PAGE OF CONENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction
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-----CHAPTER 2 What is a temple?
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-----CHAPTER 3 In search of meaning
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-----CHAPTER 4 A way of understanding -----CHAPTER 5 Elements and components -----CHAPTER 6 Looking for movement Site study -----CHAPTER 7 Site Analysis -----CHAPTER 8 Design strategy
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“Most of us, irrespective of personal beliefs, are moved when visiting a temple. And I have been trying to understand this ‘moving’ experience in architectural terms with the objective that in contemporary design practices it could be applied to create built forms of lasting value. To my understanding such forms have the following attribues: the pauses, transitional spaces and thresholds act as cataylic agents for the built form and the individual or the community to enter into a dialogue at their level of comprehension. And this dialogue gives direction to the community at large. Buildings which generate such holistic experience finally become the institution of man” - Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi
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“We live in a world of manifest phenomena. Yet, since the beginning of time, man has intuitively sensed the existence of another world: a nonmanifest world whose presence underlies — and makes endurable — the one he experiences every day. The principal vehicles through which we explore and communicate our notions of this nonmanifest world are religion, philosophy, and the arts. Like these, architecture too is generated by mythic beliefs, expressing the presence of a reality more profound than the manifest world in which it exists. “ - Charles correa, ( The public, the private and the sacred )
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Contributors : Professor Architect Mr. Henri Fanthome Pearl Academy Rajouri Garden, Delhi Course leader Architect Mrs. Maliha Sultan Chaudhry Pearl Acedemy Rajousi Garden, Delhi Professor Architect Ms. Shakti Ravi Pearl Academy Rajouri Garden, Delhi Chief Architect Mrs. Papiya Sarkar Delhi metro Rail corporation (DMRC) New Delhi Assistant Manager (Architect) Mr. Harish Kumar Delhi metro Rail corporation (DMRC) New Delhi
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Introduction Chapter 01
A project exploring the scardness, the spritual, the non existent into tangible modules, exploring the psychological into physical, the thoughts into reality, bringing the emotions into motion or making just the motion an emotion. It is stillness in motion, escaping in motion, grandness in motion, guidance in motion, warmth in motion, contemplation in motion. It takes you through a journey of questioning, of wondering, of finding, of understanding, of making, experimenting, failing, progressing and experiencing. Like for all in life, it is the most imporatant, ‘ The journey’ , from inside to out, from material world to the inner world, from a start to the end, the journey of our non being to being,what is it that the journey offers you? what is it that the pauses offer you? what is it that the movement offers you? This project focuses on the journey which might or might not have yet reached its destination,
INTRODUCTION
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(REF: L. KAHN. DREAM OF REALITY)
INTRODUCTION
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(A few answered and unanswered questions of the journey)
INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
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What is a temple? Chapter 02
The project started with only a question. A question with many answers and none at the same time, the question was simple ‘what is a temple?’ , It goes back hundreds of years ago about how it all started with mankind questioning the unknown. A common thread which weaves the fabric of humanity. But rven with the answers you gather from history, on architecture of temples, on the history of the ancient, nothing seems to do justice infront of the grandeur image formed by the sacred architecture. Because probably the answer to this question is always meant to be unknown like the unknown god we pray. The temple doesn’t answer but makes you question more. This journey continues to ask more questions and slowly simplifying what we understand of a sacred space.
Being born in India, Since our childhood we are told to go to a temple, to worship, to pray, at occasions of happiness and occasions of need, we’re told to turn up to this place, believing that it will give us whatever we ask for. We’re taught about religion, we’re taught how to follow rituals and why it is importatnt to follow them. Questioning spatially, what is it that the temple gives us? Is it something not given to us by other spaces? Do we understand what we’re looking for whenever we enter this space? do we understand the depth or the thought behind it? do we understand why it all started? Is it possible for us the understand the complexity of a space like this? A space which was thought of in another time.
