A Buddhist Temple
Connecting Identity
Site Analysis
The proposed religious facilities lies in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, close to several other cultural sites for the city. It lies in close proximity to many parks, museums and theaters such as the Wyly Theater and the Windspear. While the site's has proximity to these existing cultural sites as well as the other proposed religious facilities, it is also bordered by a large highway and a train track. The design of the facility aims at creating connections with the cultural context, while still maintaining an environment suitable for religious practice and the process of discovering ones inner natures.
Dallas, Texas
Site Responses
Early inthe design process, the site context began to set up clear outlines to follow while creating the design. Most importantly, ways to shelter the worship spaces from the elements became an important goal. However, while I wanted to create an enclosed, more natural environment, almost like a valley amongst the density surrounding the site, I did not want to seclude it from the rest of the context. I explored creating both literal, visual and gestural connections to the other relgious facilities close by, the adjacent park space, and the cultural institutions beyond. One early goal of my design was to create an inner space that was connected through some sort of path or gesture to the context, while sheltering it, creating a peacful place worthy of introverted worship activated by the people traveling into the site from exterior public space into an interior conversation and connection space. .
Site Context and Conditions
The site sits between a major highway and a large grouping of cultural institution. One major obstacle to overcome from the site comes from the pollution of both noise and chemicals that come from the bordering highway. While the site is bordered by this highway to the east, the major vehicular entry into the site comes from the south west. Early in the design it became clear that the design should seek to create shelter from these negative elements. On the other hand, the site has close connections to many nearby cultural institutions such as the Wyly Theater by Rex and OMA architects, the latino culturalcenter, the Windspear, and several important parks and carious other cultural center. While the design should seek to create a shelter from the negative aspects of the site, it should be open and create meaningful connections to the surrounding institutions. allowing the Temple design to fit in with the overall cultural theme and connections around it.