Pathanbari, Fenchuganj, Sylhet/ 2022

Location: Pathanbari, Fenchuganj, Sylhet.
Site Area: 14,309 sft (19.87 Katha)
Build Area: 22,300 sft (Approximately)
Year Designed: 2021-22.
Principal Architect: Ar. Shafique Rahman (MIAB)
Design Team: Tasmia Tabassum, Shanila Saifullah, Niaz Morshed
3D Visualizer: Motahar Hossain, Rakib Patwary
Client: Mr. Zuber A. Khan

Concept:
Prayer is a devotional act. With all the distractions in our modern hectic lives it could be challenging to quieten the mind and seek inner peace to allow for full immersion into prayer. Mosque- a sacred space that pulls people closer to the divine, a form with its own spirituality by fostering a quiet and serene environment.

The primary shape of the mosque takes the form of a geometric rectangle, which seems the most effective since Muslims pray in straight rows facing a particular direction. A large cantilever porch is designed as an inviting entrance. The entry of the ablution space encircles a shallow body of water while the water body separates the ablution space from the adjacent plaza engaging micro-climatic cooling. Another beautiful curved water feature surrounds the mosque's ablution area and staircase. The provision of women’s prayer hall is given on the ground floor. A flight of steps directly leads to men’s prayer hall in two mezzanine levels.

The climate of Bangladesh is very much distinctive by nature due to its geographic location. This climatic condition has highly governed the design of this mosque. A dome is formed on middle part of the main form which is a traditional expression of a mosque. The central portion of the dome and the East and West portion of the roof is transparent to provide natural lighting as well as penetrate an earthly connection with the sky, whereas as the perforations on the North and South concrete walls filter light and noise coming from the outside. In addition, A lot of community space is designed in multiple levels which is full of natural light and air.

In the North-West corner of the mosque is the “Minaret”- a tower from which prayer calls are made.
Traditionally, it was used for someone to call out to all Muslims to prayer on top of the minaret. In a way, the minaret has become an icon of mosques; anyone searching for a mosque can come from afar.
As a whole, the Ascast Concrete, large apertures and less ornamental shape work together to create a new vocabulary for mosques that is simple but unique, bold but blend with the surroundings.