Improving the Thermal Performance of Mosque Buildings with the Assistance of Passive Cooling Systems

The first mosque in Islam was built by the Prophet Muhammad (pbh). It was simple rectangular plan, built with palm trunks and mud bricks. During the next centuries, the mosque construction witnessed tremendous development. Mosque designs varied in different countries and cultures where Muslim live. Most mosque buildings today neglect the positive use of natural environment and consume a lot of energy in order to provide comfortable internal environment for the worshippers. The present paper aims mainly to investigate the great role that passive cooling systems could help in providing thermal comfort for human being and natural lighting in indoor environment of mosques with natural means. Exploratory and descriptive method will be used in this paper research to discover how far passive cooling systems can enhance the internal environment of mosque buildings. The paper also discusses passive cooling systems which could be used in mosque buildings, analysis and defines their positive impact in providing visually and spiritually comfortable indoor milieu for the worshippers. The paper will come out with design recommendations which could be applicable for both existing and new mosque buildings. Key words: Mosque, thermal performance, passive cooling, courtyard, wind catchers.