The city of Barisal in southern Bangladesh was historically nicknamed ‘Venice of the East’, where land is crisscrossed by innumerable rivers, canals and ponds. It is in one of its villages called Agarpur that the client planned to build a mosque in an area populated by period buildings, partially preserved or in ruins. The architect, being fascinated by the visual weight of the neighbouring older structures, sought to create an architecture of mass, made light only by light. 

The mosque is built entirely of hand-made bricks, not unlike the older buildings next to it. It has a single interior space of modest proportions, congruent with the needs of a family prayer hall. Additional open-air prayer space is towards the pond onto which it overlooks, and where steps go down to the water.

As one enters the mosque, one is greeted with a space which grows taller towards the direction of prayer. Here, amidst thick walls and in a space wrapped entirely in the warmth of brick, one may find moments of peace for prayer and meditation.