MAYOR HANIF JAME MOSQUE | Shatotto

Description:

Located adjacent to the Azimpur graveyard in Lalbagh, a historical area established by the Mughals over 400 years ago, is the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Jame Mosque. Built almost entirely out of locally-sourced brick, on land belonging to the Dhaka South City Corporation. Much of the design was inspired by the Mughal Mosques in nearby areas.

A key feature derived from the Mughal Mosque was the “Shaan” – an extended open-to-sky terrace attached to the entrance of the main hall that also functions as a threshold space between the bustling street to the south and the serene calm of the Azimpur graveyard to the north. Philosophically, the Shaan is a representation of the connection between the terrestrial city, the celestial graveyard, and its own Mughal origins. It is a symbolic confluence of space and time. West of the Shaan is a prayer hall featuring a frosted glass floor segment which also functions as a flanked mehrab, a brick jail (net) on the south facade of the hall to filter the noise from the street while simultaneously allowing in summer winds and the fragrance from flower plants. The skylight and floor lights are arranged in Qatar lines to provide unobtrusive lighting that also guides devotees during prayer. The attached minaret (tower) by the south entrance replaces the traditional minar design with a rectangular design to accommodate an elevator shaft for accessibility.

The bridge to the north, inspired by the “Pul sirāt” mentioned in the Surah Maryam from the Qur’an, runs Parallel to the graveyard and connects the upper levels of the main building, forming a frame of glass and steel that frames the graveyard beyond.

The east wing contains the women’s prayer space, living quarters for management, and a naturally ventilated hybrid ablution space. This mosque serves as a departure from traditional mosques in both physical design and philosophical motivations, combining old and new ideas into a more contemporary concept.