Key takeaways
- Plan for Jumu'ah and Eid crowds, not daily prayers.
- Heating, cooling, solar and sound are far cheaper to build in than to add later.
- Spend craft budget where worshippers see it most: the mihrab, entrance and dome.
A successful mosque project starts with three early decisions: the capacity it must hold on Jumu'ah, the building services it needs, and where the craft work will make the most difference. Getting these right before design avoids costly changes later.
Capacity
Size the prayer halls for the largest regular gathering. Basements and upper floors can add capacity on a small plot, as on our G-11 mosque and madrasa, which holds about 2,000 worshippers on 3 kanal.
Building services
- Centralised heating and cooling
- Solar power to reduce running costs
- A digital sound system for Azan and khutbah
- CCTV and good lighting for security
- Adequate wudu areas and drainage
Craft
Calligraphy, jali, carved timber and painted ornament give a mosque its character. Focus them on the mihrab wall, the main entrance and the dome, where every worshipper sees them.
