Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels
KAMPUNG KLING MOSQUE
Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia - April 2014 (A UNESCO Heritage Site)
I have always like the architecture of the mosques in Malacca. Instead of domes they have tiered roofs which have an unique beauty of their own. These seem to have the Chinese influence from Malacca's past and yet with that touch of local Malacca Malay architecture they don't look really Chinese. It's a blend of culture that has come together to give Malacca's mosques a distinct look of their own.
Built in 1748, the Kampung Kling Mosque situated in the Heritage Zone has led the way in terms of design for many of the new mosques in Malacca - a design of two tiered green roofs that are easily recognisable. This mosque is so named as Kampung Kling was formerly an Indian village of early days Indian traders.
This here is a look of the mosque from an architectural point of view.
At first look, the roof may look Chinese but it sharp slopes hint of a Sumatran influence. The roof eaves are also decorated with wooden carvings akin to those of Malay houses. The hip concrete edging are similar to those at the entrance steps of Malacca Malay houses.
The minaret may look like a Chinese pagoda but in place of the tiered roofs associated with pagodas, horizontal edge mouldings makes it looks tiered.
A towering look of the minaret.
Within the main prayer hall takes up a large part of the compound. Corinthian columns line the perimeter corridor and entrance foyer. Symmetrical arches line the perimeter walls of the pray hall and also the roof of the entrance foyer.
Tiles of Portuguese design decorate the risers of the entrance steps and perimeter low wall of the raised main prayer hall.
Colourful glazed flora tiles at the bases of columns.
English chandeliers hang from the roof of the perimeter corridors.
Low English design wrought iron railings at the edge of the Main Prayer Hall perimeter corridor.
Even much detailing has gone into the design of a "simple" door archway. Elaborate timber carving adorns the arch while floral trimmings decorate the edge of the arch. At the centre is a red plaque with Jawi inscription from the Koran.
The Main Prayer Hall is a merging of cross-culture architectural influences.
Corinthian columns hold up symmetrical arches. To one side is a wooden pulpit of Indian-Chinese design. European chandeliers hang from the ceiling and colourful floral cornices decorate the edges of the ceiling. The floor is paved with Ming Blue tiles.
It is a mix of culture that has uniquely and wonderfully come together.
Steps lined with colourful Portuguese wall tiles lead up to the abulation pool.
A look at the abulation pool shows Moorish columns holding up the roof; the Malay kampong-style carved trimmings line its eaves. At the centre an English looking fountain feeds the pool with water.
Close up view of the fountain.
The entrance to the mosque is a simple and unassuming doorway from Jalan Tukang Emas, which is also know as Harmony Street as places of worship of three religion lies close to each other, i.e. the Kampung Kling Mosque, Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
A night view of the tiered roof.
A night view of the minaret.
Near the entrance is a sign that gives a brief account of the mosque.
KAMPUNG KLING MOSQUE
Jalan Tukang Emas, Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia.
GPS: 2.196896,102.247569
View Kampong Kling Mosque, Malacca in a larger map
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