horse shoe or multiform arches over decorated columns. 

Jamek Mosque - Kuala Lumpur Main Entrance

Jamek Mosque - Kuala Lumpur 

Zahir Mosque - Kedah

Masjid Kapitan Keling - Penang

Masjid Kapitan Keling - Penang

 

Another view of Kapitan Keling Mosque-Penang

 

Awsome view of Ubudiah Mosque - Kuala Kangsar Perak

Another view of this Majestic Ubudiah Mosque.

E.g. The Ubudiah Mosque in Perak, the Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang, the Jame’ Mosque and Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.
The architectural plans of the mosques are similar to the mosques of any other design plan with its central domes,arched verandah and alleys.

The early twentieth century mosques were built of reinforced concrete structure and enclosure wall for the main prayer hall.

The roofs are covered with domes made from reinforced concrete, aluminum or any durable material which are able to withstand the harsh climate of Malaysia.

Mosque of Malaysia - European Classical Style

European Classical Style

Another form of eclectic architecture with more than one style of mosque building because of the colonizations. Much of the architecture design from the medieval Europe with more emphasis towards  or derived from the greco-roman design. Where most of these mosque were built during the late 18th and early 19th century.

This architecture design is most common sight in Johor because of the chosen architectural style.Western Architecture preferred design by the Sultan of Johor at that time.

Grand view of The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Baru

The main prayer hall with Roman column come with moorish style arch.

The inner alley of the mosque

The pulpit where the "imam" recite the Friday prayer sermon.

Another view of the side alley.

View from the Straits of Tebrau.

 

A strong symmetrical composition of the massing and space is also an identifying feature. Uses of Moorish style and touch of roman-greco arches in every opening. Also we could easily observed the heavy proportion of the minarets a typical European design. Continues cornice inside the building.
The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Bahru is equipped with four stout minarets with small domes crowning the top. The main prayer hall has a closed hipped roof. 

 

The Pasir Pelangi Mosque uses a deep pyramidal roof form reminiscent of the traditional vernacular mosques of the past but without any dividing tiers. 

The Pasir Pelangi Mosque - Johor Baru

 

Mosque of Malaysia - Sino Electic Architecture

Sino-Eclectic Style

The term Sino indicates a chinese influence and Electic which will also indicates the combination of two or more influence of architectural lingo. There are two type of mosque in this category where both are similar in most of the other features such as:

• The differences between the two styles lie in prominent curvature of the roof ridges which is made of concrete - cement.
• The mosque is built at ground level and not raised or stilt like.
• The flooring or slab on grade which are raised about half a meter or less with stone stairways accessing the main ground floor.
• The plan of the mosque proper consists of the enclosed prayer area  and the verandah surrounding the main enclosed area in either three side of the square plan or all around the main enclosed structure.
• Also on most occasion the compound of the mosque are fenced with brick wall so with a obvious built up features of the ablution area.

Plan and  layout of Masjid Lebuh Aceh -Penang

Lebuh Aceh Mosque - Penang

Side View Lebuh Aceh Mosque - Penang

Sino Architecture of Tranquerah Mosque in Malacca

Another view (before refurbished) Tranquerah Mosque- Malacca

The roof structure is made of timber rafters purlins and sometimes simple trusses. The roof materials is of clay tiles. The whole roof is supported primarily by four central column and nine or twelve perimeter columns

Mosque in Malaysia - The Traditonal Vernacular Architecture.

Traditional Vernacular

 There are three types of mosques in this category which can be distinguished mainly from the use of the roof form.

 

The first is the three tier pyramidal roof form as in that of Kampung Laut and Kampung Tuan believed to be built between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century.

From the tip of the pyramid to the bottom of the columns, the mosques can be inscribed into an almost perfect cube.

The second type is the two tier pyramidal roof forms such as that of the Papan and  the Lengeng Mosque.

The Kg TuanMosque

 

Kg Laut Mosqie

The Traditional Vernacular interior

Another view of the interior

Old location of the Kg Laut Mosque

The old traditional well where water is  haul up for ablution.

Most early most are fenced up

They are built between the eighteenth and nineteenth century.

There are the single or double tier roof form in this typology. All of the mosques are raised from waist to shoulder height.

All of the mosques in this stylistic classification are made of timber.

All of the mosques originally possess no serambi area. Many of the serambi or verandah came later.

 

An interesting feature of these mosques is that they do not come equipped with a minaret.All are added later whilst some mosques are still without any minaret.

All of the mosques display only a single space layout and no indication of subdivision can be found.

Since many of the mosques are built close to a river for ablution purposes few of them have wells for preparation of prayer. 

 

There is no indication that these early mosques were fenced up and isolated from the villages. All of the mosques use the traditional timber post and beam system.

Columns on the exterior and the interior are common features except in the Kampung Tuan Mosque. 

The mosque main area for prayer

The mosque verandah is built at a later date.

 

In this particular mosque, there are only exterior column without the traditional four or five internal pillars.

A close examination reveal that this particular mosque uses a unique timber ‘space frame structure but known locally as the tiang gantung system. 

 

It is a fact that all the traditional Malay construction do not use any form of truss system except the occassional king post which is denoted as the ‘tiang gantung’.

Since the strongest debate about how Islam came to this region is from the Acheh route or that of Pattani, it follows that the three tier form might be nfluenced by the sacred form of the pagoda.

Many building craftsmen are actually Chinese and if there were Malay craftsmen, they might have inherited their skills from the Chinese.

Masjid Lebuh Aceh - Penang

 

Sino-Eclectic Style

The term Sino indicates a Chinese influence and,

Eclectic which denotes a combination of two or more influence of architectural language.

There are two types of mosques in this category:

Both types are similar in a majority of other features.

The differences between the two styles lie in the prominent curvature of the roof ridges which is made of cement.

The mosque if this style sits on the ground and are not raised.

The all have slabs on grade which are raised about half a metre high with stone stairways accessing to the main floor plan.

The plan of the mosque proper consists of the enclosed prayer area and the serambi or verandah surrounding either three parts of the square plan or all around it.

Masonry fenced and masonry pool for ablution area.

E.g. Kampung Hulu Mosque, the Tengkera Mosque and the Kampung Keling Mosque , Melaka.

E.g. The Lebuh Acheh Mosque, Penang,

The roof structure is made of timber rafters purlins and sometimes simple trusses. The roof materials is of clay tiles. 

 

The whole roof is supported primarily by four central column and nine or twelve perimeter columns