Simple Designs of Soko Tunggal Mosque, Yogyakarta

Hi, architect and design lover... it's me again, Titis who loves travelling. Some time ago when I was visiting the Taman Sari tourist attraction in Yogyakarta, when returning home, I saw a small mosque located just to the left before the entrance, or the counter. So, I remembered that when I entered Taman Sari, I went home to stop by the mosque for a moment because it was prayer time.

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SOKO TUNGGAL MOSQUE

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Do you know the meaning of SOKO TUNGGAL? It is Javanese which means one pillar. If philosophised, I think it's a form of divinity, which leads to the idea that God is one. And there is an inscription of the inauguration of the mosque, which was on Wednesday 28 February 1973, and was inaugurated directly by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX. So how many years old is this mosque?

Why do I really notice this mosque? Yeps... because of its shape that seems to be hidden behind the hustle and bustle of the tourists, and also the simple design that actually seems to have authority. So, let's take a tour of this 52-year-old mosque.

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• THE GATE IS SIMPLE AND HAS AN ANTIQUE FEEL

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The gate consists of two large doors located in the centre, and on the right and left sides there are also single doors for visitors to pass through on a daily basis.

Apparently, the centre door is only opened when there is a big event at the mosque. x And if not, the centre gate is padlocked.

• REST HALL FOR TRAVELLERS

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This is what I noticed first when I went through the gate. There is a large hall on the left side that is used specifically for tourists' rest. Obviously, the local government must be very concerned about its citizens, including tourists. Since Yogyakarta is a city with a lot of tourist visits both domestic and foreign, a resting place like the one held by the Soko Tunggal Mosque is very useful.

• FLOOR THAT STILL USES FULL TILES

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From the front of the gate area, in front of the semi-open outdoor prayer area, as well as the prayer room, all the floors use the same colour of tiles. Pale orange. Why do I think this floor has a more solid impression, huh? I also lately prefer designs that use tiles for the floor.

• FULL WOOD FRAME ON THE ROOF

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I took a picture of the outer and inner roofs, all compact using wood and without a ceiling. So we can still see the framework of the roof and immediately see the materials used for the roof. Some are made of gypsum, some are roof tiles. The outside fence is also compact using a wooden fence painted in a matching colour.

• SOKO TUNGGAL

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Here it is ... the origin of the naming of the mosque. Remember at the beginning I said the meaning of Soko Tunggal is one pillar. And this is the pillar in this mosque that only has one seed and is located right in the middle of the hall of the main room of the mosque. This pole is made of sturdy wood painted with varnish and some parts have carvings. Now it makes sense why it is named Soko Tunggal, which has a more literal meaning.

Outside there is a special rubbish bin for disposing of plastic waste, such as used bottle drinks, etc. Isn't this a very simple yet sturdy mosque building design? I was so happy to find this on my list of holidays in Yogya. Thank you for reading my writing. See you in the next instalment.

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