CASE STUDIES

the open courtyard- like spaces on three sides of the mosque, also becomes the entrance point into the mosque. Though the Farhan Mosque is an example of contemporary architecture, it has, however, been designed keeping in mind all traditional aspects of Islamic architecture. Islamic architectural symbols such as a dome and a minaret are present in this design. For instance, the use of courtyards for overflow spaces for worshippers as well as the use of ‘Jefferies’ to screen certain areas manifest the influence of Islamic architectural principles. Wind flows up the hill and the sprinklers bring down the temperature before one gets to the open prayer spaces. The sunken courtyards also create a micro-climate within the prayer space. The yellow stone used depicts softness and makes the mosque extremely attractive in a city where urban sprawl has devoured beauty, aesthetics and symmetry. The stone and the materials used are all local and hence cost-effective. The materials also serve as insulators because of which the stone stays cold for a certain time period when washed with water. Specifically designed spaces within the periphery walls allow visitors to store their shoes properly. Finally, underground parking was created and rented out to a nearby building to allow fund generation for the maintenance of the mosque. Asked if the mosque is cost- effective and the possibility of it being replicated in other parts of the city, Ahsan said that “all the principles demonstrated in Misbah Najmi’s design can be used. They are all local materials which are already available. Misbah Najmi spent his life demonstrating how your passion for good architecture can push you to create masterpieces. Hence, all it requires is hard work, an eye for detail and sophistication in the use of materials. Every piece of architecture should deal with the context and should be sensitive to light, air and green spaces. There was a time when mosques were not only places of worship for Muslims but also a place where social problems, both community-related as well as those pertaining to an individual, were solved. The artificial hill creates a sound barrier so that at all times, the traffic noise is filtered through.(Farhan Mosque | Najmi Bilgrami Collaborative (Pvt.) Ltd. | Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Design and Residential, 2013)