Restoring Abdul Gafoor Mosque was not just a matter of repairing its architectural features, an exuberant mix of Moorish/Roman/Saracenic themes. It also required a massive engineering effort to correct the differential settlement of the structure. The creation of a full basement both accommodated the necessary structural work and allowed for a substantial expansion of the prayer spaces. All the loads of the old masonry footings are carried by an underpinning system consisting of micropiles, steel frames and a grid of reinforced concrete beams integrated with the existing brick piers on the ground floor. The interior of the new basement was designed to complement the mosque.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture