Cyberjaya's Eco-friendly Mosque the First Step to a 'Green' City

CYBERJAYA - Cyberjaya's eco-friendly mosque is the nation's first step in paving the way to a long-lasting and permanent 'green' city.

The Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah mosque is modern yet practical – it was designed to cater to the growing population of Cyberjaya by making use of the world’s natural resources which are light, air and water.

The eco-friendly mosque contains interesting elements that seem to be multi-functional. One of their innovative elements is the use of solar panels that generates its own electricity as well as providing shades for Muslims to pray on the roof.

There is a dome on the Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah mosque that is built using a double-glazed glass with space for heat to escape with the help of a large extractor fan. The rooms of the mosque are also surrounded by large glass windows that allow natural lighting to seep through.

Aside from that, the mosque used ‘old-fashioned’ green practices such as collecting rainwater through water harvesting that can be used to keep the mosque cool and also for ablution, washing and toilet facilities.

With its open-air surroundings, the multi-level mosque is expected to hold approximately 8300 people at most - taking into note that with Cyberjaya's growing population, they will also open up the rooftop for prayers in the future.

Cyberview Sdn Bhd, the developer behind the eco-friendly mosque, aimed for practicality, which meant ample space for car parks and facilities, including the ablution area. Usually hidden, they have designed the mosque as such so that anyone can take their wudhu (ablution) in whichever direction they enter.

Mr Abdul Aziz Andimori, the civil and structural project manager of Cyberview, explained that sustainability is one of their main aims for the mosque.

"With natural resources, the mosque relies on the circulation of the wind to keep the mosque cool," he said.

"On an average day, we would leave the water feature to be switched on to enhance a cooling effect. We also do no use solid materials. This is to enhance the cooling effect and encourage natural light to be used around the mosque, rather than relying on the lights and aircond," Mr Andimori continued.

A courtyard is also built in the middle of the mosque to allow natural light and air to come through.

The other components of the Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah mosque include the multi-purpose hall, the Imam's house, the bilal's house and the air conditioned prayer hall that can hold approximately 1200 people in Jemaah (congregational prayer).

The Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah mosque has even exceeded expectations and has earned the world's first Global Building Index (GBI) Platinum award, which has never been accomplished before.

The mosque also includes two sets of staircases, a lift and escalators; a rooftop with solar panels as another form of renewable energy recsource; well-ventilated male and female restrooms, cost-savvy energy-effiecient LED lighting; rooms for classes and to clean to bathe the deceased for final prayers; VIP rooms and eating and office areas.

There is only one minaret in the Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah mosque, unlike other mosques that have minarets. The minraret was designed in five components that stack each other to symbolise the five pillars of Islam.

Unlike other mosques, the simple and efficient design was to reflect Islam - the facade of Islamic architecture is displayed all over the mosque in hopes of showing the purity and progression of the religion in tropical Malaysia.

Cyberview Sdn Bhd worked along with the suggestions of His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor Sultan Shariuddin Idris Shah to build the Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah mosque to great success.