THE ROLE OF MOSQUES IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: BOSNIA AND MALAYSIA COMPARED
Abstract
Mosques play a vital role in Muslim communities, extending beyond places of worship to function as social, educational, and cultural hubs fostering identity and sustainability. Despite their significance, many modern Mosque struggle with inefficient spatial utilization and high energy demands, undermining their roles. This study conducts a comparative analysis of two iconic Mosques, the Federal Territory Mosque in Malaysia and the Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque in Bosnia. By employing a qualitative case study approach. This paper proposes specific contributions to the field of sustainable religious architecture, (1) comparative assessment framework in occupancy ratio, energy consumption, sustainability, and urban planning integration. (2) Demonstrating Mosque typology significant impact on its performance. (3) Synthesizing energy audit data to identify design interventions to balance religious and cultural authenticity with energy goals. The findings highlight key architectural issues, the Federal Territory Mosque reflects a grand-scale design, resulting in underutilization and high energy dependency, while the Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque exemplifies a community-centered approach with efficient space use and passive environmental strategies. The study emphasizes the necessity of adopting adaptive architectural solutions that align with cultural and religious significance while incorporating modern sustainability practices. This research provides actionable design recommendations to regulate sustainable religious architecture.