Religious Architectural Quality Revisited (original) (raw)
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Unpublished M.Arch.S. thesis, 2013
The purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge of sacred architecture by bridging the gap between the “subjective” phenomenology of human experience and architecture’s “objective” built conditions. The research employs mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis of survey data as well as graphical analysis of specific case studies. The analyses from these methods demonstrate the importance, relevance, and compatibility of Lindsay Jones’ conceptual model or “morphology of ritual-architectural priorities” when (re)designing sacred spaces during the evidence-based design process. Design professionals and religious specialists can improve the experience of sacred architecture by incorporating Jones’ conceptual model within the evidence-based design process. A preliminary survey tool, designed using Jones’ categories, was tested against a non-probability sample of respondents (N=112). In general, the survey can be replicated case by case to identify which categories of sacred space are important for different user groups – an essential part of programming and pre-design. As top design priorities are identified and converted into research questions, information and evidence are collected. Evidence of people’s actual (i.e., real, lived) “subjective” experiences that occur within specific cases of Catholic sacred architecture are derived from Julio Bermudez’s large survey database (N=2,872) of “extraordinary architectural experiences.” In addition, graphical analysis and interpretation of the “objective” built conditions are conducted for the Pantheon, Chartres Cathedral, and the chapel at Ronchamp. The empirical data for both “subjective” and “objective” conditions are then compared in order to test Jones’ conceptual model. For example, does a sacred space built with “XYZ” category actually result in “XYZ” experience? The study concludes that built environments possessing a higher presence and quality of Jones’ “morphology of ritual-architectural priorities” in the “objective” built conditions are more likely to be perceived as sacred, produce extraordinary experiences, and transform human understanding. Meanwhile, the opposite is also plausible. Evidence-based design for sacred architecture and transformative human experience demand more attention from scholarly inquiry.
Abell - Environmental Aesthetic Strategies For Evaluating Protestant Sacred Worship Space.pdf
One goal here is to determine the essential elements found in Protestant sacred worship space and to assign them to broad categories so that they can be understood within the three aesthetic proposals. Next, the three environmental aesthetic proposals of cognitive, non-cognitive, and shared cognitive environmental aesthetics must be evaluated to understand if any of them are appropriate for evaluating sacred space.
The Divine in Design: Analyzing Spiritual Experiences in the Built Environment
Library Progress International, 2024
The primary focus of design practice in society is meeting basic human requirements, such as physical and physiological demands, with little regard for higher-order needs, such as spiritual growth. Modern urban planning focuses primarily on the social components of public space, which are meaningless for users and lead to less socially and environmentally responsible environments devoid of human factors. Therefore, the most intimate requirements of a person must be taken care of in the constructed environment. This study looks for elements of the built environment that support locations where people can derive more meaning from their surroundings through the physical layout of the space. This research project explores the relationship between spirituality and architectural design practice to make the unseen aspects of the built world more apparent. In the framework of the built environment, spirituality is defined in this project. With a correct grasp of form, space, and elements, architecture must foster a sense of place and assist spiritual development. Architecture improves people's lives visually and spiritually and aids in the artificial framework's compatibility with the environment. Recognizing the design features that produce profound reflections beyond personal taste in certain architectural situations is important. The fundamental aspect of architectural experience is sensory, and energy forces produce emotional reaction patterns. Consistent patterns of findings, regardless of individual differences, may help architects create brain-informed architecture. Spaces represented by well-selected geometric shapes and the appropriate kind of energy create an environment that gives users the finest experience possible.
Healing Space: The Synaesthetic Quality of Church Architecture
Religions, 2020
There is a growing literature on the healing effects of buildings designed for healthcare, but publications that insist on this spiritual and healing dimension in church architecture are rare. Contemporary ecclesial buildings are often rightly criticized for their cold and soulless emptiness. However, through the analysis of four emblematic case studies, this article aims to lay bare an essential dimension of architecture that is often overlooked, a multisensory and synaesthetic dimension that engages our body even before we become aware of it. Hence, this article builds upon the recurrent plea of spatial theorists, philosophers, and architects for synaesthetic space as a reaction to a dominant ocularcentric environment. Surprisingly, contemporary church architecture seems rather propitious to deploy this inherently religious dimension that is at once healing and spiritual in a new sense, which is especially needed nowadays.
Relationship between Architectural Form, Function, and Meaning in Cathedral Churches
Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 2024
The emergence of irregularities within the Catholic Church began to surface primarily after the Second Vatican Council, coinciding with the rapid development of churches that deviated from the liturgical provisions set forth by the Catholic Church. This trend has led to a diminishing sense of sacredness within these places of worship. It is crucial to recognize the interplay between form, function, and meaning in the evolution of the Catholic Church architecture. This study delves into the architectural form, function, and meaning of cathedral churches, with a specific focus on the Ijen Cathedral Church in Malang, Indonesia. The church underwent renovations in 2002 for maintenance, resulting in several alterations. The methodology employed in this research includes research preparation, implementation, data analysis, and the documentation of research findings. The findings indicate that within the Ijen Cathedral Church, the interplay between form, function, and meaning illustrates that these elements complement each other to form a harmonious unity. The sacredness of this church can be felt through the attention to the three aspects. Therefore, it can be concluded the Ijen Cathedral Church exemplifies the interconnected relationship between form, function, and meaning in Catholic architecture. It plays a crucial role in creating sacred and meaningful spaces for its congregation. Keywords: architecture, form, function, meaning, Ijen Cathedral Church.
The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal
2012
The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal Duncan G. Stroik This retrospective and forward-looking collection of 23 essays by Duncan Stroik shows the development and consistency of his architectural vision over the last eighteen years. The essays cover church modernism and modernity, renaissance and renewal, principles of church design, and a critique of modern iconoclasm. The appendices feature: a list of canonical documents pertaining to church architecture, a useful chart showing the comparative size of well known churches and comparative sizes of baldacchinos in Rome. Packed with informative essays and over 170 photographs, this collection will help priests, bishops, liturgical consultants, lay commissions and parishioners understand the Church s architectural tradition. Duncan Stroik's architectural practice and career have helped lead the evolution of the international classical movement, and over the past decade his work has been instrumental in the new renaissance of sacred architecture. He is an internationally noted classical designer and heavily involved in promoting the new renaissance in Catholic architecture. He combines a passion for an architecture of durability, beauty, and function, with an intimate knowledge of Catholic liturgy.