This document provides an overview of a student's dissertation on the relationship between spirituality and architecture. It includes sections on the aims and objectives of the study, which are to investigate the relationship between space and spirit, understand the origins of spirituality and how it can be applied to daily life, and explore how architecture can contribute to improving living standards and a sense of unity. It also includes a literature review on the concepts of spirituality, spiritual living, and the interconnection between spirituality and architecture. Examples of spiritual architecture are discussed, such as temples from ancient India. The current scenario of how spirituality is being incorporated into modern architecture is also examined.

1. MYSTICAL UNFOLD
MITIKSHA JAIN
BATCH 2017
173531050028

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I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provided
me the possibility to complete this report. A special gratitude I give to our
Sustainable Subject Faculty Ar. Nirav Khandwala, whose contribution in
stimulating suggestions and encouragement, helped me to coordinate
my project especially in writing this report.
Furthermore I would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the
crucial role of the staff of Bhagwan Mahavir College Of Architecture who
gave the permission to use all required equipment and the necessary
materials to complete this task.
Acknowledgement

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Content
Abstract 05
Aim- Objective 06
Research Questions 06
Dissertation 07
Introduction 09
Spirituality & Architecture 10
Current Scenario 15
Examples 16
Conclusion 22
Bibliography 23
Abstract
The definition of spiritual has evolved over time, and it now encompasses
a wide range of meanings and connotations. It was once linked to
religion, religious experiences, and the Holy Spirit. The modern, secular,
and larger use of the word, on the other hand, refers to a sensation of
otherworldliness. It has become a word that is also commonly used as
way to describe intangible things that lack a straightforward explanation.
Oneness is a state of being that exists outside of the consciousness.
On every level, we feel connected to everything in creation when we
experience Oneness.To put it another way, we feel ‘at one’with everything.
This article discusses the relationship between spirituality and oneness,
as well as how the two are intertwined in architecture. Tangible and
intangible aspects of places, the sensations one has when wandering
through them, emphasising spirituality, oneness, wholeness, and
proximity to one’s soul.
The term “spirituality in place” is used in this project to describe the
aspects of the built environment that contribute to places that allow users
to find more meaning in their surroundings through their physical design.
This project defines spirituality in the context of the built environment,
theorizes a framework for spirituality in place consisting of humanity,
sensuality and sustainability, and deploys this framework to identify ways
in which spirituality is manifest in the built environment through a critical
analysis of select sites.This project also comprises the case study of
projects stating the dissertation.

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AIM
This study intends to investigate the relationship between space and spirit,
as well as the validity of spiritualism and the need for such programmes
for prosperous well-being.
OBJECTIVE
- To dive deep into the field of authentic spirituality.
- To investigate the need for unity in today’s world and how
architecture might contribute to the improvement of living standards.
- Understanding the origins of spirituality and how to apply it in daily life.
- Exploring the role of material and location in locating one’s spirit/soul.
The focus of this study is on spirituality, its origins, and its relationship to
architecture. How oneness emerges as a critical component of spirituality.
Routine spaces like public gardens, school, etc. can be designed with
taking oneness into consideration.
The essence of spirituality is the search to know our true selves, to
discover the real nature of consciousness. In other words, it is a constant
discovery of the incredible, our real self, and a quest of our true being,
why we are, who we are and where we belong.
- Orgins of Spiritualism.
- What is the association of Spiritualism and Architecture?
- How the current scenario comes into play?
- What are the spaces that are considered to be spiritual?
- How the subtle nature can be achieved?
Aim & Objective
Research Questions
Dissertation

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Introduction
The origins of spiritual living, the necessity of spiritual living in everyday
life, and problem-solving components are all explored in this study.
Human evolution began with the instillation of a spiritual sense of oneness
in the minds of its forefathers. The purpose of this research thesis is
to bring together people from all backgrounds to embark on an inner
journey to explore their inner potentials, talents, and shortcomings, as
well as to become self-educated. Man has become disconnected from
his own roots and values due to the impact of the material world. To
function better in the individual and how the body responds to the outside
world, it is necessary to understand the architecture of one’s body and
how each organ performs. Proper reasoning, right acts, refining of one’s
attributes, and reasonable thinking are the outcomes of Spirituality and
Psychonautics. Meditation can be studied as a separate science.
India is a country with a rich historical and cultural heritage. There is a
cultural mix of people who are not only involved in religious traditions, but
who are also looking for a personal spiritual connection. The country’s
current spiritual centres are indicative of this. Spirituality is a global idea
that is not based on religion or community. Only an enlightened spiritual
master can convey spiritual knowledge, and only he or she can create
appropriate spiritual tactics for the individuals.

