Equanimity and Serenity Labyrinth landscape
The concept of a sacred space is the essence of a culture’s ideologies regarding themselves and the world they live in. Upon evaluating sacred spaces, they are an expression of the values and beliefs held by the people who worship there. In constructing a space that encompass those values and beliefs, Group Gaudi consulted the Encyclopedia of Sacred Spaces to gather information about what was similar and different about sacred spaces in constructing a space that would reflect a style that would be conducive to all religions and belief systems. Our primary concern in constructing a space was to construct a neutral space that reflected values of peacefulness and serenity which we felt would allow worshippers the freedom to pray or meditate and obtain oneness with their god or spirituality. We chose to name our space Equanimity because if reflects feelings of neutral spirituality and equality among religions. We felt the landscape was important to name since it reflects a ritual activity that can be included in the process of worship for those who wish to participate.
The sites analyzed for similarities and differences are the Dome of the Rock, Kandarya Mahadeva, the Altar of Heaven, the Pyramid, Stonehenge, and the Parthenon. All of these spaces are large spaces that are settled within a scenic landscape. Group Gaudi felt that the location of the space was important because it has the ability to emphasize the peacefulness and serenity we thought a universal space should have. We felt that a location in tropical Hawaii with crystal blue waters, majestic mountainous terrain, and luscious greenery would help worshippers in their spiritual journey. Group Gaudi chose to have a large space to accommodate a large amount of people; however, we also wanted this structure to stand out from the landscape. We chose to design a towering half-moon shaped structure. The significance of this design is that there are no corners which would represent equality among all religions and cultures and the size may reflect its grandeur with the people and nature. We also wanted this to reflect the landscape and may imply values of oneness through its design similar to the heavens. This may help guide people in obtaining peacefulness. Group Gaudi agreed that a site nestled in a grassy green valley surrounded by cascading mountains may reflect peacefulness and a desire to absorb the beauty of nature which could be a neutral landscape to allow all religions and styles of worship very accommodating. This is important to us because we realized that in most religious places the site of the sacred place is usually placed in an area of considerable importance to the people who worship there which may reflect beliefs concerning fertility, harvesting of crops, love, cosmology, or obtaining oneness with nature and a superior being.
In obtaining peacefulness, Group Gaudi felt that incorporating a labyrinth within the landscape could help people meditate and pray on the landscape. We felt that many religions have various ritual practices, and this was a way of incorporating a ritual practice into the landscape and the idea of the universal sacred space. Some sacred spaces are enclosed while some are open. To capture the beauty of the landscape, we decided to incorporate some light into our space. The open circular patterns allow light to flow into the space which can stimulate emotions of peacefulness and oneness with nature. Group Gaudi felt that this combination of openness and light would allow worshippers to feel in tune with nature.
Many sacred places that we analyzed incorporated objects such as sculptures, friezes, figurines, and paintings that reflect the ideologies that they are worshipping. Group Gaudi decided to incorporate anthropomorphic figures on the landscape such as the half-man, half-beast figure to represent oneness with nature. This figure could also represent the strength of a culture and a joining of nature and man. We wanted these figures to reflect the strength of man and nature, and allow worshippers to feel empowered by these sculptures.
Group Gaudi felt that the inclusion of the water sculpture was very peaceful. This sculpture, in which water flows freely, could represent the flow of life in all of its stages, the purity of the spirit since water can be conceived as pure, and as cleansing to the soul. We felt that this would be peaceful to those who came to pray at the site. In addition, Group Gaudi wanted to include sidewalks and benches to facilitate the practice of prayer, meditation, and worshipping at the site.
