Context BD• The Rural Lantern

DESIGN. ARCHITECTURE. CULTURE

The Rural Lantern | And Orden

Contemplation - Mosque at Mohor Para, Narshingdi | Photo Credit: Noufel Sharif Sojol

Name:	A K M Tanvir Hassan Niru, Nahid Akram, Manifa Rehnuma and Kamrun Nahar Aliza
Year:	2012-14
Location:	Mohorpara, Shibpur, Narshingdi
Client:	Mahbubul Alam

It was intended to design a socio-cultural landmark for the village of Mohor Para, which is associated with the needs and ambition of the client and the community. The client’s aspiration was not only to serve the community in the enlightenment of Islam, but also to present them a socio-cultural space to congregate, where the Mosque was the impetus of development. The designed mosque is rooted to tradition yet contemporary in material and technology, so that the villagers move forth intellectually and spiritually. In this era of misconception of Islam, effort has given to manifest true Islamic ideology and education to become more sympathetic to all religion.

THE RURAL LANTERN

Bangladesh is a deltaic plane dotted with many Mosques from various Architectural Style Period, mostly Pre-Mughal and Mughal. The Mohorpara Mosque is a contemporary endeavor to commemorate those traditional design in local context.

The Mosque is conceived as a ‘rural lantern’ amidst the exuberant greenery illuminating Mohor Para and beyond with its spiritual guidance and omnipresence. The white radiant façade bold yet sublime adjures the worshippers and passersby throughout the day. During Night the transparency of the mosque acts as a lantern against darkness and calls for submission to the Almighty. The white mosque became innate part of landscape as well as the landform, whereas the traditional mosques floating amidst lush green with the glimpse of red bricks or lime plaster.

The Rural Lantern | Photo Credit: Noufel Sharif Sojol

Pre-Mughal and Mughal Mosques were collectively small in scale yet monumental in essence. The Mohorpara Mosque translates the traditional lofty prayer halls and fore room (iwan) arched facades of the old mosques in Bengals by its contemporary rhetoric. The interweaving curves being detached from each other creates a progressive vista of oneness, resembling a pointed arch yet connected only in spatial-temporal-visual field. It represents the abstract connection between believers and the Creator; Their faith in the unseen and Omnipotent amidst the rural setting.

ARTICULATION

The pointed arch replaced by half curved lines creating an illusion of arches. These half arches diffuse the exterior light at day time and creates a pleasant ambience. On the contrary the half arches deflects light at night and acts as a lantern.

The premise is naturally ventilated. The wide open windows on North-South façade ensures prevailing wind circulation. The hot air rises to the ceiling and a mechanical exhaust fan keeps the air circulating. The Mihrab niche has been also transformed to reflect the light from the sides.

THE NEW VILLAGE ARENA | AMBIT

The Mohorpara Mosque has drawn certain attention within the Narshingdi Shibpur region by its communal service to people. During the regional Tablighi congregation period, Mohor Para mosque becomes a station point for the travelling Tablighs.

Weekly Friday prayer (Jummah ) has become a ceremonial activity in the area. An Imam comes from Dhaka to deliver Khutba (Islamic preaching) every Friday. People from close community joins the Friday prayer particularly to attend the Khutba by the humble Imam.The Mosque also provides potable water to the school children, the mosque users and the passersby.

According to the client the white Mohorpara Mosque has an impact on the local users. They have become more aware about the cleanliness and hygiene. They try to keep It auspicious and pure like the colour white.

It has become a village center to gather. The low height walls around the mosque encourages the users and locals to sit and chat animatedly. The future extension of Islamic center is anticipated by the village dwellers.The client covets the expansion of the mosque platform with the provision for a library, research center, gallery (on northern side within school) and Maktab for elders (on southern side) in future.

LANDSCAPE

Native trees like Chhatim (Alstonia scholaris) is planted for its seasonal white small flowers with aroma and beautiful leaves formation. In traditional Bengali villages territory is defined by planting Betel nuts trees (Areca catechu). Here this arboriculture has been followed and Betel nuts are planted along the northern side. It’s an extension of the surrounding plantations to enhance bio-diversity.

Hardscape consists of hollow permeable pavers, infiltrating rain water for greener environment.