Mahad-u-Zahrah Project, Al Jamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy, Karachi, Pakistan

This building is part of the Al Jamea-tus-Saifiyah Campus in Surat, Karachi, Mumbai and Nairobi.

This building is designed for the learning and recital of the Quran. Such a building has never existed in the entire history of Islam and A.jivanjee Architects took this challenge on the 1st project in Surat.

The site of this project is in a dense urban area on the edge of the campus. The challenge was to create a viable landscaped atmosphere in which the students could peacefully undertake all the tasks.

This building comprises of 4 main sections.

1.A Qaat (hall) where a large number of people can gather to hear the recital of the Quran. It is also used as a hall where senior students who have reached their peak level in the recital of the quran can come individually and recite in this hall. The hall is also domed and embellished is Fatimi artwork.

2.Private rooms where a small group of students can use with their teacher for the practice of the recital of the quran. The rooms surround a garden court yards at all levels to provide soothing and peaceful atmosphere to relax the students.

3.A Walkway Area. It was determined by the expert at the Academy that the best way to learn the quran is to practice while walking. A landscaped courtyard was created with a water body in its center where students can walk around and learn and recite the Quran. This can be a very tiring process and so the water body was designed to have water movement and live fish in them. When tired the students can sit on the sides and observe the movement of the water and fish to sooth them.

4.Sound attenuation Studios. These are located in Surat and in Nairobi at basement level.
Here students voices are tested and they are trained to achieve the correct sound attenuation for the recital of the Quran.

Mahad-u-Zahrah karachi View-2

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