REDEFINING

MOSQUE ARCHITECTURE
THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY , PROGRESSIVE AND CONTEMPORARY APPROACH;
A CASE STUDY OF
CYBERJAYA MOSQUE, MALAYSIA

AR. AZIM A. AZIZ

ATSA ARCHITECTS SDN BHD
PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Islamic Countries in the World
• History of Islam
• Islam in the Malay Archipelago
• Study of Mosque Typologies
• Discussion of Findings - Since Last 30 Years
• Conclusion & Recommendations
• Malaysian Population
• Sustainability
• Modularity
• Case Study – Cyberjaya Mosque
 ABSTRACT
This paper discusses on the sustainability and progressive
approach in mosque architecture of Malaysia, that focuses
on the following :

• Evolution of mosque architecture with reference to Islamic

architecture

• The origin of mosque architecture and its typology

• Findings indicate mosque designs in Malaysia has evolved

and primarily based on the decision makers and general

public expectation

• Mosque appears to be lack of innovativeness, progression

and environmental concerns for the past 30 years (Post-
Modernism period)

• Redefine the approach of mosque design due to present

sustainability concern since 2009, triggered by rising fuel
prices, depleting food sources, natural resources and climate
change.

• Case study of Cyberjaya Mosque in Malaysia, the design of

energy efficient and low carbon of the future mosque, using
progressive architecture and recycled materials

Keywords: sustainable, progressive, mosque, energy efficient,

universal
INTRODUCTION

• Various vernacular mosque architectural languages

existed in Malaysia, borrowed from other regions,
namely from Middle East, Central Asia, India and China

• Interpreted by different builders / architects, influenced

by many factors , including cultural factor – coined as
Islamic design in mosque architecture

Typical design of vernacular mosque in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION
• Five Pillars of Islam :
1. Shahadah : declaring there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger
2. Salat : ritual prayer five times a day
3. Sawm : fasting and self-control during the blessed month of Ramadan
4. Zakat : giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy
5. Hajj : pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if he/she is able to do

• Six Articles of Belief :

1. Belief in God (Allāh), the one and only one worthy of all worship (tawhid).
2. Belief in the Angels (malāʾika).
3. Belief in the Books (kutub) sent by Allah (including the Qurʾān, Gospel and Torah/Tanakh).
4. Belief in all the Messengers (rusul) sent by Allah (including Muḥammad, Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah, and Adam)
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment (yawm al-qiyāmah) and in the Resurrection (life after death).
6. Belief in Destiny (Fate) (qadar)

• Seven Principles of Islamic Architecture :

1. Tawhid (Unity & Uniquity )- Belief in the absolute Oneness of Allah
2. Ihtiram (Respect) - Al-Quran as guidance in doing good deeds and values
3. Ikhlas (Sincerity) - Sincerity in designing and erecting the built form for the sake of Allah
4. Pursuit of 'Ilm (Knowledge) - Calligraphy as a form of knowledge expression as well as lighting element
5. Iqtisad (Balance) - An intricate balance between functional and spiritual elements in building
6. Haya' (Modesty) - Preserve the privacy and dignity of the owners and users
7. Dikr (Remembrance) - Remembrance of heaven
INTRODUCTION
Reconstruction of the Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque in Medina
In the year of the Hidjra Hujra (quarters)

Zullah (prayer shelter)

Sahn (courtyard)

Suffa (public shelter)

INTRODUCTION

The Sufi idea of the approach to God and its transformation into architectural form The concept of mancapat and its transformation into the Pondok Pesantren layout

Demak Great Mosque, Central Java Indonesia, Kampung Laut Mosque, beginning 18th century ASPA Mosque, Kuantan, 1992
during the 15th century
*source : Khalil K. Pirani et.al (2003). Understanding Islamic Architecture. New York : Routledge
INTRODUCTION
Kampung Laut Mosque
INTRODUCTION
Kampung Laut Mosque
INTRODUCTION
Kampung Laut Mosque
INTRODUCTION

Arabic, Spain and Africa West Africa/Sahara Iran and Asia

Mosque of the Fisheries, Algiers, Algeria, 1660 Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali, 1907 Kalyan Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, 1121
INTRODUCTION

Southeast Asia Anatolia and Uthmaniyyah

Mughal

Kampung Keling Mosque, Malacca, 1748 Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul, 1616

