Bogor Musholla

The building will be used for a range of activities, including community events and training days as well as a Mushola (prayer room). The building consists of one main space adjacent to a small covered veranda and washroom and is designed to maximise natural daylight and ventilation to ensure the occupants feel comfortable. The building utilises locally sourced materials in interesting and contemporary ways to help shape the space and add texture and depth.

Durability and low maintenance was key to providing a long term solution that still brings joy to its occupants for many years to come. Interactive elements and bespoke design features such as the sliding door and centrally pivoting windows are integrated into the building design, particularly in the envelope. Three timber portal frame structures, clad with a multitude of different natural and local materials sit on top of cast concrete columns, raising the timber off the ground and ensuring its longevity. The dramatic and expressed structure adds a strong presence to the site, whilst the natural materials help to set it into the surroundings. A large truss spans between the frames, supporting the roof overhead. This type of structure provides the right balance of rigidity and flexibility to enable it to withstand seismic activity which occurs in the region. The timber structural frame is charred using the Shou Sugi Ban technique, which adds a layer of protection against termites and rot.

The project construction took place over the course of 6 weeks, with a team of 17 international participants from architecture and engineering schools/practices, working alongside local community members and volunteers on behalf of the CERCONDESO charity.