The case of Lotus Temple: Fariborz Sahba

This research paper embarks on a journey to explore the intricate nature of meditation centers, with a particular focus on the Lotus Temple. It is in this explanation of the subtleties and intricacies of such a spiritual place that the point is made of being able to compare the Lotus Temple with other meditation centers by witnessing its unique architectural elements. This is a first-person perspective of the transition from New Delhi's bustling urban environment into a serene, spiritually awakening space—the Lotus Temple. Designed by architect Fariborz Sahba, its structure resembles a lotus and hence symbolizes the oneness of humankind and religions, reflecting the simplicity and clarity therefore communicating unity and harmony, those very virtues that comprise the ideology behind the Bahá'í faith.  (Infinity Learn, n.d.) (Architectuul, n.d.)

The complex is located on a 9.7-hectare amidst Bahapur, New Delhi, this temple is implanted within a heavy urban fabric of residences, with offices, and factories. The critical question it raises is whether, by definition, a meditation center should be an extravagant architectural achievement, or simply an unadorned space for inward reflection. The building invites one to rethink the spaces of meditation and the role of architecture in it, leading to a question of whether the grandeur of this Lotus Temple enhances its purpose of being a place that speaks to calm and contemplation or just a mere tourist attraction.

The design was commissioned in 1976, and on January 1, 1987 this was the date when the Lotus Temple was born. This creation of an Architectural space takes one on an elaborate journey of finding oneself and peace of mind. 

(Architectuul, n.d.) (Design Asia, n.d.) (Treeo Club, n.d.) (Nooreyedan, n.d., #)

The Journey

After understanding the crux of the temple let’s take a journey experiencing this meditative space. It begins at the entrance, crafted from red sandstone and set below the temple's main level. This design choice creates a sense of hierarchy, symbolizing a transition from the hustle and bustle of city life to a serene, sacred space.

Upon ascending a series of stairs, visitors reach an elevated pathway that leads to the temple's entrance. This pathway, along with the temple's elevated base, creates a feeling of levitation and spatial transition. The concrete railing along the pathway doubles as outdoor seating. There is a sound of water. The ground below features water elements, enhancing the overall sense of tranquility. The temple's design incorporates light and water as primary decorative elements, replacing traditional statues and carvings found in Indian temples. 

Moving around the temple is surrounded by nine interconnected walkways, encouraging exploration and movement throughout the complex. The reflection of light on the underside of the entrance petals adds to the temple's dramatic effect. The first row of petals creates a semi-open space while also providing a grand entry to the structure. Additionally, these water features provide a cooling effect for the entire complex. This design approach highlights the affordances of the space, enriching the overall experience for visitors.

After taking in the majestic welcome by the architecture moving forward the entrance petals, made from Greek marble, are the smallest, while the other petals are larger. These outer petals provide a pause before entering the main temple. The entrance, made of glass and aluminum, allows for visual permeability throughout the complex. 

Inside, the transition from a small void to a large central dome symbolizes a shift from the outer world to an inner sanctuary. It gives a sense of being pulled and released in a large volume. Cavities between the middle and central petals act as light wells, flooding the interior with natural light, and creating a spotlight effect. Natural light enters the central hall through skylights at the apex of the inner petals creating an effect similar to sunlight passing through a lotus flower.

The temple's center has a skylight that serves as an oculus, enhancing the space's illumination. At night, strategically positioned lights reflect off the marble, illuminating the space beautifully. The acoustics are designed to echo softly when a large crowd speaks, adding to the sense of tranquility.

The architecture of the Lotus Temple is crafted to provide an escape from busy life, offering a space for introspection and serenity. The Lotus Temple was designed to resonate with the Indian populace while maintaining originality, avoiding replication of existing architectural styles in India.

The Lotus Temple’s design in terms of the form of the structure is similar to Jorn Utzon’s Sydney Opera House. The temple's twenty-seven marble-clad petals are organized in groups of nine in three layers, creating a harmonious and visually striking structure. The choice of materials, including high-quality white marble from Greece, reinforced concrete, steel, glass, and aluminum, contributes to the temple's durability, aesthetic appeal, and structural soundness.

(ArchDaily, n.d.) (Architectuul, n.d.) (Bahga, n.d.) (Infinity learn, n.d.)

The Type

All of these aspects of the Lotus Temple shows the extraordinary design of the structure for the purpose of meditation. The temple creates a new type of meditative spaces unlike other meditation centers around the world like a meditation center designed by Tadao Ando in Japan that exemplifies simplicity and elegance. The interior consists of concrete seating and a small entrance door, emphasizing minimalism. The entire structure is made of concrete, with a central cylindrical room accessed by a pathway. This design reflects simplicity, creating a tranquil space for meditation within a busy urban environment, offering a refuge where individuals can find peace of mind.

