The existence of a two-hundred-year-old mosque was the generator of the design. However, from the first instance, the architect felt this should be more than a place of worship for a people for whom religion is already central to their daily lives. Here was an opportunity to open up hitherto blocked or unused spaces and make it accessible to the community.

Inspired by the simplicity of the first mosque in Islam, the prophet’s mosque, the Red Mosque takes on a true pavilion form, open visually on all sides. Large eighteen-foot-tall apertures let in welcome breeze, obviating the need for air-conditioning in a climate where summers are hot and humid. A shallow body of water encircles the main prayer space, separating it from the adjacent garden and plaza and offering micro-climatic cooling.

This concept of freeness continues in the structure itself: The roof is a series of slabs separated by a light gap and held in place by columns branching out like trees to hold adjacent sections. In straight perspective, these appear to form arches, a subtle reference to traditional examples, not unlike the old mosque which it faces to its west. The slabs rise and bulge at the center to form an ovoid form, giving a larger central space. Underneath, the mihrab and mimbar are simply delineated, visible from long distances because of the wall-free design. Bathed in light, the tall scale of the interior is not designed to overwhelm but to bring in the colors of adjacent greens as well the reddish brown of the older structure.

In an area where there is much pollution, noise and visual chaos, the mosque and its environs are conceived as a sanctuary of peace and simplicity. Palette of materials is limited: exposed red concrete for structure and local red terrazzo for floors. So are architectural elements: columns, slabs and a tall glazing to protect from cold winters or dust when not in use. The open spaces are articulated unambiguously, leaving generous spaces for the gathering of friends or simply for the eye to travel or the mind to rest.