Royal Mosque of Sultan Sulaiman

Masjid Diraja Sultan Sulaiman

Heritage Building Analysis

Architecture Culture & History 2
ARC 1323

Nurul Jannah Masturah Jailani Gertrude Lee Trevor Hoareau Kee Ting Ting

Pn Norhayati

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Building Facts 1.2 Contextual Conditions 1.3 Concept and Design

2 Building Inventory 2.1 Stained Glass 2.2 Ornamentation 2.3 Domes 2.4 Minaret 2.5 Arches 2.6 Faade 2.7 Ribbed vaulting 2.8 Ionic column

3 Conclusion

Introduction Masjid Sultan Sulaiman Jamiur Rahmah, also known as Masjid Sultan Sulaiman, was named after the fifth Sultan of Selangor which is Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah (1898-1938). This mosque is located at Jalan Kota Raja, Klang, Selangor. This mosque was designed by the British architect Leofic Kesteven. This mosque was completed in the year 1932 and was officially opened by the fifth Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah on 1934. Besides being a place for worship for the Islam and a sign of the Supremacy of the King, it was also to introduce the idea whereby the mosque act as the complex of religion which has the administrative body, the educational body and others during the early 19th century. Other famous old buildings which are around the same area as Masjid Sultan Sulaiman are Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah, The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery and Istana Alam Shah. Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah was initially a palace which was donated by Almarhum Sultan Hishamuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Sulaiman to become a college until today. His hope was that this college would produce scholars who is loyal to Allah and can guide the community towards pure Islamic teaching and values. The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery was dedicated in honour of his late father, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. Lastly, Istana Alam Shah is the official palace of the Sultan of Selangor. This palace was built in 1905 during the rule of Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, fifth Sultan of Selangor.

Figure 1.1 Masjid Sultan Sulaiman

Figure 1.2: The Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery Source: www.thestar.com.my

Figure 1.3 Istana Alam Shah, Klang, Selangor Source: www.asiaexplorers.com

As mention, the architect, Leofic Kesteven was appointed by the British to design the mosque. He designed it in such a way that the mosques architecture has an influence of Islamic Architecture and the combination of Western Art Deco and Neoclassical cathedral style. The original design of the building is like a church plan, whereby the design is like a cross bar when viewed from above. This is due to the fact that the mosque could be converted into a church if the British were to consider colonizing Malaysia completely. The building is made out of stone, as this was under the influence of the British and Indian Muslim. The most noticeable feature of the plan is the central plan. This plan uses two main axes of the axis of the East-West and North- South. There are eight small towers around the mosque and a large tower in the middle and higher entrance from the main porch. The tower is also decorated with yellow dome at the summit.

Building Inventory Elements of the Building Stained Glass The mosque was designed and built during the British colonization in the 19th century. There was a theory that the British architect, although the mosque as a gift to the Sultan, he had designed it in a way that resembles a church so that if the British managed to colonize Malaysia completely, they can just convert it into church. One of the elements that were implemented in the design of the mosque was stained glass. Stained glass is a common element found in the architecture of churches and cathedrals to light symbolizing God and the colors from the glass symbolizing jewels embellishing the Heavenly City of Jerusalem. Its the only form of art, which is observed through refracted and not reflected light, so its appearance changes according to the time of the day and season of the year. Stained glass can be arranged to create a figural design and painting or set contrasting pieces in a framework like a mosaic. Although the British wanted it to resemble church, they had to respect the Islamic style that had been used for mosques. Normally, stained glass windows would depict pictures of religious individuals but in Islam it is highly discouraged. It is haram to make illustrations or portrayals of God or the Prophets.

Ornamentation An overall minimalistic building, the mosque does contain certain ornamentations, predominantly geometrical patterns but there are traces of arabesque on plain solid walls. Mosques tend to be simple and undecorated. Lavish and extravagant ornaments were dissuaded because its considered as boasting. But there are grand mosques in the world that were built as a political statement or were converted from churches, synagogues and temples. In Islamic architecture, geometric patterns are generated from repeating, combining, interlacing and arranging simple shapes into different combinations to form complex patterns. The Royal Mosque of Sultan Sulaiman consists of geometric patterns that can be found on the walls and fences of the mosque and on floor tiles in the courtyard. The ornamentation used was not complex, mostly resembling stars or flowers. There are also hints of arabesque, an intricate ornament composed of vegetal and geometric patterns along with calligraphic ornament of an inscription.

Minaret Minarets, or manara, are towers that can be found attaches to the mosque. The largest minaret and tallest is placed in the middle of the walkway, is surrounded by 8 smaller minarets, all adorned with yellow domes, were added on after the British colonization.

The development of minarets in Islamic architecture was influenced by several sources, including lighthouses and church towers. Although its main function is to give call to prayers and summon Muslims to pray there are minarets built tall and lavished with ornamentation as a political statement. In the medieval Islamic world, muezzins did the call to prayer from the roof of the mosque but nowadays the calls are made through loudspeakers than a muezzin.

Domes The most obvious elements of the mosque are the domes. Domes are elements of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. It is a common element found in Islamic architecture.

Figure 2.1 The Domes of Masjid Sultan Sulaiman