by Aaksen’s Masjid Al-Kahf is composed of steel and gypsum
Aaksen Responsible Architecture addresses the challenges faced by Poco Dedeng, a rural village in Indonesia, through the innovative design of Masjid Al-Kahf. Situated in an area with poor infrastructure and limited access to clean water, the village’s former mosque, built in the 1960s with zinc and bamboo walls, presented constraints. In response, the prefabricated Al-Kahf Mosque emerged as a practical solution to not only accommodate religious activities but also address the water scarcity issue. The construction, necessitating careful planning due to challenging site conditions, employs dry materials like steel and gypsum to minimize potential damage during transportation.
all images courtesy of Aaksen Responsible Architecture
Masjid Al-Kahf project follows Sustainable Design practices
The collaborative effort involves the local community, including individuals inexperienced in construction processes, showcasing a construction technique that enables the completion of the 9×9 m mosque in just three weeks. This efficiency allows the community to utilize the mosque promptly, particularly for Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Aaksen Studio‘s design incorporates a rainwater harvesting system, leveraging Indonesia’s tropical conditions, ensuring a sustainable supply of clean water crucial for worship. The harvested rainwater serves ablution needs, contributing to the purification process. Additionally, the purified ablution waste water proves beneficial for cultivating plants surrounding the mosque, emphasizing the project’s commitment to supporting the broader ecosystem. Masjid Al-Kahf exemplifies a practical and insightful approach to address the intersection of religious practices, and sustainable design.
Masjid Al-Kahf stands in Poco Dedeng, a rural village in Indonesia
the prefabricated structure emerges as a practical solution to accommodate religious activities
the construction employs dry materials like steel and gypsum
one of the project’s main goals is to address the water scarcity issue
