Frank Lloyd Wright used the
term “organic” to describe his architecture over one hundred years ago. He also put a capital “N” on Nature and
called it his god. Today, with the
recent popularity of books like The Secret and A New Earth, along
with Oprah Winfrey’s “Change Your Life TV,” the middle of our country has
started crunching on granola along with us Californians. Words like “organic,” “natural,” and “sustainable”
are now mainstream.
In 1905, Wright designed the Unity Temple for the Unitarian Universalist church, a congregation that does not share one creed but are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. If I had to subscribe to a religious label, this would be the one, although I typically prefer to identify as spiritual versus religious.
Religion is largely responsible for great architectural innovation. With some exceptions, most significant structures of ancient times - pyramids, temples, cathedrals - were built for religious purposes. Today, architectural innovation is driven by the creed of capitalism and the fanaticism of the sports fan with skyscrapers and sports stadiums serving as our new places of worship.I became a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright and student of spirituality in my teen years, and like many before me, pondered ways to merge my own spiritual beliefs with architectural designs. Spirituality, in my view, is not something one practices for one hour every Sunday. Life itself is the spiritual practice. And where do we spend our lives? We spend the majority of our time in our homes, and most of our waking hours in the buildings where we work. Spiritual growth does not typically occur through architecture, but through relationships with God, with others, and with our selves. Prayer, charity work, meditation, yoga, psychotherapy….these are just a few of the more common paths to the divine. However, the physical environment influences and affects our behavior and state of mind.
As an architect, my first priority is to help a client define and execute their vision. Yet, it is difficult to be completely unbiased, and, when a client is open to it, my own ideology influences designs that attempt to foster:· A sense of inner peace
To strive for these lofty aspirations, buildings that are functional and aesthetically pleasing are the most obvious answer, as are open, airy, and organized spaces. It is important to provide the right balance between an open floor plan which offers increased interpersonal interaction and private space necessary for peace of mind. Incorporating trees and plants as well as natural materials from the immediate environment help provide a sense of connection with nature. Soothing and energizing colors and patterns can cultivate the feelings of peace, purpose, and joy. Fountains, ponds, fireplaces, and integrated sound systems can all foster relaxation.
Specifying products and systems that are not harmful to our health should be a basic requirement, yet it is astounding how many toxic materials - paint, lead, asbestos, and other chemicals - exist in our homes and offices. Joy and peace are difficult to experience when we are not healthy.
Sleeping is central to our physical and emotional well-being. Creating a very small, separate, soundproof room just large enough for a bed, with the other bedroom furniture and television in an adjacent room, creates a more relaxing sleep space. With no distractions or clutter in this bed “chamber,” the vital roles of sleeping, dreaming, and bonding are facilitated, and can be further promoted by incorporating an enhancing lighting and sound system. Black-out shades at the windows permit either brightness or total darkness.
Front porches provide a place to sit and connect with neighbors strolling by or coming home from work. Large windows that face the street have a similar effect. These days, most people drive into their garage, shut the garage door behind them with the clicker, and enter their house directly from the garage, guaranteeing zero contact with neighbors. Eliminating the door from the garage directly into the house or separating the garage from the house slightly allows for chance encounters with others in the community as homeowners must leave their garage door open as they unload their car then walk to their front door. If this is done, it’s important to keep the walkway from the garage to the front door short and protected from the weather by a roof overhang.
In office buildings, gathering spaces, circulation routes, and work areas can be designed to encourage interaction where appropriate, not only bringing people together as fellow human beings, but as co-workers who must communicate to perform their jobs more effectively. A private napping room allows for contemplation or rejuvenation.
It might seem futile to reach for enlightenment through the design of ordinary and every day spaces. But a spiritual practice does not only take place in a cathedral or temple. It takes place in the home, the office, the coffee shop. More than anywhere, it takes place in the holiest of all places, within ourselves.
In 1905, Wright designed the Unity Temple for the Unitarian Universalist church, a congregation that does not share one creed but are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. If I had to subscribe to a religious label, this would be the one, although I typically prefer to identify as spiritual versus religious.
Religion is largely responsible for great architectural innovation. With some exceptions, most significant structures of ancient times - pyramids, temples, cathedrals - were built for religious purposes. Today, architectural innovation is driven by the creed of capitalism and the fanaticism of the sports fan with skyscrapers and sports stadiums serving as our new places of worship.I became a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright and student of spirituality in my teen years, and like many before me, pondered ways to merge my own spiritual beliefs with architectural designs. Spirituality, in my view, is not something one practices for one hour every Sunday. Life itself is the spiritual practice. And where do we spend our lives? We spend the majority of our time in our homes, and most of our waking hours in the buildings where we work. Spiritual growth does not typically occur through architecture, but through relationships with God, with others, and with our selves. Prayer, charity work, meditation, yoga, psychotherapy….these are just a few of the more common paths to the divine. However, the physical environment influences and affects our behavior and state of mind.
As an architect, my first priority is to help a client define and execute their vision. Yet, it is difficult to be completely unbiased, and, when a client is open to it, my own ideology influences designs that attempt to foster:· A sense of inner peace
To strive for these lofty aspirations, buildings that are functional and aesthetically pleasing are the most obvious answer, as are open, airy, and organized spaces. It is important to provide the right balance between an open floor plan which offers increased interpersonal interaction and private space necessary for peace of mind. Incorporating trees and plants as well as natural materials from the immediate environment help provide a sense of connection with nature. Soothing and energizing colors and patterns can cultivate the feelings of peace, purpose, and joy. Fountains, ponds, fireplaces, and integrated sound systems can all foster relaxation.
Specifying products and systems that are not harmful to our health should be a basic requirement, yet it is astounding how many toxic materials - paint, lead, asbestos, and other chemicals - exist in our homes and offices. Joy and peace are difficult to experience when we are not healthy.
Sleeping is central to our physical and emotional well-being. Creating a very small, separate, soundproof room just large enough for a bed, with the other bedroom furniture and television in an adjacent room, creates a more relaxing sleep space. With no distractions or clutter in this bed “chamber,” the vital roles of sleeping, dreaming, and bonding are facilitated, and can be further promoted by incorporating an enhancing lighting and sound system. Black-out shades at the windows permit either brightness or total darkness.
Front porches provide a place to sit and connect with neighbors strolling by or coming home from work. Large windows that face the street have a similar effect. These days, most people drive into their garage, shut the garage door behind them with the clicker, and enter their house directly from the garage, guaranteeing zero contact with neighbors. Eliminating the door from the garage directly into the house or separating the garage from the house slightly allows for chance encounters with others in the community as homeowners must leave their garage door open as they unload their car then walk to their front door. If this is done, it’s important to keep the walkway from the garage to the front door short and protected from the weather by a roof overhang.
In office buildings, gathering spaces, circulation routes, and work areas can be designed to encourage interaction where appropriate, not only bringing people together as fellow human beings, but as co-workers who must communicate to perform their jobs more effectively. A private napping room allows for contemplation or rejuvenation.
It might seem futile to reach for enlightenment through the design of ordinary and every day spaces. But a spiritual practice does not only take place in a cathedral or temple. It takes place in the home, the office, the coffee shop. More than anywhere, it takes place in the holiest of all places, within ourselves.
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