Towards Sustainable Architecture: Visualizing the Inwardness in Masjid Negara

Abstract

The Islamic way of life includes both the physical and spiritual realms juxtaposing the contemporary worldview which sees reality through the lens of secular humanism, concealing the Divine omnipresence. Consequently, the intricacies of the symbolic meaning on the transcendence of God become an abstruse discussion. In balance with the Malaysia education policy, among others; to develop individuals with strong belief in God, the study broadened its goal to nurture Muslim architecture students on mindfulness and the ability to express their spiritual thoughts towards sustainable architecture. Importantly, there is a gap in addressing the spiritual and religious views in the architectural syllabus. The study addresses this need by conducting a field sketching session at the Masjid Negara Kuala Lumpur. Observations on 35 participants revealed that the process of sketching had aided them to analyses the sustainability in architecture from the spiritual dimension of Islam. Sustainability is not limited to the human realm that is envisaged        and interpreted in the mind but it is immensely connected to the awareness of God’s existence, and to live according to God’s will. Mindfulness of spirituality would consolidate the beliefs to respond Islamically on sustainable architecture in the dominance of Western cultures.

Keywords: sustainability, field sketching, Islamic spirituality, symbolism, mindfulness