Traditional Mosque in Malaysia Nicklaus Emmanuel George Mohd Shamsul Nizam bin Marzuki Muhammad Fauzee bin Ahmed Zulkifli Siti Nadia binti Mohamad Daud Norafiqah binti Jalal El Din Nabilla Laili binti Ramli
INTRODUCTION
TRADITIONAL MOSQUE IN MALAYSIA
Since the end of the 20th century, many scholars have been intrigued by the significance, aesthetic values and philosophical meanings of the most notable symbol of Islamic architecture, mosques.
Although Islam was introduced to Southeast Asia between the 13th,
14th and the
15th centuries and since then numerous mosques were erected throughout the region, but yet the Islamic architecture of this region remains little-known and poorly documented probably because these mosques have followed local building traditions and climatic conditions and do not resemble Islamic architecture of Middle East.
Among all the materials and records about mosques architecture and typology, there are few scholars who have mentioned
Southeast Asian mosques architecture.
Some have acknowledged Southeast Asian mosque as one of the seven regional
mosque typology, which represents one of the fascinating architectural styles in mosque design.
Masjid Ubudiah, Kuala Kangsar
INTRODUCTION
Built in 1913 and completed later in 1917, opened by Sultan Jalil Karamatullah Shah. Masjid Ubudiah is a Royal Mosque, built by the Late Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah. This “great beauty“ mosque was built as a thanksgiving after he recovered from his illness. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback. Influenced by Mughal-Gothic architecture and Moorish Architecture. The construction cost for mosque was about rm200 000 at that time. Can accommodate 1000 people at one time. Become one of the Malaysia’s tourist attraction.
CHRONOLOGY 1911 -
Late Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah was undergoing treatment at Port Dickson, he vowed to build a mosque at Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar if he recovered from his illness.
1912 -
He health finally improved, he instructed Colonel Huxley to come out with a design of a mosque with great beauty. The government architect, Arthur Benison Hubback designed the mosque that inspired by the Moghul-Gothic Architecture.
1913 -
On 26th September 1913, Late Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam laid the foundation as a sign that construction begun.
1914 -
The construction delayed. Elephant fight caused a destroy of the marble and stone imported from Italty. The outbreak of the World War 1 in Europe caused further delayed time on shipping from Italy.
1916 -
The Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah passed 14th January 1916.
1917 -
The construction completed. The mosque was officially declared open by 29th Perak Sultan, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES a) Entrance Arch
Entrance
Faces the direction of the Qiblat. Carved with Islamic geometric pattern influenced by Moorish architecture. Tall columns aligned with main gate arch to create extravagant feeling. The marbles we seen to be aligned to create pattern on the top of the arch. The marbles were imported from Italy. The high quality red blood marble is banded at the main area where the attraction of the visitor.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES b) Vaulted Gateway (Chatris)
Entrance
Characterised by its massive size and vaulted gateway Cools the air and provides a focal for entrance Delicate ornamentation prevails the façade as well as within the gateway Characteristic of Mughal architecture style
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Islamic Pattern Fountain
The Islamic pattern fountain shape was influenced by the Moorish architecture. To add the serene ambience of the Ubudiah Mosque. Cooling effect for the mosque. The focal point in the site of the mosque.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Floor Plan
Existing serambi
Extended serambi
Central prayer hall
Women prayer area
Ubudiah Mosque floor plan was an originally octagon shape before amended. The floor plan was unique and unusual for the typical mosque in Malaysia. The existing serambi that link to the extended serambi.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Dome & Chatris Rear Elevation
Front Elevation
The onion shape dome and chatris was influenced by Mughal-Gothic architecture. The design actually originated from Hindu architecture and absorbed into the MughalGothic architecture. The walls of the Ubudiah Mosque form the large monster domed building in the centre and surrounded by the four terraces that consist a dome in the middle. The main dome was surrounded by eight minaret and sixteen chatris.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Minarets
The Minarets has a bulbous top and has mild ornamentation of Mughal Architecture Cupolas are present in the main minarets, influenced by Mughal Architecture The Geometrical arch at the cupolas and the stripe pattern along the minarets(From Marble and plaster) are characteristic of Moorish Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Interior Hall
Large spacious interior halls Delicate ornamentation within the interior as well as the exterior Characteristic of Mughal Architecture Geometrical bulbous arches characteristic of Moorish Architecture align both the top and bottom parts of the wall, promoting coolness and ventilating the interior
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Keyhole Arch
The arch generally keyhole-shaped. Influenced by the typical Moorish architecture that followed the characteristic of the dome itself which is bulbous and semicircular shape. For interior part, the size and shape of the arches are varied. The arch located at verandah are wider and larger in diameter to allow circulation.
Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur
INTRODUCTION
Built in 1907, Jamek Mosque is the oldest in Kuala Lumpur. Located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak river. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback. Main architecture adopted in his design similar to that of Northern India. This term is used to describe the imitation Neo-Moorish type of design. Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah opened the mosque in 1909.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Horseshoe arch
Horseshoe arch, also called the Moorish arch Known from pre-Islamic Syria where the form was used in the fourth century CE in the Baptistery of Mar Ya'qub. A symbol of sainthood and holiness Allowing more height than the classical (semi-circular) arch.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Material : Red Brick
Climate of the region (Spain) influenced the building materials used. Aesthetic appeal - Brick possesses natural and infinite pleasant colors of burnt clays. Keep the mosque cool during day-time and warm during night-time. Bricks are easy to maintain.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Material : Marble
Elegant appearance. Marble is kind of durable and hard stone. Long lasting material.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES Onion shaped domes was influenced by the Neo-Moonrish architectural design by their own signature. Neo-Moonrish style can be easily discerned by their signature of onion shaped domes, spires and domed shaped canopies. There are 3 onion shaped domes. The central dome is 21.3 meters high and is flanked by two lower domes. The prayer hall is located beneath the central dome. The prayer hall opens out onto a walled 'sahn' ( courtyard ) , which has now been covered over. The biggest dome at the centre was collapsed in the 1990s and later rebuilt.
DOME
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
MINARET The design was inspired by Mughal mosques in North India. Mughal architectural style have a uniform pattern of structure and character. One of Mughal style is slender minarets at the corners At the corners there are two red and white striped minarets 26.8 meters high , identical in design with 'chatris' (umbrella-shaped cupolas) on the top. The mosque is flanked by 2 main minarets top the brick walls and arched colonnades among other smaller ones
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
SPIRES
 The narrow spires- are typical Moorish architectural motifs.
Masjid Kampung Kling Melaka
HISTORY
Kampung Kling Mosque is located at Jalan Tukang Emas (also known as Harmony Street). Locate in close proximity with the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and the Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple. Built by Indian Muslim traders in years 1748 . Kampung Kling Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia which still retains its original design. Influences from the Chinese, Hindu-Buddhist.
HINDU-BUDDHIST INFLUENCES SQUARE FLOOR PLAN
Grand Mandala
Kling Mosque, Malacca
Old Mosque Kampung Laut, Kelantan (1730s)
Kampung Laut Mosque, Kelantan
TIERED PYRAMIDAL ROOF
Used for: Multiple volume expression to the building interior Air ventilation for passive cooling Creates large interior space for warm air to ventilate upward to the upper level
Meru Tower, Southeast Asia
CHINESE INFLUENCE
CHINESE MIGRATION Melaka was founded in the late 14th century. Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty. He decided to expand maritime trades, so he set the envoys to Southeast Asian islands.
Emperor Yongle (ruled 1403-1424)
Admiral Chen Ho, the Muslim Chinese, visited Melaka several times between 14031433 in order to establish strong economic and political connection with Melaka Kingdom.
Admiral Cheng Ho
Increasing trade activities between China and Melaka attracted numerous Chinese merchants from southern China. They had to stay in Melaka for at least five months waiting for seasonal monsoon winds to change and take them back to their homeland. So they set up second home in Melaka.
These Chinese migrants remained faithful to their homeland religions and beliefs and constructed buildings inspired by their own traditional style from Southern Chinese architecture.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Melaka
3
CHINESE CHARACTERISTIC
1
THREE SECTION GABLE ROOF
2
CURVED ROOF RIDGE, AND CANTILEVER EAVE CORNERS
FLORAL MOTIF CROWN
MINARET
CONCLUSION Malaysia traditional mosques are akin to Southeast Asia traditional mosque style followed local building traditions and climatic conditions instead of replicating traditional mosques' elements from Middle East. The early traditional mosques, were similar to traditional Malay houses and palaces in
style and material. However, with foreign cultural and technical influences, traditional mosques faced major alterations in their appearance.
Traditional mosques bear numerous traces of Hindu-Buddhist,
Chinese,
Portuguese, Dutch, and British inspirations while distinctive Islamic
architectural elements from Middle East such as dome and minaret do not feature in these traditional mosques. Traditional mosque style holds unique identity, which differs from traditional mosque style in other Malay states due to its unique historical background. This historical mosque not only demonstrates the most staggering examples of Southeast Asian traditional mosques but also established the style of architectural movement.