Miazi Bari Mosque

The Miazi Bari Jame mosque in Chandpur is a small community mosque designed  and built for the locals through participatory design process. The mosque  is located in a small neighborhood that has a great sense of community and  responsibility towards each other. Mosques are not only used for the daily

5 times prayers; ceremonies like marriages or funeral also takes place in the mosque.  The architectural history of Bangladesh is dominated by extravagant mosque designs with large onion shaped domes and tall minarets dating back to the Mughal Empire and the Muslim rulers from 1338 AD. Devoid of any large domes or tall minarets, the Miazi Bari mosque is a contemporary expression of architecture in Bangladesh that encompasses spiritual activities within a simple form that becomes a part of the surrounding landscape and local context.

The symbolic expressions of a traditional mosque is abandoned to create an envelope  that encourages participation, interaction, expresses the local culture, climate,  the daily activities and allows multiple usage of the community. The monumental feeling  of a large space is obliterated by the intimate scale of the entryways, the clear and precise organization of functions and the humbleness of the form.

The roof system is designed with barrel vault to dissipate hot air and maintain interior temperature. The spacious interior allows gathering of large congregation effortlessly on its monolithic neat cement floor and naturally ventilated high ceiling. The brick pattern on all sides are cleverly created to filter the sunlight and offset heat gain on a singular surface during high temperature period. The porosity of the façade ensures visibility of the activities inside with ample ventilation. To prevent driving  rain inside the mosque, a vegetated cover is provided around the brick facade which acts as the second skin of the building.

The Rangoon creeper envelops the building overtime providing sufficient shade while allowing fragrant and soothing breeze to pass through the interiors. The entire site is landscaped with selective native species to attract local birds, butterflies and squirrels to help the Mosque become a part of the existing ecosystem that adds to its  surroundings and welcomes both human and nature.

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