Masjid Negara, or National Mosque, is a modern contrast to the Friday Mosque (Masjid Jamek). To symbolize the aspirations of the newly independent Malaysia, the National Mosque of Malaysia - which was completed in 1965 - was built of reinforced concrete. Located on 13 acres of landscaped gardens, Masjid Negara can accommodate 15,000 worshippers. The original structure was designed by a team from the Public Works Department, UK architect Howard Ashley, and Malaysians Hisham Albakri and Baharuddin Kassim.
Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.
The main features of Masjid Negara are the 18-pointed star concrete main roof, and the 73-metre-high minaret. The umbrella, a ubiquitous item in the tropics, is a represented in the architecture: the main roof appears like an open umbrella while the cap of the minaret that of a folded one. The compounds are graced with reflecting pools and fountains.
When Masjid Negara was renovated in 1987, its the once-pink concrete roof is cladded in green and blue tiles. An underground passage leads to the the railway station along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin. Its unique modern design is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Islamic art calligraphy and ornamentation.
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