Musholla | Erik Petrus

Musholla. It is an Islamic sacred building, called "musholla", which is used for the five daily obligatory prayers and the recitation of the Koran. Musholla can take two forms. Either in the form of a separate room inside the buildings. For example, in public institutions, airports, family houses and the like, or as a separate building. The difference between a mosque and a musholla is in size, with the mosque serving mainly for the large communal congregational prayers held on Fridays. Mosques usually have a minbar (pulpit), we don't find this in a musholla. The musholla plays a very important role within the locality, as in addition to being a place for prayer, it becomes the cultural center of the locality, where various community activities take place. Especially in densely populated localities, this building plays a very important role with diverse support activities. The construction of a musholla is already a standard in Indonesia nowadays within larger ensembles, and it is also the main requirement of the city to include it in the design.

Musholla is located in Pangandaran. A picturesque seaside town on the southwest coast of Java, it captures the hearts of visitors with its beautiful beaches, azure seas and lush jungles. Behind the design is Erik Petrus, a Czech architect who is known for his iconic buildings that carry not only architectural elegance, but also a strong emotional atmosphere. His designs are a blend of innovation and a sensitive approach to space, creating unique and impressive buildings. His work in Indonesia highlights his ability to connect modern architecture with local culture and exotic nature. His projects bring not only visual aesthetics to the Indonesian environment, but also an atmosphere that appeals and leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

The musholla building is located next to the residential complex De Residence Pangandaran, which the architect also designed for an investor in the past. The main purpose of building the musholla was to thank both God and the local residents for building a residential complex on the neighboring land. The goal was also to create a local center for residents, which serves to gather for prayer or for various social activities. The construction has been enthusiastically received by the local residents, happily showing that Musholla is fulfilling its purpose as the spiritual and social core of the locality.

The mass of the building itself is based on a trapezoidal plot and is divided into two volumes - the chapel and the background. Around the inner prayer space, the chapel has an outdoor covered walkway clad in perforated bricks that protects the space from direct light and provides space for people to meet. Perforated bricks create a very interesting atmosphere in the interior, a play of light and shadow. The inner prayer space itself is elevated and topped by a cylindrical dome with a narrow cut-out window through which light enters the interior. The light that comes from above symbolizes the light from heaven and the presence of Allah. The incident light reinforces the impression that when a person prays, he is speaking to Allah. A narrow window like slit in the dome also shows the direction to Mecca to which one prays. The second volume of the building is the background of the neighboring residential complex De Residence Pangandaran, which adjoins the chapel from the back. It is a two-story building containing a laundry and staff facilities.