WHAT IS A TEMPLE?
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( Reasons gathered by questioning poeple on why do they visit a temple? ) Refresh Occasion Fear Peace God Warmth/ positivity
WHAT IS A TEMPLE?
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Questioning the existance and context of ‘now’
At this age of technology, which is soon to become the new god, nothing has replaced temple, people worship the same way they did before, their belief is shaken but the fear is not, the zeal to need more answers is not. the medium has changed but the result is not. Science and technology have placed man as the supra dominant living creature on earth. At the same time, these developments have not wiped out uncertainity and insecurities of his existance. Now, god doesnt play the role as it did before, god’s image is used for politics and demeaning role, it has become a purchasable object and is market as such. Looking at now, looking at today, where god has become questionable, the real question lies, whom do we people pray now? As said by Yuval noah harari in his book ‘Home deus’, “ clearly money, success, technology are the new gods, we pray them just like the gods before. If our gods have changed so should our temples or maybe we already have our temples, huge offices with both success and money” (Home deus, 2017)
EXISTANCE
SPIRITUAL
PHYSICAL All energy( Einsteins mass energy relationship
Scientific knowledge fails to explain
A CONTINUOUS BECOMING
RELIGION TRIES TO EXPLAIN THE REALITY
A CONTRADICTION (REF: K.C THAKUR, TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING)
WHAT IS A TEMPLE?
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Then, what should be a temple of today? With reference to the dissertation ‘ Hindu temple today’ by Bagchi, 1997, in depth research was done as to what does the architecture symbolises in a temple, what is the significance of it now? if you remove the symbol, what changes? if you remove the red flag, it it not a temple anymore? what is it that makes temple, a temple? Hinduism is one of the oldest and the most comples religion, it gave god an anthropomorphic shapc, he was given a family as well as a house to live, soon the temple became a part of the society the surronding and ourselves, it not only defined the areas around us but it started to define us. Till now it hasn’t loat its belief, is temple as a space is still widely utilised then what should be a contemporary temple? it is impossible to construct temple keeping in mind all the traditional principles in mind. As said by architect R.K verma “ Whatever the structure is, it should be a space which would meet the purpose of the visit and also reflect the mental make’up of the person who has come to visit, here the devotee’ According to Frank lloyt wright “ If he ( the architect) meets the requirement it is immaterial how he does it” ( Frank lloyd wright “ Temple beth Sholom” ) “ The devotees” - to the devotees , the participants of this building, which is a comman man is not concerned with the architecture of the building but what the space offers, he is attracted by the ornamentation, the grandeur image, by the mirror work, it is the visual impact which
overpowers the presence of a temple. He has no expectations or limitations of what a temple should look like, , he never acknowledges the space as bad or good either in design or functionality, He tends to see the temple of today as a created image of the past A temple to be a temple, has to be above and beyond ordinary mortal tenements, Finding out further the the meaning of what we call a “temple”
WHAT IS A TEMPLE?
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In search of meaning Chapter 03
This chapter contains observations made after a few visits to temple, masjid, gurudwara and church. In order to first find the experience which then can be recognized and shaped physically or brought to reality. There is a similar belief in all of us, a belief which unites us as well as separates us at the very same time, a belief which started different civilizations, a belief which gave birth to not one but multiple gods, which makes us visit the place called ‘temple’ day after day, what is the belief? can the meaning be found for this belief? People perceive spaces differently, they perceive sacredness differently, what was it then? that temple offered to them? did it offer them a place where you can surrender yourself? or heighten the greed to achieve more? or is it about the stillness? a stillness you feel through different moments in life. Not the usual stillness but this stillness which humanity finds necessary to be experienced to be one with the self. The experience which never faded away with passage of time, it was always there, recongnised by us, century after century, person after person, temple after temple.
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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(source : http://www.yourheroicjourney.com/the-hermeneutic-foundation-of-the-heros-journey/)
The closest you can get to the experience of other is by your own experience, once the interpretation of your understanding becomes clear, so does the experience which needs to be provided to the participant.