Jama Mosque, Delhi, India, 1656

China Great Mosque of Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, 742

*source : Mohamad Rasdi,M.T (2007)”Mosque Architecture in Malaysia: Classification of Styles and Possible Influence”, Journal Alam Bina Mosque
 Timurid Type Umayyad Type

TYPES OF MOSQUE - WORLD TYPOLOGY

Arabian Type
Nine typologies –
1) Arabian type Moroccan Type

2) Umayyad type
Umayyad Mosque (Great Mosque of Damascus),
Syria, beginning 715
3) Timurid type
South East Asia Type
4) Turkish type
Bibi-Khanym Mausoleum,
Samarkand, 1398-1399
5) Iranian type Quba Mosque,
Madinah, beginning Modern Type
6) Mughal type 622 AD

7) Chinese type African Type

8) South East Asia type

9) Modern type
Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakesh
1184 to 1199 Kampung Kling Mosque, Malacca, 1748
Chinese Type Modern Type Mughal Type

Agadez Mosque, Niger, National Mosque,

1515 and restored in Kuala Lumpur, 1965
1844
Arabian Type

Niujie Mosque, Beijing, beginning 996 Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, 1978 Al-Nilin Mosque, Omdurman, Sudan, 1970

Mughal Type Turkish Type Iranian Type

The Shah Mosque(Jameh Abbasi Mosque) known as

Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan, 1673 Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul, 1616 El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque, Egypt, 1929/1945 Imam Mosque, Isfahan, Iran 1629
 Contemporary Sustainable Modern

TYPES OF MOSQUE TYPOLOGY IN MALAYSIA

Eight typologies –
1) Traditional Vernacular Traditional Vernacular

2) Sino Eclectic
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque, 2004
3) European Classic
Sino Eclectic
4) North Indian
5) Modern Vernacular
6) Modernistic Expressionism
7) Post-Modern Revivalism
8) Contemporary Sustainable Modern
Kg Istana Old Mosque, 1800

Modern Vernacular Modern Expressionism

Kampung Kling Mosque, 1748

Modern Vernacular

Langkawi Indian Mosque, 1990s

Al-Hana Mosque, 1959 National Mosque, 1965 North Indian

Post-Modern Revivalism European Classic

Federal Territory Mosque, 2000 Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, 1900 Zahir Mosque, 1912
 ISLAMIC COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

• 1.6 billion Muslims population or 23.4% of the world population

• 62% live in Asia-Pacific, 20% in the Middle East-North Africa,15% in Sub-Saharan Africa, around 3% in Europe and 0.3% in
the Americas

• Largest countries with Muslims : Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco
HISTORY OF ISLAM

• The spread of Islam from

Arabia across the world.

The Spreads of Islam, 630-1700 Spread of Islam in Southeast Asia

HISTORY OF ISLAM Islamic Civilizations Around the World
 Islamic Civilizations Around the World
HISTORY OF ISLAM
Islamic Civilizations Around the World
HISTORY OF ISLAM
 HISTORY OF ISLAM

• Islam in the Malay Archipelago

• Significant historical timeline :

(650 - 1377) Kingdom of Srivijaya

(1400 - 1511) Sultanate of Malacca

(1511 - 1641) Portuguese of Malacca

(1641 - 1825) Dutch of Malacca

(1786 – 1957) British Malaya

(1963) Federation of Malaysia

• Early Islam converts in the Malay

Archipelago :

1160 - Sultan Mudzafar Shah I

(Phra Ong Mahawangsa) of Kedah

1267 - Malik Al-Salih (King Merah Silu)

of Pasai

1303 – Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah

(Parameswara) of Malacca

1414 - Megat Iskandar Shah of

Malacca

1447 - Kertawijaya (Bhre Tumapel) of

Majapahit
HISTORY OF ISLAM

Early Kingdoms in the Malay Archipelago

Langkasuka (100s – 1300s)

– Located at northern part of

Malay Peninsular

Srivijaya (650-1377)

– Areas included Malay Peninsular,

Sumatra and Java

Majapahit (1293–1527)

– Kingdom spans throughout the

Malay Archipelago
HISTORY OF ISLAM

Malacca Sultanate Empire

(1400-1511)