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Man has been evolving for over a million years, and it is thanks to this process that he is who he
is now. However, the rate of evolution in humans, in particular, is gradually slowing. The reason
for this is that evolution is a product of both nature and time.
The word “spirituality” comes from the word “spirit.” Spirit is frequently pitted against materiality.
Spirits are non-physical beings who do not have a physical body. Spirituality is thought to be
a susceptible dimension to certain metrics. People can be truly spiritual if they show signs of
heightened spiritual activity. After countless animal and human lives, the soul has the ability to
achieve altered states of awareness. Spiritual practise is the process of cleaning the mind of all
impressions, incorrect education, and bad habits. The latter allows a person to live as a spirit for
all eternity. This state can be attained by living in accordance with natural laws.
Spirituality generally entails returning to our natural condition of being, when we are simply a
being with no artificiality. We become spiritual when we begin to think about and be conscious of
our inherent nature. Then we start to evolve intellectually, which leads to a greater comprehension
of reality and a better condition of perception. Spirituality ultimately teaches you to see reality as
it is, allowing you to preserve an eternal state of mental well-being.
According to Casaldàliga, what is not material is something that does not have a body and is
deemed spiritual. If there is a presence of spirit in something, it is spiritual. Spirituality is thought
to be a susceptible dimension to certain metrics. People can be truly spiritual if they show signs
of heightened spiritual activity. After countless animal and human lives, the soul has the ability to
achieve altered states of awareness.
The origins of spiritual living, the necessity of spiritual living in everyday life, and problem-solving
components are all explored in this study. Human evolution began with the instillation of a spiritual
sense of oneness in the minds of its forefathers. The purpose of this research thesis is to bring
together people from all backgrounds to embark on an inner journey to explore their inner potentials,
talents, and shortcomings, as well as to become self-educated. Man has become disconnected
from his own roots and values due to the impact of the material world. To function better in the
individual and how the body responds to the outside world, it is necessary to understand the
architecture of one’s body and how each organ performs. Proper reasoning, right acts, refining
of one’s attributes, and reasonable thinking are the outcomes of Spirituality and Psychonautics.
Meditation can be studied as a separate science.
Spiritual practise is the process of cleaning the mind of all impressions, incorrect education, and
bad habits. The latter allows a person to live as a spirit for all eternity. This state can be attained
by living in accordance with natural laws. Spiritual practise is the process of cleaning the mind of
all impressions, incorrect education, and bad habits. The latter allows a person to live as a spirit
for all eternity. This state can be attained by living in accordance with natural laws.
India is a country with a rich historical and cultural heritage. There is a cultural mix of people
who are not only involved in religious traditions, but who are also looking for a personal spiritual
connection. The country’s current spiritual centres are indicative of this. Spirituality is a global
idea that is not based on religion or community. Only an enlightened spiritual master can convey
spiritual knowledge, and only he or she can create appropriate spiritual tactics for the individuals.
1. Spirituality and Architecture
Source: Tiny buddha
Source: LonerWolf
1.1. Spiritual

