A Buddhist Temple
Connecting Identity
Connecting Identites with 'Engawa'
After the initial massing explorations, some of the ideas were combined. The idea to use circulation as a connecting element as well as public space lead to the creation of a covered walkway between interior and exterior for both interacting with an interior courtyard and as ciculation became a driving idea. The worship space representing the ' inner connecting identity' reflecting the lotus sutra's focus on intrinsic buddha nature became the central element with the interior courtyard space around it, and the path space around that connecting the other program elements. After our trips to Dallas. we visited a Tadao Ando museum, there I found a book of interviews with him. In the book, he talked about a Japanese typology called an engawa, a connecting space between Interior and exterior,that serves as a path,threshold, and interaction space, found in farmhouses. This typology seemed to fit the path/ interaction space I used as a joining element, and from then labeled this space engawa to define it use.
Scheme 1
What was created was a series of wings protecting interior courtyard spaces with the worship space placed within. To see how I came to this geometry go here to my concept page to explore my process of abstracting a simple square geoetry to relate to the context and program. The space around reflected the re-grouping of programatic elements to reflect separate purposes, and in some ways they also reflect the stages in the Buddha's life: Discovery, learning, engagement (practice), and enlightenment.
