The objective of this task if for students to investigate the origins of belief systems and to analyse their impact and validity as a means of generating architectural concepts.
Buddhism & Hinduism Shrine
Design concept: -A believers belief on the journey of life. Ultimately, it is the journey to enlightenment
The slanted exterior wall would raise the awareness of how small we are in the presence of God. This feeling can be related to how someone would feel when visiting a Hindu temple and a Buddhist temple where there would be various Gods sitting on the façade of the structure looking down upon the worshippers. This is an interpretation for it to be more accepted to the public who may not be Buddhists or Hindus to actually approach the shrine to better understand it.
The interior being partly visible from certain angles due to the slits aims to raise the curiousity of the public to approach it. When walking around it, the overpowering shadows being casted upon those who walk around it would also be a call to both the Buddhist and Hindu worshipper to leave the worldly belongings to seek the truth to the enlightenment.
The journey towards the centre of the shrine may not be as pleasant due to these feelings, this build up on such emotions will only help to enhance the feeling of satisfaction once passed this claustrophobic alley and into the structure where one can finally see the full picture inside.
The repetition of square symbolizes the rhythm which represents the cycle of life- Reincarnation. Square becomes bigger and bigger- represent the level of awakening/ self realization.
Four sides represent
Plan view: rippling effect symbolizes the development a compassionate heart to help all beings (a Mahayana belief which has been practiced mostly by Malaysian, NOT Theravada)
- Buddhism- four Noble Truths- Suffering, Karma, Rebirth, Nirvana
- Hinduism- "Brahmacharya", "Grihastha", "Vanaprastha", "Sannyasa"
Plan view: rippling effect symbolizes the development a compassionate heart to help all beings (a Mahayana belief which has been practiced mostly by Malaysian, NOT Theravada)
Vary in riser- becomes easier and easier to step up to the nirvana- such act of walking up steps with higher riser would require one to slightly tilt one's head down (bowing) – be humble before one sees the enlightenment
The stained glass at the middle of the inverted pyramid enables the public to experience being floating in the middle of structure where there the ground level represents the earthly life- what they do at this stage decides their afterlife (nirvana & hell)- KARMA
Harry Purwanto Tjoe
Saw Jia Jian
