Case Study on the Renovations of Minarets and Chhatries in Four Types of Mughal-Influenced Mosques in Kedah, Malaysia

Four types of mosques are found in Kedah state, Malaysia. They can be categorised as the supreme, urban, rural and small mosque. For this paper, the authors focus solely on the general modification and the renovation of minarets and chhatries of four mosques representing the four types of mosques. The authors inspected the condition of these four mosques several times over a period of two years. The study then discusses the scale and capacity of the mosques and how the renovations have functioned to create an appropriate or non-appropriate atmosphere in the architectural style highlighted by these mosques. Furthermore, the study examines the suitability of the minaret element found on the Zahir and Al-Fateh Mosques. Masjid Zahir does not have much of a problem due to its status as a royal mosque maintained by the state government. Masjid Al-Fateh is an urban mosque with many facilities, but the entire mosque building is incompatible with the recently completed minaret. Masjid Ar-Rahmah has a minaret antenna built on its existing structure of a chhatri. A chhatri is an umbrella-like domed kiosk that acts as a turret or small minaret. Masjid As-Syakirin does not have a minaret but has four chhatries on each corner of its main rooftop. All these three mosques have had issues with renovation, a factor that has prevented their buildings from becoming a sample of good architecture. This study discusses the issue of architectural renovation so that mosques that wish to make future modifications can do their best; future renovations should take into account the existing architectural features of the mosque.