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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VAISHNODEVI MANDIR JAMMU AND KASHMIR
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Preparation to go inside
It provides you with a pathway to follow, a path to nothingness , you’re welcomed with a sound of
A symbolic representation to pray, to ask for what you wish, to seek positivity, it is the focus of the temple,
Stopping at the smaller destination, you unknowingly bow down
Provides you with a chance to offer or a chance to receive.
To follow certain rituals, to give to you a chance, a chance to reflect back
A chance, an opportunity to believe in the higher energy.
As you exit, you exit with an emotion
DAKSHIN DILLI , KALI BARI Ramakrishna Puram, New Delhi, IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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CHAPELOutside: Massive structure distinguishing from its surroundings, your speed increases as compared to before in order to know what lays before, people behaving the same way as you do towards the space, increases your experience. your experience of the path decides further the experience of your destination, before entering the space there’s a sense of revelation. Between outside and inside: Movement changes near the chapel, as you start to enter there’s a change of light from outside, which is dimmer now, it makes you feel calm, like from the path you traveled you will soon or have reached the destination. looking at it from outside- all you see in darkness without knowing where exactly is the door soon as you go further you see the door handle, the shadow fades out in front of your eyes, usually at a bigger scale than normal making you really want to open the door. Threshold : You would want to stand there for a very long time, and look in front, at the play of perspective happening in front of your eyes, at that moment you realise you’re entering a different place not only that but also that you’re entering into a different world. When you see the volume for the first time, you’re in awe of the scale of the space, you feel small , at the same time you feel at ease looking at the height of the church. The curiosities you had before entering are calm now. you have seen the revelation, you’ve the experienced the magic you were waiting for. It is the only way it has to be for you to enter and for everyone else too. Vestibule-corridor: From threshold to vestibule as soon as you enter, you not only see but experience the space inside, you not only see the differentiation in light, you become the very part of it, maybe this is what creates stillness in the mind, you become a part of architectural silence. You gaze at that bright light right in front of you, like from darkness it turns into light, like only after darkness you experience light. It takes you slowly, your movement is your experience, you don’t directly enter into the end you have to walk through the dark. The light in the end seems infinite as if you could never touch it, the strong perspective works directly on your mind. there’s only one passage. one row to go through, the entire structure is speaking to you to take the passage and move forward. An illusion of light, spilling through the end , every movement happens natural, irresistibly.
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Hall: light, shadow, structure. - the light coming from the end of the hallway lights the entire hall, then not only light is the experience of you but you feel like you’re walking on the light. it is entirely around your body from top to bottom. the light, shadow and structure, makes you walk slowly now like you’re in a cave and the movement is equivalent to the silence, like you can see the wind moving right beside of you, like it takes you along with the speed controlled by the wind. You experience the space as if someone else is handling your body, a place which is usually controlled by a bishop or a priest. it feels that you’re entering s space which belongs to someone but still belongs to everyone. Aisle seat : You sit between a strong perspective, and somehow that’s the only thing you want to do, like the empty seats are calling you , to sit and enjoy, to sit and to do nothing, to sit and to experience, this is what you came for. suddenly the mind goes stable and clear. Music: While seating there the music suddenly started to play, all your attention shifts from nothingness to melody, it flows in air with the architecture, your gaze follows the music and starts looking for it, it was hidden at the back on the right corner. is there a reason to keep it in the end of the path? is it for your gaze to follow and look at the infinite? Walking back: the experience changes from how you entered, a rush in telling you to move faster, to walk towards silence behind the door, or is it to get away from the silence to experience another? Outside: Your movement becomes faster and faster almost like you see a different world outside, the energy that place gives you, you take it away with yourself. like it’s a chamber of unlimited energy, every time you go inside that space you feel it, you feel it in the same exact intensity.
