Masjid Ar-Rahma
Mosque Architecture in Pakistan
Rahma [Mercy] Mosque is situated in the North Eastern Region of Pakistan, in a small village outside the city of Mardan. Mercy [Rahma رَحمة] is linked to the Arabic word for womb [Rahm رَحم], and there are numerous references in the Qur’an of God’s mercy encompassing all things.
Identifying this key theme of mercy, our approach sought to bring a mixture of both familiar and innovative gestures of mercy found in prayer, community and space.
The Mercy Mosque's arched envelope articulates the scheme to; denote the direction of prayer, Qibla; and aid the mindfulness of God, Khushu, leading to an elevated sense of place. The curved perforated brick formation facilitates the inviting vision of the mosque which is built on the legacy of mercy and one that looks to shape the future of the community it serves.
Rahma mosque is built and operated purely with donations from the community locally and internationally, it is a great example of people coming together unifying will and resources towards fulfilling a deeper collective need. Considering the modest budget, we wanted to design and build using local materials, construction methods and technology to give back to the community an enhanced native architecture that becomes a beacon and a hub enabling them to flourish.
