Appropriate vocabulary for a Hindu Temple design in Auckland

Abstract

The Temple provides a deep insight into the spiritual and social aspects of the Hindu religion. With advancement in technology and communications, settlement patterns and Temple worship have undergone radical changes. So have the lifestyle and the attitude of people in general. However in the recent past there seems to be a general tendency to re-establish ones spiritual communion through Temple worship. The locals and the migrants seem to prefer to be in close contact with their culture and establish their place of worship wherever they are.

Temple design is usually weighed down by budgetary constraints, local planning regulations and the opinions of the project committee. However if there are no such constraints what would a Temple on a particular site look like? I am interested in investigating this question.

To understand the importance of the architectural forms in a traditional Hindu Temple, it is imperative to study the traditional planning principles and understand how they have been translated in the past. As a part of this research, I plan to identify the non-negotiable elements of traditional Temple design that impart its sacredness and not to challenge them. With the focus towards the migration of formal architectural devices from India to other countries, there is very little evidence of the translation of the traditional planning considerations in contemporary Temple design.

This research investigates some of the existing Temples in Auckland which may have followed the traditional principles and have added their own localized requirements in addition to the traditional spaces. I wish to re-explore the worship patterns today and assess the activities in the Temple and its precinct.

This research through design will be conducted to evaluate the traditional Temple designs, analyse the existing Temple designs in Auckland and develop an appropriate architectural vocabulary for a contemporary Hindu Temple.