Putrajaya Mosque

     The city of Putrajaya is located south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It serves as a center of government that compliments the capital city. Within this modern city lays a gem of Islamic architecture called the Putra Mosque. The mosque was named in honor of the former and first Prime Minister of Malaysia Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al–Haj. Construction of the mosque began in June 1997 and was completed two years later in September 1999.  Resting on the Putrajaya Lake, the mosque is located next to the Perdana Putra which houses the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office.

     While the mosque’s design is derived from several Islamic styles, its main influence is the Persian Islamic architecture of the Safavid period. The 116-metre minaret is influenced by the design of the Sheikh Omar mosque in Baghdad, while the basement wall of the mosque resembles that of the King Hassan mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. The mosque gets its pink hue from the “rosa-j” Malaysian granite that offsets the cengal woodwork on the doors, windows and panels The prayer hall is elegant and simple and supported by 12 columns that prop a 36 meter diameter dome. The mimbar (pulpit) and mehrab (niche that denotes the direction of Mecca) are adorned with Islamic calligraphy. With the help of computers, intricate mosaics for the mosque were designed and produced locally. Even the sound system is state of the art, always giving the effect that the Imam’s voice is coming from right in front of you. The mosque itself can accommodate 10,000 worshippers and the courtyard outside an additional 5,000 people.

Analysis

Personal Experience

AUDREY WONG
As a non-Muslim, it is an honor to be able to visit and enter a mosque because in my perception, it is the most sacred place ever. When I first entered the mosque, it welcomed us with a grand and huge entrance. The height and proportion of Putra Mosque indeed amazed me, giving me a sense that human couldn’t outreach to
God/Allah easily as He is the most holy God. It was even more beautiful when seeing it up close especially the dome. Its pink color indeed adds a solemn yet serene feeling in me. Seeing light and shadow casted by all the detailing eventually gave me a sense of astonishment as the building seems to be able to speak for itself and tell us how God is trying to reach out to us.

ATHIRAH YEN
As a Muslim and an architecture students, the mosque gave me an insight on mankind's ability to details
and prominence which was captivated in one building. It shows how important the input of knowledge is to acquire creation at great heights.

Also known as the 'Pink Mosque', it is located next to the lake where the feeling of serendipity is instantly felt as I walk through the Mamluk arched gate of wind blowing with a cool feeling coming from the river. It gave me a glimpse of paradise far from the maddening crowd. It gave me the feeling of that there is no relationship greater than the relationship with God, (Allah) and I.

CHONG YEN NEE

In the mosque, I feel the existence of God when  standing in the large prayer hall. By achieving the greater high of the dome, I can feel closer to the God. It gives me a calm sense which I can throw out the complicated mind and hear to the God.

MABEL LOUI

As a non-muslim Malaysian, I do feel that there is a sense of ‘peace’ and calm when I walk through the main Iwan and courtyard. The organization of functional spaces work as a purification filter of the human body and mind.

The first level of purification is the main Iwan where I feel that I’m elevated from the chaotic of urban life. Moreover, the massive courtyard is the second level of purification where one is getting ready for prayer. Lastly is the main prayer hall with central dome, where one truly feel closer to Allah.  

SYIFA FAUZIA HASNIL

In my opinion (as a muslim) putra mosque has its interesting characteristic, for example the pink colour of the mosque that attracts the visitor. Basically the mosque is like any other mosque that has islamic architecture principles. For the interior the mosque is really rich in the detailing, putra mosque adapts 3 basic concepts that the architect applied on its design.

For some foreigner that doesn't really believe in religion, they like the arhitecture, and also how they should dress properly when the visitor enter the mosque by wearing the robe.

Interview

Interviewer: Syifa, Athirah and Yen Nee

Interviewee: Paul (US)

Q: What is your name?

A: Paul.

Q: Where are you from?

A: US

Q: What is your first impression?

A: It’s special and great.

Q: Why you think it is special?

A: Because of its size and seem like people very religious. The mosque is giving sense of peaceful.

Q: What do you feel when you enter the mosque?

A: A nice place, I have never been such a kind of beautiful mosque.

Q: Are you Islamic believer?

A: No. I’m Buddhist. Anyway, I take impression and take some paper, the synopsis, read it and get some understand about that, who is the Allah? The Islam God.

Interviewer: Yen Nee

Interviewees: Ma Yuan and Shi Xin (Xi An- China)

Q: Where are you come from?

A: Xi An.

Q: Are you the first time visit this mosque?

A: Yes. We’re Muslim and first times visit to Malaysia.

Q: What is your impression to this mosque?

A: It’s nice and magnificent.

Q: How is it architecture?

A: It’s great.

Q: Are you coming to praying?

A: They don’t let visitors go in and only the local Muslims is allowed praying in the prayer hall.

Q: Have you been visit many mosques?

A: No, but some of the mosques in my country. 

Interviewer (A): Syifa and Mabel Loui

Interviewee (B): Yuhanis (local Muslim)

Q : What is your first impression for this mosque?

A : Bahasa Melayu boleh tak?

Q : Boleh.

A : Melambangkan satu symbol keagamaan dan symbol pepaduaan. Dalam masjid, boleh menjadi tempat untuk bergumplu, melaksanakan keagamaan and semua orang islam boleh berkumplu di sini.

Q : Pertama kali impression?

A : Sangat bangga. Sangat cantik. Satu lambang.

Q : Ada spiritual senses apabila kamu masuk sini?

A : Of course ada sebab masuk tempat yang suci, kita akan rasa tenang dan damai.

Q : Sering tak masuk masjid ini?

A : Saya jarang-jarang masuk sini sebab saya tinggal jauh.

Q : Oh, dekat mana?

A : Gombak.

Q : Oh ya, jauhnya.

A : Saya datang hari ini sebab anak ada interview di Putrajaya.  

Interviewer (A): Mabel Loui and Syifa

Interviewee (B):  Alexandra (tourist from Portugal)

Q : Why do come here?

A : To Putrajaya?

Q : Yes, to this mosque?

A : Because my friend Maria has the kindness to bring me here. She is a blessed girl. And this is my first time in a mosque.

Q : What do you feel when you step into the mosque?

A : Well, it’s completely different. I’m from Portugal; we have churches and catholic churches. So this is completely different in terms of architecture and the spaces. We have benches, here there are no benches. And as Maria is explaining to me, there are no living figures, only the… calligraphy. That is very nice. And it’s been very “cool” inside the mosque in my first Islamic country.

Q : What do you feel when you first step into the mosque?

A : Well about feeling. It’s, urgh, amaze. Because I’m not such a religious person, I just rather to see the architecture to inner feeling for myself.

Q : Ok, thank you. 

References:
http://creativemuslims.com/2010/25-breathtaking-photos-of-putra-mosque-putrajaya-malaysia/

 http://travel.mylaunchpad.com.my/index.cfm?var_dir=destination.details&ID=A015AF93-188B-76AA-00A190908E0F95AF

http://www.asianpictures.org/putrajaya_mosque.html

http://colour-of-putrajaya.blogspot.com/2009/12/putra-mosque.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wazari/6321943447/

http://thechroniclesofmariane.blogspot.com/2013/07/pink-mosque-putrajaya-and-blue-mosque.html

http://architectureinmalaysia.wikispaces.com/Putrajaya Mosque

Image references:
http://creativemuslims.com/2010/25-breathtaking-photos-of-putra-mosque-putrajaya-malaysia/