Jinnah Hospital Masjid

Located on the first right corner of the roundabout at JPMC (Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center), this grand mosque captures our sight at the first glimpse. First step into the masjid gives you a beautiful sense of serenity and peace. The ground floor covers a mosque of two floors, two ablutions, a separate ladies prayer area with residence and water tanks compriscing the above floor.

The ambiance of soothe is achieved by not only the planning but also the interior of the mosque. On entrance, we receive the grandeur of the hall enhanced by the ribbed ceiling while the entire floor is covered in white marble. The whiteness with grains of black restores the freshness and the sanctity of the place keeping the walls and the floor cool to the touch in the summer heat of Karachi. Two stairs on opposite ends upon entrance lead to the first floor which holds balconies accessed through doors beautifully encased in arches. With windows embedded column to column, it allows light and shadows to make reflections on the marble floor just like water, also highlighting the intricate details of the carved woodwork of doors which can also be seen in the Mehrab of the masjid.

The symmetrical elevation shows the entrance portal with central arch making it the focal point
while the form is flanged with arched balconies on the first floor repeating the element while providing a sense of rhythm and flow to break this stubborn and robust form of the masjid. The play of solid and voids through the use of windows and balconies on the exterior makes this building interesting and a bit complex to perceive while the inside is simple and open to the people coming. The splash of transparency of blue windows framed by brown wood around the pure white makes a visually soft combination in contrast to the heavy form.

The intermingling of structural attributes with the aesthetics of the design can be easily seen in the ribbed ceiling of the masjid making it visually interesting and beautiful all the while playing its role in the structural system with columns.

(Ar. Zainab Shabbir )