R
rdaner
Guest
As an atheist I usually ignore religious architecture but this item caught my attention. Has anyone used this space? à am currently living in a country that has seen tremendous turnoil caused by religýous differences and this space allowed me to feel that there is a way create environments for everyone.
University of Toronto Multi Faith Centre:
Project Description:
In December of 2006, the Multi Faith Centre at the University of Toronto will open after ten years of planning by the University and only seven months in construction. Although the project is small in scope and fairly rapid in architectural execution, the aspirations of the Centre are significant. The UofT is secular by definition but acknowledges that many of its population do not define themselves in secular terms.
Institutions across North America have been grappling with the issue of how to accommodate the spiritual needs of their students and create opportunities for interfaith dialogue and exploration while remaining true to their secular mandates. The solution to accommodating burgeoning diversity and interest in spirituality at many North American universities has been to create so-called multifaith spaces.
The purpose of the Multi Faith Centre is to support the spiritual well-being of students, staff and faculty and to increase the understanding and respect for religious beliefs and practices.
The objectives of the Centre are as simple as to provide a dignified space for daily spiritual contemplation and as complex as to examine the role of religious practice and spiritual development in the preparation of students for leadership in the global community.
In September of 2005, M&T were awarded the commission for the renovation of two floors of the 1,900 SM Koffler Centre of Pharmacy Management at 569 Spadina Ave. to serve as the Multi Faith Centre.
Design Description:
The main focus of the design is the Main Activity or Prayer Hall which combined two existing triangular shaped stepped lecture halls into a new, single level, symmetrical, east oriented room for two hundred worshippers. The challenge of the Hall was to create a spiritually evocative space that was not referential or biased to any one faith group. The room also had to accommodate those faiths that worship iconographically and those that worship iconoclastically, with and without symbols.
To accommodate the aesthetic, symbolic and spiritual needs of these religions the Hall was designed to be as non-exclusive as possible. All sensitivities were taken into consideration. Our goal was to avoid all religious ornamentation and symbolism, but include key elements to satisfy all religions (such as facing Mecca) and then create one single element that was common to all. That common element was light, in both the spiritual and metaphysical sense.
The expression of light was the distinguishing feature of the space. Framed in Venetian Plaster is 80 SM of glowing, back lit ceiling and front wall. The gesture is minimal with a custom support ceiling system and hidden alcoves on the front wall which, when open, reveal the icons of four of the most active faith groups on campus.
The search for the right translucent material began with plastics and polyesters, fabrics and decorative papers laminated to glass. With considerable effort and examination of the budgets the final material will be white onyx laminated to glass, chosen for the natural texture and evocative variation in the stone. For ease of installation and ceiling accessibility the 39 kg/SM ceiling had to be panelized. This was achieved by dividing the panels using geometries and proportions significant to different religions. In doing so we were able to address the symbolic references significant to many of the different participating religions.
This mosaic creates a lit field which not only creates a edifying ambiance but brings together the spirituality of all religions.
University of Toronto Multi Faith Centre:
Project Description:
In December of 2006, the Multi Faith Centre at the University of Toronto will open after ten years of planning by the University and only seven months in construction. Although the project is small in scope and fairly rapid in architectural execution, the aspirations of the Centre are significant. The UofT is secular by definition but acknowledges that many of its population do not define themselves in secular terms.
Institutions across North America have been grappling with the issue of how to accommodate the spiritual needs of their students and create opportunities for interfaith dialogue and exploration while remaining true to their secular mandates. The solution to accommodating burgeoning diversity and interest in spirituality at many North American universities has been to create so-called multifaith spaces.
The purpose of the Multi Faith Centre is to support the spiritual well-being of students, staff and faculty and to increase the understanding and respect for religious beliefs and practices.
The objectives of the Centre are as simple as to provide a dignified space for daily spiritual contemplation and as complex as to examine the role of religious practice and spiritual development in the preparation of students for leadership in the global community.
In September of 2005, M&T were awarded the commission for the renovation of two floors of the 1,900 SM Koffler Centre of Pharmacy Management at 569 Spadina Ave. to serve as the Multi Faith Centre.
Design Description:
The main focus of the design is the Main Activity or Prayer Hall which combined two existing triangular shaped stepped lecture halls into a new, single level, symmetrical, east oriented room for two hundred worshippers. The challenge of the Hall was to create a spiritually evocative space that was not referential or biased to any one faith group. The room also had to accommodate those faiths that worship iconographically and those that worship iconoclastically, with and without symbols.
To accommodate the aesthetic, symbolic and spiritual needs of these religions the Hall was designed to be as non-exclusive as possible. All sensitivities were taken into consideration. Our goal was to avoid all religious ornamentation and symbolism, but include key elements to satisfy all religions (such as facing Mecca) and then create one single element that was common to all. That common element was light, in both the spiritual and metaphysical sense.
The expression of light was the distinguishing feature of the space. Framed in Venetian Plaster is 80 SM of glowing, back lit ceiling and front wall. The gesture is minimal with a custom support ceiling system and hidden alcoves on the front wall which, when open, reveal the icons of four of the most active faith groups on campus.
The search for the right translucent material began with plastics and polyesters, fabrics and decorative papers laminated to glass. With considerable effort and examination of the budgets the final material will be white onyx laminated to glass, chosen for the natural texture and evocative variation in the stone. For ease of installation and ceiling accessibility the 39 kg/SM ceiling had to be panelized. This was achieved by dividing the panels using geometries and proportions significant to different religions. In doing so we were able to address the symbolic references significant to many of the different participating religions.
This mosaic creates a lit field which not only creates a edifying ambiance but brings together the spirituality of all religions.