EXPRESSION OF TECTONICS & POETICS Surau Ali Bashah A distinctive design by C’Arch that break away and change the perception of a surau TEXT BY JIA-Ql, JOCELYN, ZIXIU & JHUNG LEUNG IMAGE BY C’ARCH PROJECT CREDITS Date of CompletionMaya Arhitectre et Rethinking the Surau Surau Ali Bashal is located in Neocybet, which isa 2-aere mixed residential and commercial development also by Cech Architecture and Design. But approximately 300 metres away from Cyberjaya's main transport bus terminal this mixed development also consists of 167 tworstorey commercial retail units, 2 ten-storey commercial office blocks, 5 serviced apartments and a 12-acte park. Aiming to address the needs of Cyberjaya’ youthful population, Neocyer creates 2 convenient ving and working ‘environment for the neighbourhood and commurity by providing service retail facies, easy access and also recreational facies, Surau Ali Bashah i an alternative interpretation of a ‘common surau bet the general form or the building or the interior layout of it. It has town away all the common perception ofa surau and hel its own, Unie the common Surau which are thoroughly concealed, Surau Ali Bashah has found 2 balance in creating privacy and openness at the same time with the slicing ofthe walls Upon entering ‘the praying area, the walkway separates the ablution areas into two, providing diferent spaces for respective genders to conduct their ablution act in privacy. The simple and direct layout of the surau allows for a smoother praying ‘experience as compared to common suru that often have more confusing placement of ablution areas. Context and Community ‘Among the blocks of commercial and residential buildings, Surau Ali Bashah is built to provide a place of worship for Muslims to pray. Located in the mide ofthe development, the surau is easily accessible by each building black, ‘catering to the needs of Muslim residence and workers for 2 praying hallin Neacyber. Even ina high density residential and commercial area tke Neooyber the surau needed to provide a sense of calmness ‘and serenity for praying purposes. In order to achieve that the landscaping was planned thoroughly to isolate the praying hall from the other buildings in Neocybec Surrounded by vegetations which creates quiet and ‘tranquil envionment, Surau All Bashah is able to provide a eacetl place for worship and prayers. ‘The idea arch has gone back to basic when generating the idea for the design of Surau Ali Bashah. They have identified the primary needs of the space and intend to design something refreshing, The main idea isto break out of the bor without being constrained by the cammon farm of 2 typical surau which has an ‘onion dome’ with big minarets and create @ pure form using layers of planes to create @ shelter within the surrounding garden. This pure form is translated by using modem geometrical shapes and zoning through 2 series of walls. The design stayed true to the firms thinking of creating interesting spaces, beautiful ‘objects and fulfilling project demends for usabilty, budgets and sustainability. By looking at the oles ofa surau as & cultural center and prayer place, Carch has gone with the “less is more’ philosophy and focused on simplicity while responding ta the commurity it serves, The rhythmic arrangement of the walls evokes a sense of serenity whichis much appreciated quality ina prayer hall hil it also responds to the need of openness and privacy of the space without thoroughly concealing the building To compliment the simplicity of the plan and design, the surau has kept a white and clean look that represents the purity ofa prayer place. Surau Ali Bashah is also designed with sustainability in mind and responds 10. the environment withthe layering of screens to reflect natural daylight into the interior spaces. The surau has a general ‘outlook that is subtle and dawn to earth while it also provokes the rethinking ofthe design of asurauto provide '@ new identity thats specified forthe community,ae)The Form Conceptually the form clearly defines elements of a cub and emphasis on horizontal and vertical planes. Besides, he rectangular form gives an impression that a block has been carved and hallowed revealing areas of the intvior ‘rom diferent external views which in turn create views of he surrounding area, The outer skin speaks as a series of walls panels with 35 that follow the form of the ‘uliding, The walls connect the intelar and exterior, with he walls inticately ca siioned differently capturing ight and views from the outside into spaces inside, Th surrounding the surau creates a dominant contrast between build and natural environment, The trees casts shadow on the wall panels creating shadon facade pattems on theThe Walls, 3 surau isa slight, diminutive bulding that is all sharp ines. The ted perimeter walls are 7 s-ventilation; yet another pl of prayer that breaks the mould. The chythmic arrangement of its unidirectional walls manages somehow «place of prayer and worship. The walls vary in length to fenclose and create spaces, form stores, create openings, ‘The wall panels that form the otter skin ofthe building, of rch there are arent lined up neatly in 2 ro Rather, they are deliberately apart for openness and privacy ime, This design is ve asd Jamek, With this inside can stil fel quite protected Vertical forms have a greater ‘our visual fel gives the site 2 point of focus. Vertical planes is mo nstrumental in defining 7 providing a sense of enclosure and privacy for those with as they separate su 1 creates 2 nic distinction between sereened pevateateas and transparent ‘open areas, Tey also provide shelter and protection fro he climatic elements and aid in cartroling the flow ofa eat, and sound into and through the interior space urau. The height of vertical plane of surauis above our peight — interupts the visual and spatial continuity betwee! f ense of enclosure. The ve rough hich one passes, as ith ger volume nstrumental in “Vertical plar defining a discr sroviding a sense of enclosure ani e volume of space and privacy.Its really just a simple building that responds to the needs of the community it serves. But more importantly | think it is the way forward, in terms of an architectural style or language. * - Chris Wong,