The Chughtai Family being fervent Muslims are descendents of a well-known famiy of builders and artists and have sought to create a place of worship and school for the neighbourhood children, and to also fulfil their late father's aspiration for such a centre.

Street view showing the Mosque entrance and shops in front
Street view showing the Mosque entrance and shops in front © Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Three levels of spatial organisaton are employed to lead from public streets to the prayer hall,  in addition to the mosque, the project also comprises two shops, which are rented to supplement the mosque's operating expenses. The two shops and the minaret mark the street façade. Entry to the interior courtyard and ablution facilities is through an arched portal that serves as the minaret's base. A small prayer chamber lies off the courtyard and is surmounted by a white dome. A wooden jali (lattice screen) terminates the end wall of this small chamber and lies between the two shops on the street façade.

View of the Courtyard
View of the Courtyard © Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Three cusped-arch portals facing the courtyard lead to the prayer hall. The mihrab is incised into and protrudes from the qibla wall. A small caretaker's quarters lies next to the prayer hall, and can also be entered through the courtyard. Burned brick was used for construction of the walls, arches, and dome. Most of the walls are left unfinished; standing in rich contrast to the rich ceramic tile details on the cornice and minaret. The minaret is rendered in grey cement mortar; the entry and prayer hall portals and the dome are whitewashed.