Genuine & Inclusive Interfaith Sacred Spaces

As the interfaith movement grows around the world, the need for interfaith sacred spaces has grown as well. Currently, many interfaith groups meet and operate out of churches, mosques, temples, community centers, schools and members’ houses. However, how much influence does architecture have on a person’s spiritual experience? Furthermore, can architecture encourage interfaith cooperation?

If you look at every other religious house of worship, they are specifically designed to accommodate each religion’s needs and spiritual beliefs. For centuries architecture has been used for this very purpose. Most notably, the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics known as Feng Shui has been practiced for thousands of years and is widely used in oriental spiritually significant structures.

When it comes to building a church, mosque, temple, or any other house of worship, the design elements are quite obvious. However, when you have multiple faiths meeting under one roof, is it possible to create a genuine and inclusive interfaith sacred space that honours all beliefs? What might such a place look like?

It’s a daunting challenge. An interfaith sacred space needs to be a place where anyone and everyone who entered, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof, would be inspired to practice their own faith and build relationships with those of other faiths.

This need for interfaith sacred spaces has inspired many architects and interfaith groups over the years. In 2003 and 2004, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio held an Interfaith Sacred Space Design Competition, which drew some 350 registrants from 26 countries. The objective of the competition was to discover the best design principles behind interfaith sacred spaces. The Juries concluded that interfaith sacred spaces need to be intimate, located in accessible areas, be in harmony with nature, and be welcoming to people of all faiths.

Two interfaith sacred spaces that I find particularly beautifully designed are Bryant University’s Interfaith Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island and the InterSpiritual Center in which is being built in conjunction with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Vancouver in British Columbia.
Designed by the award-winning firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, the Interfaith Center at Bryant University was designed “to provide a special place for people of all faiths to come together to express their spirituality and learn from one another.” The 10,000 square foot facility opened in the summer of 2009. Designed around the natural elements, the center incorporating stone, wood, water and light. Interesting design features inside the center include a reflecting pool in the center of the entry vestibule, a wood-paneled sanctuary with a ceiling-to-floor water wall, sunlight that brightly illuminates the space through large arched windows, and an arched ceiling. The center’s main room contains movable seating for 200 and a state-of-the-art sounds system, making the room accommodating for various arrangements and events. The center also includes an open porch on the side of the sanctuary, providing a quiet outdoor room for reflection. The center cost $10 million to construct and is being enjoyed by the religiously diverse and secular student population at the University.
Designed by Acton Ostry Architects Inc., the InterSpiritual Center is an expansion of the already existing 3 building complex of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. The center’s vision is “To contribute to harmony and greater spiritual understanding among all people by developing a shared sacred space in Vancouver that will serve as a shared house of worship for congregations and communities of different religions and spiritual paths, a shared house of learning about different religious and spiritual paths, practices and teachings, and a centre for shared religiously- and spiritually-based social justice and peace activities.” The 33,000 square foot facility will house classes and dialogue groups, public lectures, performances and community arts activities. Design elements for the building include a large dome ceiling with a large circular skylight, which will allow a flood of natural light into the center’s main room. A circular corridor that wraps around the main room with multiple entrances will surround the open circular concept for the center.

As the interfaith movement spreads and grows around the world, it is only fitting that local communities have a sacred space that is both welcoming and reflective of interfaith principles. Not only are these interfaith sacred spaces beautiful to look at, but they also provide a much-needed service to the world.