Bait Ur Rouf Mosque
Bait ur Rouf is a neighborhood mosque located at the northern end of Dhaka city.
Winning Project of the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
It is a small yet effective example of people's will towards a better living environment in the fastest growing city in the world. When government's lack of attention, plan or policy fail to respond to the growing need of urban dwellers people unite their will and resources toward a positive living environment that contribute to a healthy urban life. The mosque is built and operated with donation from the community. Thus the modest budget was crucial in dictating the material, construction and technology. Materials used were chosen based on low to zero maintenance. Use of local materials and craftsmen were primary. Thus brick is used as load bearing construction, kept at its raw state, form the outer envelope of the mosque housing the ancillary facilities including entrance and ablution. The bonding of the load bearing brick walls are designed as porous breathing walls that allow airflow into the prayer hall. The porosity created by the laying of brick allows natural ventilation into the space as well as ornate the façade depicting essence of the rich legacy of terracotta mosque architecture in Bengal in a contemporary expression.
