Begun as a mosque and an Islamic school and student hostel, the centre grew to also comprise a music studio and, for income generation, office spaces, accommodations, and a sports field. The mosque is naturally ventilated and lighted, and the design is based on the form of the Kaaba: the perforated exposed-concrete exterior envelope or mashrabiyya surrounds the cubic prayer hall that accommodates 400 men on the lower floor and 350 women on the upper floor, and up to 3,000 additional worshippers on the exterior plaza. A double, solid-concrete wall features the mihrab, and provides sound insulation from an adjacent elevated highway. Funding was provided by community donations, and the architects and contractor contributed their services.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
