Interfaith Meditation Chapel
Sedona, Arizona Community college Students - design project The project is for the design of a nondenominational worship and meditation space set that is located in a natural environment with unique site features. The goal is to develop a space that encourages connections between individuals and the environment that also creates a sense of spirituality, peace and contemplation through light, scale, form and nature. Sedona has long been known as one of the most spiritual places in the world. Unique to this site are several energy vortices that create uplifting experiences. These concentrated energies can be used to facilitate prayers, meditation, mind/body healing through exploration of the soul and the divine. This energy is the reason why people come to Sedona “that are on path” to have a commitment to growth and further their spiritually through the nature.
Sedona contains many vortex areas with highly concentrated energies conductive to facilitating prayer, meditation, mind/body healing, and the exploration of the soul and the Divine. A vortex is a place in nature where the earth is exceptionally alive with energy. Vortices in Sedona are places where the earth energy swirls and concentrates it into the center to surround the energy within a tornado like feature. Many features and attributes that vortices often display in the environment are found in trees and landscape. trees are often said that they exhibit the vortex force by the swirling or twisting forms of their trunks.
Energy Vortices
Outline of the Red rock
The wave Located in Arizona
Air currents Movement
“Vortex” © 2012 Stainless Steel Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Audemars Piguet Building by BIG Architect Switzerland
• The approach of the project is to design and represent the energy vortexes through creation of physical structures. • To experience the vortex elements of the site through architectural form and space.
• To create A place where Prayers, Meditations, breathing exercises, ceremonies, visualizations and mind/body healing can be held.
Design Principles • Emphasis Emphasize the vortex element into physical structures through Architectural form and space
• Proportion Relationship between the structures with respect to its size and the relation between parts of a whole
• Focal Points and Movements The use of wall elements to direct and guide people around the space of the building
• Harmony Arrangement of structures to form a vortex to give the people the feeling that all parts of the piece form a coherent whole.
• Contrast Unique elements in a design should stand apart from one another, which can be achieved by color, tone, and size to allow viewer’s eye to flow naturally with the environment.
Site plan will be placed near the Thunder Mountain Trailhead following the lower chimney rock trail in between the two mountains
There is an existing parking lot located in the site. The parking lot will be improved and expand with pervious paving.
Bubble Diagram
Red Rock Hills features
Birds eye view
Chapels View
Conceptual Development Parti V2 Inspiration Parti V1
Parti Model 1
Parti V2
Parti Model 2
Parti Model 3
unalome: A spiritual symbol for enlightenment which often associates with meditation. The symbol is a representation of reaching enlightenment. The path starts in the center of the spiral, and as you continue down this path you are wandering, becoming more conscious of your surroundings. When you reach the top of the symbol (the straight line), you have reached enlightenment.
Unalome symbols
Conceptual Development
Sketchbook analysis and research studies
Study Model
Portal Model:
Master Plan
Landscape Wall
Floor Plan
West Elevation
East Elevation
South Elevation Section
Sustainable Site The structure contains a storm water control provided by a vegetated green roof, landscaping walls and rain water collection. the native vegetated green roof and walls will also reduce heat island effect due to dry climate and will help lower energy cost.
Water Efficiency Since water is critical on dry climate, the main chapel roofs will use collected rainwater to take advantage on water efficiency especially during the monsoon season which occurs in late June to September.
Materials and resources
The materials of the chapel’s properties: salvaged for reuse, are recycled content, using local trees and stone quarries. all materials made in Arizona. durable and are low VOC.
Indoor air quality Improving the indoor environmental quality will increase the comfort, productivity and health of the occupants through mechanical means, such as through outdoor air intakes associated with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system
Energy and atmosphere
using passive solar and wind strategies to optimize energy performance, by orienting the building to the south and providing thermal mass wall when need, helix turbine are installed based on the concepts and advantage use of high winds during monsoon season
Potential Point Goal: 91 Leed Platinum
Aerial View
View from Portal
Interior Rendering Main Chapel
Interior Rendering Main Lobby