Multifaith Centre

Multi-faith Center

Project Type: Diagramming Project Scale: 2500 mts sq. Semester: Second year (Semester 4) Date: January to June 2016 Porject Guide: Prof. Gurdev Singh Dean S.E.D.A. Navrachana University (2010-2018)

Religion: a very delicate and sensitive issue for many people. A multifaith center aims to dilute the tensions that exist between the different religions today and help them grow in harmony. The concept is to unify people by converging beliefs from various parts of the world and therefore also different religions.

Almost all the religions ultimately aim for people to understand and look within themslves or find their purpose; whether it be through the means of prayer and/or meditation. This center therefore, aims to provide various types of spaces which are comfortable for people to read, sit in silence, pray or meditate. It is believed that when people meditate or concentrate on themselves, their thoughts or even simply their own breaths, they sink into self exploration but rise at the same time as spiritual beings. As a person completely indulges themselves into medidation, they can hear a humming sound from within. The hum therefore holds signficance in most religions. A multifaith center welcomes people with different views, beliefs, religions etc and unifies them at one place. This diagram represents the convergence of the people and their respective beliefs and religions from different parts of the world.

The point of converegence at the center of the building has a conical structure which represents the convergence of light at one point. This signifies the unification of knowledge / conciousness of all people. A multifaith center aims to unite people, help them respect all beliefs and understand their own. One needs to focus and concentrate on their own thoughts for that. “The deeper one sinks into self exploration, the closer one brings himself to enlightenment / self-awakening” The more one indulges in self-exploration of his/her own mind/thoughts, the importance of the physical presensce decreases while that of the conciousness increases. “The exploration of a power / oneself’s power in whose presence the physical form of person is negligable.”

A dimly lit, empty, circular space sits at the lowest level of the multifaith center which is where people practice meditation in isolation. It is a place which helps one concentrate without disturbance and calms their mind. One enters the by walking along the slant curved walls which rise higher as one progresses further below. The curved walls direct one to different parts of the center which ultimately lead to a gathering space.

Top view of model

Functions:

1. Meditation Hall (dimly lit) 2. Meditation Area (well lit) 3. Hall of convergence (central gathering space) 4. Library and Reading Area 5. Circular bridge (for exploration of the conical structure and light wells) Roof Plan at +1.5 mts Plan at -1.5 mts Plan at -4.5 mts

Sectional model Walking down the longesr series of steps helps one to be patient and focus on their experience of the space before they reach the Hall of meditation. The long descend gives also gives one the time to observe the material, structure of the centre and the gradual change in light quality through the journey. The three similar entries to the Hall of convergence help people understand that they are all equal beings. The quadruple height (12 mts) space, with the conical structure at the center, signifies the vastness, the strength and the power of unity. One standing in the space alone can feel lost, and realise how insignificant their ego and their pride of themselves is.

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The structure is exposed concrete, including the slanted circular walls and the floor slabs. The circulation elements (ramp. staircase treaders and bridges) are constucted of timber. The ramps are suspended from steel rafters which are supporting the cement board and glass roof, (the glass roofs lie above the circulation pathways allowing light to percolate into the building). The steps are cantilevered from the main circular walls and supported by steel brackets. The conical element is a light-weight pre-fabricated ferro-cement structure which is supported by the central circular concrete bridge. 4 3

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