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Architecture is a phenomenon that determines the quality of a building’s constructed environment
while allowing a variety of activities.Aplace’s character is determined by the quality of its spatial and
functional arrangements in a given dimension. The peaceful value of architecture is increased by
the engagement of the senses in a setting through movement and motion. Architecture, according
to Norberg-Schulz, refers to the spirit of a place, an environment in which man engages in his
daily activities. Light, sound, air, water bodies, green landscape, open-to-sky spaces, and climatic
conditions are some of the cosmic, spiritual, and natural aspects that can constitute such a place.
The spaces we live in the modern world, whether private or public, are the vessels through which
our human needs are developed and satisfied. Cities can easily address physiological and safety
demands, and proponents of a greater focus on the social aspects of life, such as Jane Jacobs,
argue for cities that meet the needs of love and esteem. It becomes much more difficult to identify,
operationalize, and address the ways in which the built environment addresses the needs of self-
actualization and self-transcendence.
Sri Aurobindo says “Man does not arrive immediately at the highest inner elevation and if it were
demanded of him at once, he would never arrive there. At first he needs lower supports and
stages of ascent, he asks for some line of thought, dogma, worship, image, sign, and symbols,
some indulgence and permission of mixed half natural motive on which he can stand while he
builds up in him the temple of spirit.“
Man has been on a never-ending journey for truth, reality, and tranquilly. Overwhelmed by
the boundless nature, he attributed anything he couldn’t understand to nature’s majesty. The
intelligence of man is incapable of accepting something that is unknown, invisible, and has no set
shape or form. As a result, man created physical form to the heavenly entity in order to satisfy his
intellectual curiosity.
Architecture is a phenomenon that determines the quality of a building’s constructed environment
while allowing a variety of activities. A place’s character is determined by the quality of its spatial
and functional arrangements in a given dimension. Pallasmaa emphasises that architecture is
multi-sensory, bringing consumers closer to the things they interact with. The peaceful value of
architecture is increased by the engagement of the senses in a setting through movement and
motion. Architecture, according to Norberg-Schulz, refers to the spirit of a place, an environment
in which man engages in his daily activities. Light, sound, air, water bodies, green landscape,
open-to-sky spaces, and climatic conditions are some of the cosmic, spiritual, and natural aspects
that can constitute such a place.
Spirituality and architecture are intertwined, with various levels contributing to the formation of
a holistic setting. The tactile and sensory character of architecture allows man to physically,
psychologically, and visually merge with the constructed world. These architectural elements can
be expressed as an environment that stimulates spiritual emotions in people. As a result, these
attributes can be leveraged to create a spiritual environment.
India is a country with many different cultures. People integrate socially and culturally at numerous
occasions. In the environment, however, there is a lack of spiritual engagement. Spirituality is
intended at people of all cultures, and people from all walks of life are invited to join the journey.
As a result, spiritual architecture benefits the larger community by bringing people of many
cultures together in one location to do spiritual practises. Spiritual activities, according to Swami
Paramananda, are conducted by an individual in order to enhance his inner and divine attributes
in order to achieve eternal happiness and bliss. They’re done to help people grow spiritually,
leading to the experience of a state of Godliness, also known as altered states of consciousness.
A spiritual awakening is necessary for people to become conscious of their activities. Spirituality,
sometimes known as psychonautics, is a method for bringing about such changes in people. As
a result, architecture encompasses more than just space and functions; it also considers culture,
nature, society, and people.
However, the physical world is affected by this Eastern way of thinking. There are concepts that
provide insights for the constructed environment in addition to the psychogenic link between
a person and their environment. Unity, organisation, creativity, individuality, expression, poetry,
and authenticity are all concepts that can be applied to the physical sphere just as easily as
they can to peak experiences and transcendence. Form, space, and order are unmistakably
linked to balance, harmony, and nature. Zen rock gardens are an example of Buddhist and Taoist
philosophy manifested in the real world.
In order to develop an approach to the spiritual nature of design it is first
useful to define what we mean by spirituality, in particular the spiritual
experience vis-à-vis the built environment. Although one could turn
to a nearly infinite number of sources from literature, art, and music
to sacred texts and philosophical treatises, there have in fact been a
number of psychological investigations into what constitutes a ‘spiritual
experience’.
(Maslow 1961; Pahnke and Richards 1966).
1.2. Architectural 1.3. Spirituality and Architecture
Source: Bahá’í Temple in Chile by Hariri Pontarini Architects, 2016

