Pluralism | Mosque to Nugegoda & Temple to Haputale

University of Moratuwa (UoM), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Moratuwa

Project idea

At the beginning of religions there were no followers. So, every religion is not originally made for its followers, but for human beings. it originally comes in an acceptable and welcoming manner. But with the evolution and rise of a religion, it is built in to a closed group and always tries to stand out from the others, as a result of identity politics. Religious architecture also has been projecting this phenomenon.
Hence, this is an attempt to drive religious architecture to harmonize with its original roots. The project suggest a typology for a mosque and a temple, which is an architectural expression of the holistic philosophy of both religions.
The whole project is woven with the concept "pluralism" in order to create an acceptable religious space and a dialogue with the community.

Project description

The need of the project comes out from the macro context of Sri Lanka. This is a solution for religious extremism and to build peace, reconciliation and co-existence.

Objectives
- Identifying the boundary between accepting and marginalizing
- Introducing religious building for a diverse society which can accept by
others as well
- Application of new typology for religious architecture
- Create an alternative for people who believe doctrines of a religion
(user) and highlight that user group
- Present or familiarize the concept of pluralism to the society

Design Principles
- Acceptance
Get the essential needs from the philosophy and its evolution.
Doing an acceptable religious building which enhance the
pluralism.
Without doing an extravagant, powerful and marginalized religious
building only for one particular user group, doing a building with
essential needs which can harmonize within the diverse society.
- Understanding
Open structure to showcase interior functions.
According to the basic principle of pluralism, showcasing or
transparency is important to have mutual understanding with one
another. Doing one's religious practice should not be harmful to
others. Therefore, showcasing them or create a place to identify
their practices with its real values will help to get rid of
misunderstanding among each other. Build visual interconnection
through architecture in-terms of understanding is a vital need to
drive a society toward pluralism.
- Inter - connections
Cross programming and open plan in ground level.
In the past, religious places were a key to community activities.
Therefore, it is important to have social engagement within a
religious building. Since, design is going to plant within a diverse
society, it is beneficial to provide inter-connection, dialogue among
people through its program to promote pluralism within the
society.

Technical information

The materials, colors and all the elements are used within the project did not stand out for one particular set of people. All the elements will mean to its religious users as well as the others.

Elements extracted :
After the research following elements are taken as acceptable elements, aligns with the concept and design principles
For mosque | Quiblah wall, water (Ablutions)
For temple | Bo tree with sand garden and water (Ablutions)

Carefully selected delicate patterned grill wall is use as a structural element as well as to emphasize the quiblah wall and same pattern used to temple as well to maintain same architectural language through out the project.

Documentation

Show PDF 1Show PDF 2Show PDF 3Show PDF 4Show PDF 5Show PDF 6Show PDF 7Show PDF 8Show PDF 9Show PDF 10Show PDF 11Show PDF 12Show PDF 13