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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It starts from very outside, through, it reminds you every moment till when you reach the door, that where you are about to enter is a world of its own, unaware, untouched from the out, it will always be the same.
No shoes/ no camera/ to leave all your belongings outside, A step of remembrance towards who you are.
The ultimate pathway towards entering the destination
A transition - a chance to leave behind,to wash away what needs to be while you get ready
As you are just about the enter the destination
BANGLA SAHIB GURUDWARA Connaught place, New Delhi
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Surrendering youself, bowing down infront of the sacredness, for the unknown outside and inside of you
Places of isolation, to sit and contemplate, to think, to absorb the space , where you go if you want to stay longer.
Passing through the journey of inbetweens and the journey of choices
The higher of the all, worshipping and praying the higher, a sense of togetherness while sharing the same belief
Series of rituals, of circulations, of stoppages and of collectiveness
BANGLA SAHIB GURUDWARA Connaught place, New Delhi
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Studying the activities, form, rituals
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Catherdral church of redemption Church road , New Delhi,
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Catherdral church of redemption Church road , New Delhi,
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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Chattarpur Temple New Delhi
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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ENTRANCE: A transition door to a new world
GARDEN: Open space to gather together
STAIRS: Transition towards a destination
DOOR: A willingness to go inside
VESTIBULE: A darkness in between
PATH: Perspective making you move forward
NAVE: A place to stay
ALTAR: HIgher than you
SANCTUARY: Visible to you but not accessible, the most sacred space
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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ENTRANCE: Getting ready to go inside
PATH: following the rituals before reaching
DIFFERENT DEITY TEMPLE: the smaller destination
MAIN SHRINE: Your final destination
DIFFERENT DEITY TEMPLE: on the way back, another place to stop
EXIT: Steps to the outer world
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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scatter Gather entry
transition
Smaller destination
level dark transition path
Destination
level change
Smaller destination
Gather
Scatter
Chattarpur temple
Scatter
Gather
Grand
stoppage
dark
straight
path
perspective
Enclosed
Visible
Place
space
to stay
Isolated
Hidden
space
space
lighted space
Catherdral church of redemption
Enter
Gather
transit
Inbetween toppage
enclose path
dark
destination
isolation
sit
thershold
stay
level
collective
down
stoppage
Exit
Bangla sahib gurudwara
Path observation Case studies
IN SEARCH OF MEANING
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A way of understanding Chapter 04 Visible and mobile, my body is a thing among things; it is caught in the fabric of the world, and its cohesion is that of a thing. but because it moves itself and sees, it holds things in a circle around itself. Things are an annex or prolongation of itself, they are necrusted into its flesh, they are a part of its full definition: the world is made of the same stuff as the body - (Merlau Ponty, 1964, p.1 63)
This chapter includes the explorations of how the body percieves the scared space at different events, the mental, the physical and the being. Inhabitation of the body and the mind in a space, understanding the difference between both the experiences, as they are one yet they are not. Manifesting the understanding in terms of 2D graphics. It further understands the experience of each space observed in the path diagram. “The study of essences, which is not pre-existed truth or solid geometry , but pre existed relationship, which is flexible, lively, and incalculable, between the being and the world with bodily experience. A study which is based on “a fresh unprejudiced look- i.e, untained by scientific, metaphysical, religious or cultural presuppositions or attitudes - at the fundamental and essential features of human experience in and of the world. “ - (Mooney & Moran, 2002, p.1)
A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
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INSIDE - OUT
IN BETWEEN
RITUAL OF CIRCULATION
DOWN
JOURNEY OF BARRIERS
DESTINATION
WHAT YOU CAME FOR
DOOR
A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
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WORSHIP
INSIDE - OUT
DARK ENTRANCE
BEFORE DESTINATION
ENCLOSED INSIDE
ENTERING INTO DARKNESS
ISOLATION
COLLECTIVE STOPPAGE
A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
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TRANSITION
FORCE OF PERSPECTIVE
LEVEL
GRAND STILLNESS
KEEPING IT SACRED
A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
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Understanding the nature of occupants in terms of public, private and semi private spaces,
A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
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Elements and components Chapter 05
Explorations inside a box of 4mx4m, through different modules the experiences have been formed and put in 3D, which further if sequenced can be put in any site to provide the desired experience.