The temple elevates the concept of a meditation center to an entirely new level. Unlike Tadao Ando’s meditation center, which embraces simplicity, the Lotus Temple features an ambitious design inspired by a lotus flower. Greek marble petals, water features, elevated walkways, and glass and metal glazing combine to create a distinctive and elaborate meditation center. The Lotus Temple’s design is a bold interpretation that takes visitors on a transformative journey of self-discovery.

The Thoughts

Even though the Lotus Temple serves as a place for worship and meditation, one might question the necessity of its complex construction to fulfill its intended purpose. Yes, the structure is an architectural marvel but it puts the concept of meditative centers into questions and critiques for meditation, one doesn’t require an entirely new structure but rather a space where one can be with oneself and connect to the nature and surrounding beings, which this design lacks. Despite the porosity between the inside and outside of the structure, it still falls short in terms of providing a truly meditative environment.

This construction, aimed at fostering peace and calmness, has had a significant impact on the surrounding environment, which is crucial for human peace of mind. The creation of the temple involved complex steel structures for the petals, extensive excavations to create levels and hierarchies, and the installation of water features. These activities have adversely affected the local flora and fauna.

As previously discussed, Tadao Ando's project exemplifies a simple approach to creating a meditation center. This meditation center is straightforward to construct, using only a single material, concrete, and yet it achieves the same mindfulness as more complex designs like the Lotus Temple. Its simplicity makes it not only easy to build but also cost-effective, allowing for the creation of multiple modules across different locations.

(Frearson, n.d.)

In considering the use of marble as a building material, several arguments emerge. A pertinent question is whether a structure intended for such a specific purpose necessitates the use of a high-maintenance and expensive material like marble. While it undeniably creates a sense of value and hierarchy, is it truly essential for fostering meditation and achieving peace?

Although the structure exhibits porosity, the design is notably lacking in gardens and other semi-open spaces that could enhance its usability. The temple complex is entirely open to the sky, which compromises its functionality throughout the day as the pathways and the surrounding spaces cannot be used in the harsh summers of New Delhi. Again the usage of a complex material palette has further made this project more complex. Also, it is to be noted that the pathways here are made up of redstone leading to high temperature gains by the structure during the summer weather conditions. Temperature increases so much that the water features are not able to maintain the cool temperatures. The marble imported from Greece is now getting polluted by the surrounding industries thus leading to its increase in maintenance. 

(Sonwalker, n.d.) (Infinity Learn, n.d.)

Instead of being solely a place for meditation and calm, the Lotus Temple has become a tourist attraction, drawing large crowds throughout the year. This influx of visitors undermines the temple's original purpose. While the journey through the temple—from walking over water features to entering a vast void—provides a disconnection from the outside world, one might question if such an elaborate journey is necessary for achieving peace of mind.

There are a few questions that arise through this research: 

Is such an elaborate journey necessary for the purpose of meditation?

What is the appropriate use of materials in meditative spaces to foster a sense of self-discovery and peace of mind?

Does this material palette work in New Delhi's weather?

Is it a journey to one's peace or the surrounding violation?

There are also more questions that could arise like based on this extravagant structure could the funds be used in a more effective manner to approach the same purpose?

This research has gone through the spatial and material factors of the Temple and given the readers a critical and argumentative perspective towards meditative centers. Thus, encouraging the readers to delve deeper and rethink the concept of a meditation center creating their own views on it through admiring and critically analyzing such architectural marvels.

References

ArchDaily. n.d. Accessed August 5th, 2024. https://www.archdaily.com/158522/ad-classics-lotus-temple-fariborz-sahba.

Architectuul. n.d. Accessed August 5th, 2024. https://architectuul.com/architecture/lotus-temple.

Bahga, Sarbjit. 2024. https://worldarchitecture.org/articles/cvcmg/lotus_temple_a_symbol_of_excellence_in_modern_indian_architecture.html.

Design Asia. 2023. https://designasiamagazine.com/lotus-temple-a-masterpiece-of-architectural-serenity/.

Frearson, Amy. 2020. https://www.dezeen.com/2020/04/27/tadao-ando-meditation-space-photos-simone-bossi/.

Infinity learns. n.d. Accessed August 6th, 2024. https://infinitylearn.com/surge/topics/lotus-temple/.

Nooreyedan, Sheriar. n.d. Accessed August 10th, 2024.

Sonwalker, Prasun. 1997. https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/lotus-temple-wilts-under-pollution-197071101073_1.html.

Treeo Club. n.d. Accessed August 7th, 2024. https://www.treebo.com/blog/lotus-temple-delhi/.