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The
Most Popular Library of Chiniot.
Location Chiniot, Pakistan
Architect/Planner Athar Tahir
Client Government of Punjab
Date 1990
Century 20th
Decade 1990s
Building Type educational
The five-storey height of the building dominates
surrounding structures. In plan, rooms are grouped
around the central hall or courtyard which is roofed
in glass. Stylistically, the building is a mixture
of Mughal, colonial and traditional elements. |
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| The
heavy mass of the walls and ceilings, the limited
number of shaded openings on façade, timber
balconies with lattice screens and the introvertive
plan are all traditional responses to the hot climate. |
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- the
living legacy |
| After
the advent of Islam in sixth century AD a new style
of construction came into being which was later
known as Islamic Architecture. It has its won significance
and a powerful influence all over the world. In
Asia we see many such buildings in Indo-Pak, Iran,
Turkey, China, Arabian countries and Central Asian
States.
In our region the Mughal period can be said as
the golden era which apart from other important
events, the art of construction and architecture
reached its climax especially in the regime of Shah
Jehan. |
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There
are several forts, castles, palaces, gardens, tombs
and mosques, which portray this art. In this context,
Taj Mahal at Agra is an example of no match, mosques
are also one of the most interesting buildings in
Islamic World. Among several famous mosques like,
Badshahi Masjid, Moti Masjid, Sunehri Masjid at Lahore,
Shahi Masjid at Chiniot, Masjid Mohabat Khan at Peshawar
Shahi Masjid at Delhi. Masjid Wazir Khan at Lahore
is one such glorious buildingsof the Mughal Era, constructed
by Ilam-ud-Deen Ansari, the Governor of Punjab under
Shah Jehan, the successor of Jahangir.
Ilam-ud-Deen Ansari, originally form Chiniot (a small
and old town on the left bank of River Chenab in Jhang
District of Punjab), became one of the most respectable
personality due to his knowledge and intellectual
approach, besides being a good physician who cured
Nur Jehan and was given the title of Wazir Khan.
Artisans from Chiniot excelled in designing and assisted
the construction & designing of Taj Mahal, The
Golden Temple, Shahi Masjid at Chiniot. Nowadays,
Chiniot is known for its carved furniture.
The Construction of this mosque started in 1934 and
took 7 years for completion.
The glorious mosque is made of bricks and faced with
gaily-colored glazed mosaic tiles.
It is justifiably famous for the colorful fresco and
tile decorations, which adorn both interior and exterior
of the building. The use of inlaid pottery decoration
in the wall panelling is remarkable. Watching closely,
it reveals that each section is a separate piece of
tile and the work in strictly inlay and not painted;
small bricks laid in Kankar time with a sprinkling
of red sandstone. The grills of the mosque are in
terra cotta. The mosque
is not a huge as the Shahi Mosque of Lahore. The
total area of the mosque is 279.5' x 159', while
the hall is 131.3' x 42'. On the corners of the
building three are elegantly erected octagonal minarets
measuring 107' in height. These minarets are decorated
with mosaic tiles and are an outstanding features
of art. On request one may get the permission to
climb 69 steps of a minaret to the place of muezzin.
The gallery offers a superb panorama of the old
city.
The prayer hall has five chambers;
each surmounted by a dome. The front wall of the
mosque is decorated with verses from Quran-a-Pak.
The sub halls are also elegantly decorated with
verses and tile work. In the central chamber there
is an artistically carved wooden pulpit for delivering
sermon.
The courtyard is flanked on three sides by 32 small
(cubicles hujrahs). In old times mosques served
as schools for religious students where they resided.
The floor is built in cut and dressed small brickwork
in 13 level was raised to 5 feet from its original
level, to overcome the drainage problem, the original
floor still exists 5 feet below.
For the embellishment of Wazir
Misque, many famous styles have been used such as
Fresco, Kashi Kari, Taza Kari (brick imitation),
vivid colors, Islamic calligraphy, geometrical patterns,
floral designs, and arabesque.
This living legacy is
an intricate masterpiece of work, which portrays
great devotion and sincerity of its builders and
designers. To keep this heritage in its pristine
beauty is the need of time.
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