Plan
Section
Element and components
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inbetween Enclosing inside
A dark path inbetween
Devotion
Enclosing
stay/ warmth
Towards
The one path
space ‘of being’
A place to br
transition/ turn around Element and components
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centralised
passing through the enclosure
inbetween focus
towards light
Higher
Scatter
Guidance
grandness
place to be Element and components
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Element and components
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Element and components
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Element and components
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Element and components
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Element and components
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Free of site experiment: The modules of components put together as a journey of one path, where as you enter you experience walking a dark path, a perspective force, enclosures which make you pause, further guidance towards a destination of contemplation and thoughts, you exit with a transition, seeing a changed world.
Element and components
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Looking for movement/ where shall the experience reside? Chapter 06
What is offered by sacred spaces is stillness of different forms, it provides you with a place to be, a place you long for, a place taking you back to your orignal self, a place of escape, a place of reflection. What it offers needs to be put in a place which offers the complete opposite, working with this Dichotomy the chosen site is ‘Kashmere gate metro station’ , just being there - inside the station - inhabitating the surrondings as one with you, you with your mind tend to run in the directions not known, there is rush, there is chaos, most importantly there is no pausing to reflect back and there is no linearity as where can you possibly stay still here? what can be your escape? In the literal words, this place defines the journey for the passengers, one which you are looking up to and one which is on going right now, sadly this journey of inbetween is forgotten by many, the moment of transit is not given chance to make the transition within, but what if? what if it could transit the inside as well? every step is a transit from out but as well as from the inside? What if each motion is transformed into an emotion?
Looking for movement
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Kashmere Gate Metro Station Delhi
Looking for movement
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Site Analysis Chapter 07
A few visits were made to the metro station to observe the behaviour of the people and their surrondings, to understand how they inhabit the space. Where do they stop? where do they walk? rush? sit? tend to contemplate? look ? pause? relax? To observe the circulation of transition. All the answers further help to put the modules as required.
Site Analysis
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Kashmere gate metro station Surronding area
Site Analysis
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MOVEMENT
Site Analysis
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MOVEMENT
Site Analysis
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Design Strategy Chapter 08
An inner shell will be created inside the metro station suspended from the ceiling above the human scale height, this shell is an added to experience to the already existing structure but in the notional way. It continues with a series of abstraction through the space. This shell, purely experiential is to be looked at and to be followed by the passengers, it is one whole integrated element which adds spatial continuity as well as guidance. Then, it becomes a guided journey towards those spaces which make you stop, look further, experience further. As, it is an experience which starts from the head, it’s aim is to physically affect the movement. Metro station, being always occupied at the floor level, gives ceiling the opportunity to act and add the wished experiences.
Design strategy
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Design strategy
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Another Journey
A place to stay
towards the light
the destination
the inbetween
dark path
Chosen path
Design strategy
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BIBLIOGRAPHY : [1] Bagchi, Hindu temple today, dissertation(1997), school of planning and architecture, Delhi [2] K.C Thakur, temple of understandiing, architectural thesis, school of architecture and planning, New Delhi [3] Merlau Ponty, Maurice 1964, Eye and mind, Northwestern university press 159 - 190 [4] Mooney, Tim and Moran, Dermot 2002, the phenomenology reader, London, New yorkdon, New york [5] Reg Harris, Exploring our experience of being, retrieved 28th November 2017 from http:// www.yourheroicjourney.com/the-hermeneutic-foundation-of-the-heros-journey/ [6] Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Dues: “ A brief history of tomorrow “, 2015