- Areas included Malay Peninsular

and Sumatra

- Malacca as the centre of Islamic

learning and teaching during

1400s to 1500s
MOSQUE TIMELINE IN MALAYSIA

• Period of 1700’s
• Period of 1800’s to 1950’s
• Period of 1960’s to 1970’s
• Period of 1980’s to 2010’s

Tengkera Mosque, Melaka, 1728 Muhammadi Mosque, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, 1867

Pekan Mosque, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Alwi Mosque, Kangar, Perlis, 1933 Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, 1917

Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur, 1909

Abu Bakar Mosque, Johor Bharu, 1900 Zahir Mosque, Alor Star, Kedah, 1912 Pekan Mosque, Pahang
 PERIOD OF 1700’s

• Built in a very simple manner and modest with a roof on

slits- known as Vernacular style Mosques
• Larger sized Mosques built made of thick load bearing
walls, with the use of plaster, timber and imported clay roof
tiles
• Tengkera Mosque, Kampung Hulu Mosque, Kampung Laut
Mosque and Kampung Keling Mosque

Kampung Laut Mosque, Kelantan, 1700s

Kampung Keling Mosque, Melaka, 1748 Tengkera Mosque, Melaka, 1728

PERIOD OF 1800’s TO 1950’s

• British rule of Malaya, introduction of Anglo-Indian style

Mosques using stone and brick-built, influenced by Moorish-
Mughal Architecture

Lebuh Acheh Mosque, Penang, 1808

Sultan Suleiman Royal Mosque, Klang 1932 Sultan Mosque, Singapore, 1928
PERIOD OF 1960’s TO 1970’s

 Search for National Identity – portrayed by Masjid Negara

 Influence of International Style and Post-Modernism

National Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, 1965

Kuantan Mosque, Pahang, 1967 Negeri Sembilan State Mosque, 1967,

PERIOD OF 1980’s TO 2010’s

• Emergence of the Post-Modern Revivalism – used of

lightweight materials such as glass reinforced fibre or the
metal frame domes
• Use of Replicative, Reinterpretative and Post-Modern to
define modern Mosque
• Influence of pastiche in mosque design

Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, Shah Alam, Selangor, 1988

IIUM Mosque, Selangor, 1997 Al-Azim Mosque, Malacca, 1990

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS - SINCE LAST 30 YEARS

• Since the last 30 years, Mosques were built out of the context -
absence of the spirit of place and time
• Elements of sustainable and energy efficient not of a concern

Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque (KLIA Mosque), 2001

Masjid Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Shah Alam, Selangor,

Al-Bukhary Mosque, Alor Setar, Kedah 1988

University Technology PETRONAS Mosque, 2005

Tengku Ampuan Jemaah Mosque, Selangor, 2013 Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, 2000 Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque, 1995
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS - SINCE LAST 30 YEARS

Federal Territory Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, 2000 Crystal Mosque, Kuala Terengganu, 2008

Penang State Mosque, 1980 Putra Mosque, 1999 Al-Alam Mosque, Melaka
CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

STATISTICS OF MALAYSIAN POPULATION GROWTH

(2013 – 2090)

World Population*:

• 2013 - 7 billion (1.6 billion Muslims)

• 2050 - 9 billion (3 billion Muslims)
• 2090 - 10 billion (4 billion Muslims*)

Malaysian Population**: World Population, 1950 - 2090

• 2013 – 30 million (18 million Muslims)

• 2050 – 41 million (25 million Muslims)
• 2090 – 47 million (34 million Muslims)

• Current no of mosque in Malaysia: 5,000***

• By 2090, another 5,000 mosques needed
• Or 50 to 60 mosques each year

*Population Pyramid (2013) ‘Population Pyramids of the World from

1950 to 2100’, <http://populationpyramid.net/> [Accessed: 14 Malaysian Population, 1950 - 2090
October 2013]

**New Straits Times (2011) ‘Chinese women have highest life Malaysian Population, 2010 - 2040
expectancy in Malaysia’, < http://www.nst.com.my/top-
news/chinese-women-have-highest-life-expectancy-in-malaysia-
1.23148#ixzz2iKVDWM84> [Accessed: 21 October 2013]
 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS Points GBI Rating
86+ points Platinum

