Long view of the east verandah
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roof. It is a connoid shell barrel dome of concrete. finished with glass mosaic.
Shaped like on unfurled umbrella. the roof is about 200 ft. in diameter and 84 ft. high from the floor to the appex. It is 6in. thick in the facia and tapers to 21⁄2 in. at the top. The supports are 16 columns, each 3 ft. in diameter. Glass and white gold mosaic finish to the roof, gives it a smooth light pink appearance.
Beneath the roof is а huge aluminium rosette with 21 Koranic lettering centre piece.
The interior of the hall is decorated with a band of Koranic verses writ- ten in Thulus running along the four walls just above the doors. These Koranic inscriptions are 2ft. high and are finished in gold with a background of blue glass mosaic imported from Italy.
Columns have a decorative terrazo facing, while the floor is carpeted from wall to wall with soft, blue car- pet imported from Scotland. Stained glass of various hues decorates the triangular fanlight windows under the edge of the roof. All these con- tribute to an atmosphere of calm and serenity inside the hall.
Also inside the grand hall is a beautifully decorated gallery which is for use by women and visitors who wish to see the interior of the mos- que. On the gallery directly opposite the Mihrab (the place where the Imam leads the prayer) are specially built cabins for radio and television broadcasting.
This gallery is a cantilevered struc- ture projecting from the four walls with a circular inner edge. The inner side of the gallery is decorated with aluminium grillwork with its pattern based on the Sarasinic design found in the Taj Mahal and Paterphur Sikri in India. while the outer side is sur- rounded by terrazo grillwork.
Far East Architect & Builder January, 1966
View between concrete parasols over the central courtyard
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