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Spiritual spaces can be found in nature or created artificially. A spiritual space in nature is a
location recognised as such by individuals or groups. It’s a distinct location, with a personality
that sets it apart from the rest of the neighbourhood. They’re not like other places you’d find
in your neighbourhood. The human desire to create a connection with inner truth leads to the
categorization of a location as spiritual. A spiritual setting for one individual or group of people
might not be spiritual for another. The architecture of a room can elicit all of the senses, assist in
concentrating positive energy to soothe an agitated mind, and transport a serene, stable mind
beyond the physical realm. It’s an aspect of life that you can’t avoid. It tries to reflect man’s origin
and reason for being in a variety of ways. Architecture is more than just a physical structure or a
collection of symbolic artefacts.They serve as a stimulus for our “dwelling,” or interaction with the
world. Since time immemorial, architecture, along with the other arts, has been one of the most
powerful means of pursuing and realising this quest and giving it physical-symbolic expression:
how to create an identity and a place for our being within the vast, shapeless, and infinite expanse
of time and space; how to affirm our presences and gain a foothold in the universe.
A successful architectural expression is one that can deliver both an enriching experience and a
lasting picture. It becomes more vital to allow for an experience of both the form and the formless,
one detectable through the senses and the other beyond the senses, when expressing spirituality
in material. Because sacred areas are separated from everyday settings inside a specified
precinct, the travel and arrival at the sacred place are valued. The sacred experience includes
the road and the ceremonial trip. The search for or creation of spiritual sanctuaries is a common
human aspiration.
The current environmental degradation crisis is also a spatial crisis.
People are creating meaningless spaces in a methodical manner. We
must establish a method of comprehending both the built and natural
environments. True rejuvenation will necessitate a shift in how we frame
experience in order to comprehend both the natural and built worlds.
Since then, the modern has forsaken the spiritual dimension and moral
obligation. The society has been tainted by materialism separated
from ethes. As a result, spirituality, yoga, and meditation are becoming
increasingly popular. Religious people are looking for the spiritual grid
that has been lost in religion. As a result, there is an increasing demand
for buildings to meet this demand.
Based on experiential background and emotional linkages, there are
spatial aspects and architectural features. To find and characterise these
links, one must look beyond the obvious signs and symbols and examine
the spatial aspects and architectural components that activate the senses.
Designing the spaces with their function with respect to its spirtual feeling
can be attained by use of materials. Wood, plain concrete and other
natural material adds onto the subtlety of the space attaining spirituality.
Source: Rethinking the future
2. Current Scenario

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3. Examples
Temples, Chaityas, Viharas, Stupas, and other religious structures are the most distinctive of
India’s ancient architectural relics. Temple building of a high calibre developed in practically every
region of ancient India. Geographical, climatic, ethnic, racial, historical, and linguistic differences
all contributed to the varied architectural styles of temple development in different parts.
Modern-day examples include everyday structures designed by notable architects, such as
It demonstrates how ancient Indian architecture
understood the potential of abstraction and
metaphysical linkages between physical form
and space. Much has been written about
Indian architecture as a sacred form, but
the ‘generators’ of this physical form - the
design elements that make up ancient Indian
architecture – have received less attention.
As a result of vast diversities, a vast range of
architectural specimens have evolved, retaining
a certain amount of continuity across history.
Indian architecture, which has evolved through
centuries, is the result of socio-economic and
geographical conditions. Different types of
Indian architectural styles include a mass of
expressions over space and time, transformed
by the forces of history considered unique to
India.
Source: india.com
Source: britannica Source: youtube
Source: fine art america Source: Anthony B.
Source: architecturaldigest
Ajanta Caves
Sanchi Stupa Ellora Caves
Buddhists in prayer, Japan FallingWater by Frank Llyod Wright
Sangath By B.V. Doshi
Karla Caves
Source: india.com

