Rising From The Rubble: 

Masjid Baitul Mughni, A Community’s Resilience of Rebuilding

Located in Kapu Hamlet, surrounded by paddy fields and coconut plantations at the foot of Mount Rinjani in North Lombok, Baitul Mughni Lombok Mosque serves as the heart of the Al-Istiqomah Islamic boarding school and as a community center for the hamlet. After the devastating 2018 earthquake, which destroyed 80% of North Lombok’s buildings, including the old mosque, we realized the need for a new structure that can withstand earthquakes, given North Lombok’s vulnerability to earthquakes due to its geological location.

Click to see bits of the process with the local community.

Collaborating with the local community and timber construction experts, we aim to build the mosque together, with students, their parents, school alumni, and hamlet residents all contributing from the early stage to completion of the construction. Programming and zoning were collaboratively designed with the local community to ensure it meets their needs. Workshops also addressed challenges related to design details, construction, craftsmanship.

Mosque rebuilding journey in chronological order.

To design an earthquake-resistant building, we found inspiration in the local wisdom from Lombok traditional wooden structures, which were among the few structures to survive the earthquake. These structures use flexible wooden joints, which can better withstand the tremors compared to rigid constructions. We chose coconut wood as the primary structural material from neighboring plantations, complemented by ulam and cempaka wood. By adapting the raised platform structure of traditional buildings, we positioned the main prayer hall on the upper floor and utilized the ground floor as a multi-purpose room. A grand staircase connects the prayer area to an open space at the front of the mosque, which also doubles as a makeshift stage or amphitheater during special events.

The mosque has not only withstood multiple earthquakes, but has also become a thriving community center, such as holding COVID-19 vaccine administering during the pandemic, and offering a shelter that strengthens the bonds of the community.

[PDW]