Hi all Local Guides, I am Sardi, I am a level 7 local guide from Padalarang Bandung Barat of West Java, Indonesia. My first experience to be a local guide is when I tagged a new location on the Maps with some buildings in this housing complex and especially this great mosque, since there was incorrect name of it on the Maps previously. My next role to control this place is to encourage the chairman of the Mosque (Dr. Ahmad Hairudin, Ph.D) to claim it in Google Business and assist him how to manage the information, replying the reviews, and most of all to provide the agenda of the Mosque for the community in the neighbourhood.
The thing that makes this mosque is iconic is from its architecture side, it might catch one’s attention about this mosque is the absence of a dome, which is almost always a quintessential characteristic of mosques. However, the architects have informed that the dome is not a cultural/religious identity, hence not a necessity when it comes to designing an Islamic place of worship. The architecture of this mosque is unique in that it uses stacked stones as the main facade to create tectonic effect, while embedding Islamic text/calligraphy on the facade as a graphic element and reminder prayer.
The primary shape of the mosque takes the form of a square, which seems the most efficient since Muslims pray in straight rows facing a specific direction or the Qiblah. The structural columns are arranged in such way that the facade seems like it is not supported by any frame. This shape also alludes to Ka’bah, the most important structure in the Islamic world, to which all Muslims’ prayers are directed.
With a capacity to accommodate approximately 1,000 people, the mosque is also designed to ‘blend in’ with nature. The stacked stones allow for natural ventilation without the need for air-conditioning. Surrounded by water, the ambient temperature around the mosque will be lower during the hot season. Once inside, the people are able to look out and appreciate the external scenery.
Eventually, to all local guides especially in Bandung and its surrounding we may have a meet-ups here. Keep guiding and thank you.