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Source: Fodors Travel Guide
Source: thearchitecturalreview
Source: thearchitecturalreview
Source: thearchitecturalreview
Source: archdaily
Palace of Assembly by Le Corbuiser
IIM By Bimal Patel
Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp by Le Corbusier
Church of Light by Tadao Ando
Riola Parish Church by Alvar Aalto
The great architects created calm yet beautiful spaces that highlight sentiments of oneness and
spirituality.
Instead, simple, calm, and modest interiors with a strong emphasis on natural materials are
gradually becoming the standard. These modern religious buildings are progressively becoming
adaptive, versatile venues that fulfil the needs of the community in addition to becoming places
of worship.
Light is often used by architects in clever
ways to design religious buildings, with the
play of light and shadow drawing to mind the
deeper struggle of good and evil; heaven and
hell. Tadao Ando’s minimalistic Church of the
Light, built in urban Japan in the late 1980s,
is a beautiful example of this. Through the
intersection of light and solid, his architecture
of duality serves to “create a place for the
individual, a zone for oneself within society”,
according to Ando.
Alvar Aalto, Riola Parrish Church is a stunning
concrete form which mimics and modulates
with the contours of its Italian landscape. The
magnificent baptistery, completed in 1978,
is located eight kilometers south of Bologna
in the small town of Riola. Aalto’s evocative
modernist architecture captures the spirit of
this mountain setting; it is a spiritual structure
which,insideandout,unassumingly expresses
sanctity of faith and place.
The interior chapel’s play on light is especially
divine; the northern light is diffused through
vertical, asymmetrical ribs, which create a
majestic grid of soft light which projects down
onto the worshipper. The presence of light
brilliantly transcends the occupier into a holy
state.
A look at religious architecture would
not be complete without a mention of Le
Corbusier’s famous Notre Dame du Haut in
Ronchamp, completed in 1954. The church
is a classic example of Corbusier’s late work.
It is considered a watershed in the history of
modern religious architecture, for it was one
of the first ‘spatially pure religious spaces’ that
was void of decadence and extravagent detail.

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Spiritual Hubs in India
Source: worldarchitecturecommunity
Source: Archdaily
Source: Archdaily
Source: Pandotravel
Source: Saints and monks tours
Maitrimandir, Auroville
Sheryas Retreat Centre, Bangalore
Jetvana, Maharashtra
Lotus Temple, Delhi
Osho International Mediation Center, Pune
The above examples beautifully explains the
essence of spirituality. Wandering into these spaces
connects one’s soul to eternal being. The essence
of spirituality is the search to know our true selves,
to discover the real nature of consciousness. This
has been a part of the eternal quest of man from
times immemorial.

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The use of materials can be used to design places with their functions in
mind, as well as their spiritual feeling. Wood, plain concrete, and other natural
materials contribute to the space’s subtlety in achieving spirituality. Spirituality
is a supposedly immaterial or ultimate reality. The search for our inner selves,
for the true nature of consciousness, lies at the heart of spirituality. To put it
another way, it’s a never-ending journey for the fantastic, our true selves, and a
quest for our genuine selves, why we are, who we are, and where we belong.
From the beginning of time, this has been a component of man’s eternal pursuit.
Many people have given varied answers to these issues, however they are all
subject to one’s personal interpretation and perception.
For mystics, the spiritual is not only something to contemplate, but also
something to experience. When spiritual events are considered in such a way
that they elicit a strong emotional response, they are said to be experienced.
When spiritual experience is heartfelt, it is shown to be mysterious, awesome,
urgent, and fascinating—what the German theologian and historian of religion
Rudolf Otto referred to as “numinous.”
The relationship between the spiritual and the numinous is analogous to that
between a beautiful object and someone’s aesthetic experience of it. Our quest
to become conscious of our spirit is referred to as spirituality. Any construction
system that fosters this consciousness is referred to as “spiritual architecture.”
It is an act of bringing forth or highlighting the self, not by rejecting matter but by
manifesting it in matter, on various levels and in diverse ways. Spiritual space is
defined by E.v. Walter in placeways as “a specific environment of phenomena
that are anticipated to feed the imagination, nourish spiritual experience, and
reveal spiritual truth” (walter, e.v., place ways: a philosophy of spiritual space).
• liveanddare.com/oneness/
• Spirituality in place: building connections between architecture, design,
and Spiritual experience by Robert birch and Brian r. Sinclair.
• www.architecturaldigest.in/content/photos-9-iconic-buildings-designed-by-
architect-bv-doshi/
• www.culturalindia.net/indian-architecture/ancient-architecture/index.html
• www.culturalindia.net/indian-architecture/
• issuu.com/khushboogunjal/docs/final_draft.docx
4. Conclusion 5. Bibliography