LECTURE 6 : Theories of Design Thinking
- NING JIA CHENG 1001436861
- Mar 9, 2016
- 3 min read
How have we changed in designing to please God? Compare current religious buildings to past buildings.
Historical religious building about temples
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat of Cambodia, the largest Hindu temple in the world. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple toward the end of the 12th century.
It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu
mythology. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
The Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a Buddhist temple in the city of Ayutthaya Historical Park,Thailand. Structure of this building reflects the Buddhist world view, as it is described the "three worlds of the King Ruang". The centre part of structure symbolizes the mountain Meru, other four small structure are around the centre part as four continents which swim in the four directions in the world sea. One of the continents symbolizes humans live and the rectangular passage is outer border of the world, the "Iron Mountains".
Modernism religious building about temples
The Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi, India. The lotus is the symbol common to Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainismand Islam and the temple was created to bring faiths together. Lotus Temple highlights the fact that every human holds a key for better future of the entire mankind and with a combined effort, we will be able to foster a new world where parity will not depend upon religion.The whole structure is made of white marble that adds to the glory of the temple. It is about 40 meters tall surrounded by nine ponds and appears as if the temple is floating like a Lotus flower in water.
Historical religious building about Mosque
Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque
The Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque also known as the Pink Mosque, is a traditional mosque in Shiraz, Iran. The mosque includes extensive colored glass in its facade, and displays other traditional elements. It is named in popular culture as the Pink Mosque due to the usage of considerable pink color tiles for its interior design.
Modernism religious building about Mosque
Sancaklar Mosque
The Sancak Mosque designed by Emre Arolat Architects, the building blends in completely with the topography and the outside world is left behind as one moves through the landscape, down the hill and in between the walls to enter the mosque.
There is no direct light in the interior of the mosque, it is simple like a cave. Instead the light is indirect, filtered through slits in the exterior walls. The architect thinks of it as a cavernous space, that "becomes a dramatic and awe-inspiring place to pray and be alone with God".
Historical religious building about Church
Milan Duomo, Italy.
Milan Cathedral is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the 5th-largest church in the world and the largest in Italy.
Modernism religious building about Church
Community Church Knarvik
The building is carefully adapted to an existing hillside between built and natural environment, providing the church with an inspiring context of the surrounding heath landscape.
This church showing its sacral dignity and recognisable form, which inspired by the local tradition of Norwegian stave churches, the building utilizes clear and elemental geometries, materials and constructions.
After study through 3 different religious buildings which are temples, mosques and churches, I found that even though there are different religious, but idea of thinking about the space is same, which is to create a sacred space to please God. From the historical buildings throughout different religious, there are some common features in architecture, which are large, high, and full of ornaments details. This ornament details create by proffesional craftman to show the holy of God, the large scale and high of interior wall represent the greatness of God and the tiniest of human.
For example, Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque showing a lot of ornamentations but Sancaklar Mosque is design in simple facade without any ornamentations.
The luxurious of ornaments is a waste, and the modern building nowaday more towards simple and funtionable, less is more with form follow function.
Compare to the Modernism religious buildings, those building is constantly design with the tension between man-made and natural. To show the appreciation to the God, the design of the building nowaday is basically based on close to nature and value the environment. This is because the God create this earth and nature for human.