SPATIAL ORGANISATION

Masjid Lama Setapak displayed simple spatial planning of the prayer hall, which was meant to accommodate up to 50 people at a time. The layout plan of the masjid is in square form and is symmetrically oriented in terms of its dimension, form and function of space. The main prayer hall is the major and largest space of the mosque, with no permanent structure to separate male’s and female’s prayer halls. The mosque built in 1879 originally only consisted of the main prayer hall. It is convinced that the ablution area was located separately from the main building structure. Meanwhile, the interior spaces of the masjid in 1933 consisted of the main prayer hall, mihrab and foyer. Eventually, a renovation to enlarge the masjid was held in 1971 to increase the capacity of jemaah, which consists of male’s prayer hall, female’s prayer hall, spillover, storage, toilet, ablution area and imam’s room before being demolished to retain its original form in 2006. The current layout of the masjid indicates that it was designed in grids, starting with the main entrance at the southeast with a staircase, a foyer that serves as a transitional area, a main prayer hall and a mihrab.

Roof

Masjid Lama Setapak portrays its uniqueness of design through the pyramidal roof structure that was influenced by Nusantara Architecture. The roof style, also called as Bumbung Meru, is a two-tiered pyramidal roof that helps in terms of thermal insulation and ventilation through the gap in between the two roofs. Along the perimeter of the roof, a series of decorative crenellations was identified that features the influence of Mughal and Moorish style that was brought by the British. As for the upper layer, fascia boards were built along the roof eaves with a complex design.

The material of the roof finishes was once changed into zinc roof in 1911 replacing the original rumbia roof. It is believed that the roof was replaced again using asbestos sheets before it was changed into terracotta tiles due to the conservation works done to the masjid. However, the inner part of the roof structure remains the original timber structure which is still intact and holding fast.

In order to embellish the masjid with Islamic architectural features, Masjid Lama Setapak has arches installed on the circumference of the masjid and the main prayer hall. Nonetheless, the arches were not in the common style of that vernacular architecture. They were believed to belong to Mughal architecture, where this architectural style was brought by the British and has been adapted to reflect the Islamic characteristics in Tanah Melayu.