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Location

The Mosque is located in Khalid SRE Compound of Pakistan Navy, a housing for Sailors.
The 1500 square yards Plot had already been reserved in the master planning with a Park space allocated adjacent to it on one side and a Hospital on the other.
The Compound is located near the Sandspit Beach.

Design Concept

As has been observed in many mosques, the prayer hall becomes so heated up during the day, that except for Zohr prayer, all the remaining prayers are offered in Verandah and Sehan. The main focus of design was to make the prayer hall escape from harsh sun, and be naturally ventilated enough to offset the humid environment of Karachi.
A box within a box was thus thought of, that would keep the inner structure [the Prayer Hall] protected from harshness of Sun. The form was developed into the outer box elevated and cantilevered on all sides that allows unobstructed natural light and ventilation while keeping it safe from direct sun beams

Material

Tensile Retractable Fabric was planned to cover the roof instead of concrete covering as it is used only once a week for Friday prayers apart from occasional large congregations. The high walls and the Fabric provide shade to Main Prayer Hall roof.
As the housing is a new development with few inhabitants, the Service block was left a single storey for now but has a provision for another floor for future. Similarly, the First Floor can be converted into a proper enclosure with the casting of a new slab in place of tensile fabric if need arises.

Being a sea side corrosive environment, intricate details that would erode in time were avoided. A special coating was developed instead of normal paint that could withstand corrosion. The same material was used for casting the Jalis used for cladding and screening of Service Block.

As a further environment consideration, a separate discharge tank was kept for reusing drain water from Ablution for feeding the green areas of Mosque and adjacent Park. While the overall appurtenance is very contemporary on the onset, Jalis were introduced as cladding that give a glimpse of the traditional detailing.

Schematics

Undertaking

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