SUSTAINABILITY 76 to 85 points Gold

66 to 75 points Silver
50 to 65 points Certified
• Beginning of 2008, many environmental issues mounted -
GBI Classification
rising fuel prices, depleting food sources, natural resources
and climate change.
Green Building Average Meets GBI GBI GBI GBI
• Lead to Green and Sustainable Movement - included the Index Rating Malaysian MS 1525 Certifie Silver Gold Platinum
Building d
built forms and its design.
BEI 250 200-220 150-180 120-150 100-120 <100
• Formulation of Green Building Index (GBI) and Malaysian
kWh/m2.year
Standard (MS 1525) tools Energy Saving Base 10-20 30-40 40-50 50-60 >60
%
• Designing with Spirit of Time (Zeitgeist) and the Spirit of the
Incremental Base 1-3 5-8 8-12 12-15 >15
Place (Genius Loci). Construction
Cost%

GBI Rating Table

Malaysian rating tools :

MS 1525

GBI

Other regional / international rating tools :

LEED (USA) BREEAM (UK) GRIHA (INDIA) GREEN MARK GREEN STAR (AUSTRALIA)
(SINGAPORE)

Energy Performance Index

CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

ARCHITECTURE 2030

• A guideline to design the next generation housings in

Malaysia
• To build future houses with zero or low energy, low carbon
and using renewable energy
• Join efforts in reducing carbon footprint and curbing the
greenhouse gas emissions
• Climate change is the cause of the depletion of food

CARBON NEUTRAL
supply and raw materials, fuel price rising and poor
60% 70% 80% 90%
connectivity
• By 2090, world population will be dwindled to 9 billion and
Malaysian stood up at 57 million population
• By 2030, houses and buildings must be built with zero or low
energy consumption

TODAY 2015 2020 2025 2030

Fossil Fuew Energy Reduction Fossil Fuew Energy Consumption

The 2030 Challenge

CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE
SITE PHOTO
CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE, MALAYSIA

• The first Green Platinum rated mosque in Malaysia and the world by 2015
• Incorporating various green design elements

Green Design Features Of Cyberjaya Mosque

“Fly-ash” concrete

LED lighting

Low E glass

Ventilation louvres

Mechanical fan

Low energy air conditioning system

Travelator

Rain water harvesting system

BIPV Solar Monocrystiline panel

CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE
GBI SCORE CARD
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CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE - REVISED COMPONENT SUMMARY
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CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE - REVISED INITIAL SKETCH
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FIRST FLOOR PLAN
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ROOF PLAN
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CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE MASTERPLAN
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SITE PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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FIRST FLOOR PLAN
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ROOF PLAN
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BIPV SOLAR PANEL
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ELEVATIONS
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ELEVATIONS
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SUN PATH + SHADOW STUDY
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FORM AND ORIENTATION
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SHADOW STUDY
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SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
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DESIGN FEATURES
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CYBERJAYA MOSQUE
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 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

MODULARITY

• Cost effective and shorter construction period

• E.g. walls, roof, pillars, doors, etc.
• Example : 8m x 8m modular panel - a pre-fabricated
component transported to the site and to be assembled by few
staff within few months only.
• 3 to 6 months construction period for 16 x 24 meter squared
mosque

The 3, 6 and 11 panels of modular mosque for 200, 400 and 800 jemaahs respectively

Prayer hall plan of Cyberjaya Mosque ( 4x3 module for 864 jemaahs)
 Section of modular mosque structure

Elevation of proposed modular mosque design

Typicall section of modular mosque structure with solar panels

Close up view of modular mosque panel

Entrance and ablution area of modular mosque design

Top view of proposed modular mosque design

CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE
EXTERIOR VIEW OF
CYBERJAYA MOSQUE
CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE

Configuration of the Modular mosque

CASE STUDY : CYBERJAYA MOSQUE

Configuration of the Modular mosque

Ara Damansara Mosque, Kuala Lumpur
MACMA Mosque, Kuala Lumpur
Musolla Taman Selatan, Putrajaya
Surau Nurul Khairiyah, Sekinchan, Kuala Selangor, Selangor
CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

FUTURE FUNCTIONS OF MOSQUE

• Mosque serving as a community centre with several

facilities:
School
Old Folks Home
Playground
Recycling Centre
Community Hall
Commercial Centre
• With regards to the functions of mosque during Prophet
Muhammad in Madinah, mosque was served as
community development centre that had social, political
and judicial functions.
• Therefore, it requires bigger mosque footprint to
accommodate various services and facilities for the
surrounding community