Imagine a mosque that speaks of its time yet yearns for timelessness. That is Masjid Jami Al Hurriyyah. Located in a dense Jakarta neighborhood, it stands as a modern architectural marvel. It also serves as a verandah for the surrounding community.
Masjid Jami Al Hurriyyah is not just a place of worship. It’s a center for community interaction. The mosque’s design thoughtfully incorporates the sun and climate. It also considers the high intensity of public interaction in this location. This appears in the architectural design elements.
Completed in 2020, the mosque covers 745 square meters. Ago Architects designed this three-story structure. The ground floor houses a school. The upper floors are for prayer.
Early mosques in the Islamic tradition often featured open spaces without symbolism. Over time mosques began to be designed with strong symbolism. They also were designed with open perimeters and geometric features. At Masjid Jami Al-Hurriyah, architects tried to design a timeless mosque. They considered the site context, climate, culture, and people’s habits. They also employed passive design strategies.
The design incorporates three sloping roofs. Each roof segment divides the mosque into a welcoming porch. It creates a terraced worship area, and a main worship area. Skylights at the tip of each roof create a dialogue between worshipers and time. Natural light shows different praying times of the day.
The integration of the three-roof segments and the tower forms the word Allah. This is when viewed from the side of the train terminal. The building uses optimum cross ventilation. The synthetic wood lattice acts like a curtain. It controls overheat penetration and maintains thermal comfort. This mosque is designed without artificial air conditioning.
Stairs, terraces, and courtyards serve as public spaces. The mosque serves religious purposes. It also serves as a center for community interaction. There is a courtyard without a fence. It invites activities from the surrounding community. The stairs on the perimeter are an element to sit. It’s an accessible public space.
The mosque accommodates up to 800 worshipers. The ground floor is dedicated to education, a religious school for children. The first floor is the main prayer area. The upper floor provides additional prayer space.
A spacious reception yard offers parking for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. It also has green areas and an open front yard. This can be an additional prayer area.
The mosque includes a prayer hall and an ablution area. The ablution area has facilities for individuals with disabilities. There is also a nursing room and separate restrooms. Offices, classrooms, and storage areas are included. A pantry, sound control room, and security post complete the amenities.
The main facade features exposed concrete. Secondary facades use Conwood panels with metal frames. Glass doors with aluminum frames welcome visitors. The roofing consists of bitumen and tempered glass skylights.
Masjid Jami Al-Hurriyah embodies the identity of the community. It shelters and has the power to become the genius loci of the surrounding neighborhood. It stands as a beacon embodying both tradition and modernity. It stands as a testament to thoughtful design. It’s a mosque for all times.