@article {Nawawi:2017:1936-6612:6294,
title = "Women Space in the Design of Masjid in Malaysia: How Much Space do Women Need?",
journal = "Advanced Science Letters",
parent_itemid = "infobike://asp/asl",
publishercode ="asp",
year = "2017",
volume = "23",
number = "7",
publication date ="2017-07-01T00:00:00",
pages = "6294-6298",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "1936-6612",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asp/asl/2017/00000023/00000007/art00059",
doi = "doi:10.1166/asl.2017.9255",
keyword = "Malaysia, Masjid, Women Space",
author = "Nawawi, Norwina Mohd and Rahim, Zaiton Abdul and Majid, Noor Hanita Abdul and JahnKassim, Putri Shireen",
abstract = "Malaysian women take womens space in masjid design for granted as a kind of cultural acceptance. So does the architect and the stakeholders in designing according to accepted standards and requirements as a practice from time to time. Currently, not many studies were made on
what proportion of the masjid space should be assigned to women. Are current areas adequate? Is there a rule of thumb for each project or percentage in the design brief for women (and their children/care)? This paper investigates comparatively the allocation of space made for women from the
selected masjids in Malaysia, relate them to their actual use as daily prayer space for women and compare to the available standards or practice available. Through a mix-mode method of qualitative and quantitative study, data are collected through a questionnaire survey, observation, physical
measurement, interview, and content analysis of existing literature. The study intends to provide a guide to industry players what could specify as rule of thumb, percentage of space for Malaysian women in masjid design. Findings of surveys from designers/architects had produced
some form of consensus on space allocation provided. However, case studies on womens space as space proportion of each masjid utilised by women on daily prayers ranged drastically across the different states and within each state without any common guide. Immeasurable area of women
space, due to the ambiguity of space provision in relation to masjid shape configuration, availability of as-built drawings, historical data of earlier design intentions and time allocated for the study, are the limitations of this study. Women space for daily prayers, as it is, apart from
location, shape, amenities and comfort, the capacity is more than adequate. However, a majority of these spaces lay in the transit or temporary state of non-permanence for women and their care. The significance of the study disclosed disparity between what was technically planned for women
accommodating the rule-of-thumb space allocation to its actual use in the majority of the masjids. To prevent wastage in inappropriateness of space location, a relook to match space utilisation to daily and event needs using rule-of-thumb is, therefore, the next agenda.",
}