The Visual Experience
The Berkeley Masjid is a beautiful building, full of hidden details and rich textures. From the outside, it appears almost as residential as the rest of the neighborhood. The arched doorways and curved windows are reminiscent of a family home in the Claremont Hills. After a service, when people gather outside to chat or children run up and down the steps playing tag, you realize that this is a tight-knit community. Its location in the middle of a quiet street of homes seems fitting.
The interior of the Berkeley Masjid is bright, clean, and modern. Every now and then, however, you spot gorgeous details among the otherwise simply furnished space. The intricately carved women's prayer screen transforms the empty prayer room. The incredibly rich and plush carpet is lined with grooves pointing toward Mecca. Even the windowsills are stacked with old leather-bound books and potted flowers. Our favorite room, however, was the upstairs prayer hall. The high ceilings and enormous windows allowed the hall to be flooded with natural light. We could not help feeling simultaneously awed and inspired.
The interior of the Berkeley Masjid is bright, clean, and modern. Every now and then, however, you spot gorgeous details among the otherwise simply furnished space. The intricately carved women's prayer screen transforms the empty prayer room. The incredibly rich and plush carpet is lined with grooves pointing toward Mecca. Even the windowsills are stacked with old leather-bound books and potted flowers. Our favorite room, however, was the upstairs prayer hall. The high ceilings and enormous windows allowed the hall to be flooded with natural light. We could not help feeling simultaneously awed and inspired.
The People
The Berkeley Masjid Exterior
Over the past 23 years, the Berkeley Masjid has been located at four different locations. The current location, near the intersection of Derby and College, showcases a modern design with beautiful accents. Work on this building began in 2001. Construction was stopped and restarted multiple times. The final permit was issued in 2007.
The Mosque Interior
Throughout the mosque, one can find incredible, ornate marble tile decorations in many rooms. There are many subtle details, which show the amount of forethought and attention to detail that were put into designing this building. One of our favorite items was the prayer screen. It provided an elegant touch to the prayer room.