I. Early Timber Mosque along Pesisir

  Buddhist and Hindu erected some construction firstly to store Buddha’s relics, secondly to put Buddha’s image, and thirdly to enable monks to study, talk and live under the roof. Therefore, both religions did not need specious roofed building for prayers. But, probably kings needed it when they held a reception for important figures, and community needed it when they had gathering or some social activities. In Java, it was Pendopo, an open reception hall located in front of the palace or high ranking officials’ residence. Central part of the structure is supported by four pieces of Soko Guru (Fig. 14), master piller, and it is surrounded by four side eaves [Bambang 2005: 85-86] (Fig. 15).

Fig. 14 Soko Guru and Mihrab, Demak Mosque               Fig. 15 Demak Mosque, originally built in 1481

Fig. 16 Banten Mosque, with front building                    Fig. 17 Tranquver Mosque, Malacca

Fig. 18 Agung Mosque, Yogyakarta, built in 1758                 Fig. 19 Timber Post and Beam, Yogyakarta Agung Mosque

The Pendopo like gathering hall was possibly converted to Mosque in early stage, and enlarged to accept large number of players soon or later, then the central roof was lifted higher to give heavenly image to the structure. Four sided eaves did not extended further due to availability of long timber for beam, but multiply laid to cover larger space. Meanwhile, wall was erected along outer pillers to close praying hall from outside. Therefore, in early stage of development of timber mosque, surrounding wall was free standing, borne no load. Eaves rafters were connected to upper roof girder directly without any gap. Present Demak Mosque (Fig. 14, 15), supposedly built in 1481 underwent several times of restoration work, and changed its form and look. Original Javanese timber mosque form may be seen in Banten mosque(Fig. 16) and Malacca mosque (Fig. 17), and they are relatively small according to local moslem population if compared with Javanese Agung Mosque.

In Indonesia under Dutch rule, each region was administered by Dutch Resident or Bupati, a Dutch appointed local chief,who formed local administration center with open square and city mosque, following Javanese urban tradition [David 2002]. The open square is called Alun Alun, and city mosque Agung Mosque (Fig. 18). Although the mosque building is more grandeur and simpler than previous one (Fig. 16, 17), the style is mostly same, just enlarged and standardized. However, the outer partition wall and timber pillers were easily replaced by bearing wall (Fig. 19), while roof remained hipped form as seen in Aceheen Mosque, Penang  (Fig. 20). As minaret was free from local architectural culture, it was constructed by masonry with various design.

II. Conclusion

Mosque architecture appeared in coastal area of Southeast Asia and Southern China in 11th century. First attempt to build masonry mosque with domes failed due to luck of techniques and knowledge. Soon, they imitated a local gathering building for their preying, that was timber construction with square plan. During Dutch colonial role in the 18th century, Javanese cities were rearranged following a specific urban form, in which grand mosque of specific style was laid out on west side of Grand Square.

However, to give roof on large space by single structure needed another construction method. It was brought by European colonial power with new style, Euro-Saracenic. It was the first substantial single structure mosque in South east Asia, followed by Modernism style mosque. The mosque design in Malaysia was much free, while Indonesia had standardised tired roof timber structure especially in Java before the WWII and eagerly sought modernism style for the mosque after the independence.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    This paper is dedicated to late Prof. Honrado Fernandez, former Dean of School of Architecture, University of Philippines in token of friendship.

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