National Mosque

of Kuala Lumpur
 Introduction
 National Mosque or Masjid Negara embodies a contemporary
expression of traditional Islamic art, calligraphy and ornamentation.
 Its most striking feature is the multi-fold umbrella-like roof which
symbolises the aspirations of an independent nation.
 Standing prominently against the skyline is the sleek and stylish
73m high minaret.
 The building itself includes a grand hall, a mausoleum, a library,
offices, an open courtyard and a minaret.
Introduction

The Mausoleum

Umbrella-like roof shape

Grand Hall Open Courtyard Minaret

Introduction
 The mosque stands diagonally opposite the Kuala
Lumpur Old Railway.
 The location was chosen by the first PM of Malaysia,
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Hais.
 The National Mosque was completed in 1965 at a cost of
more than RM10 million.
 The architects were Howard Ashley, Hisham Albakri,
Baharuddin Kassim.
History
 On 31 August 1957, Malaysia gained its
independence from the British.

 On 30 July 1957, the Federal Executive

Council had a meeting and came out with an
idea to build a national mosque as a symbol
of the country’s independence.
History
 On 5 March 1958, Chief Ministers of the eleven
states in the Federation of Malaya proposed to
name the mosque Masjid Tunku Abdul Rahman
Putra Al-Haj, in recognition of Yang Teramat
Mulia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj’s
efforts in guiding the country to gaining
independence. However, Tunku refused this
honour and therefore he named it Masjid Negara
in thanksgiving for the country’s peaceful
independence without bloodshed.
History
 In 1987, the mosque underwent a major
renovations, and the pink concrete roof is now
clad in green and blue tiles.
 In 2005, the National Mosque underwent a minor
reconstruction (consists of a prayer hall,
mausoleum, library, and offices). Its prayer hall,
designed in the shape of an eighteen-pointed
star to represent the 13 states of Malaysia and
the five central Pillars of Islam.
Architecture
Main prayer hall
and Design
The carpet floor absorbs sound and noise,
giving the prayer hall a good acoustic as the
prayer hall is a sacred space for prayer.
Is stunningly grand as
compared with its minimal
façade.
Lighting enhanced the
ambience while the design
is still following the design
of a basic mosque dome.
The drum of the roof is
filled with stained glass
windows. Besides keeping
direct sunlight out, it also
adds to the atmosphere of
the hall.
Architecture
Garden
and Design
The design of a garden of a mosque, reflects
the definition of a paradise of that particular
Muslim community.

In the garden of the National Mosque, a lot of

fountains in the Islamic star shape (eight
pointed) dominate the complex.

A lot of plants and small gazebos with stainless

steel post and beams are also found all around
the compound.

The pebble washed ground mixed with granite

tiles and concrete in the Islamic star shape
design further enhanced the expression of the
garden.
Architecture
Minaret
and Design
In the olden days, minarets are actually
fire towers to mark the position of a
mosque in the vast desert as the original
function of a mosque is actually rest
stops.

This minaret is 73 metres high and

marked the location of the National
Mosque and can be seen for afar.

Speakers are also installed on the top of

the minaret to broadcast prayers and
also call out to the muslims during
prayer time.

It sits on the self reflecting pool in the

middle of the mosque just beside the
main prayer hall.
Architecture
Library and offices
and Design

The libraries and offices and located outside the prayer hall.

The office is connected to the prayer hall building and the façade
is covered with the Islamic motives.

The library is further from the prayer hall but is accessible on the
same floor. It has a stunning concrete folded roof but is arranged
parallel as opposed to the main umbrella folded roof.
 Architecture
Mausoleum
and Design
Under the 7-folded concrete roof are
the tombs of the deceased political
heroes.

The grand hall is tiled with granite

and limestone, giving it a stunning
grand look.

Around the mausoleum is a moat

which is a stream of water
surrounding the mausoleum.

A trees and flowers decorate the

garden around it. There are tombs in
the garden around the mausoleum
as well.
Significance
To mark independence
of Malaya as the mosque
was proposed as one of
the big projects to
celebrate independence
back in 1957.
Significance
To commemorate Tunku
Abdul Rahman for his splendid
effort in obtaining the
independence for Malaya. The
mosque was originally
supposed to be named after
him, but Tunku showed his
humility, patriotism and
gratitude to the nation by
naming it the National Mosque
(Masjid Negara).
.
 Significance

To express humility of Islam as the National

mosque is not like other mosques with a big
dome. The flat umbrella-fold roof is lower than
most of the buildings around it with only a
minaret as a landmark for the mosque.
Significance
To house the political heroes that once
contributed to the nation. Their deceased
bodies will be buried under the mausoleum
grandly and will be honoured and respected.
Significance

To showcase our own ability in architecture

as the National Mosque has a modern design
combined with the Islamic principles.
Significance
To express our ambition and aspiration
towards a modern country but not
forgetting the importance of religion in our
daily lives.
FIN.