Light And Silence
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Robin Puttock
Department
CACM – Architecture
Abstract
This research investigates how sacred architecture can employ light and silence to create restorative spaces that support human well-being. Contemporary sacred environments often prioritize visual form and symbolism while neglecting the sensory and psychological dimensions that foster reflection, calm, and renewal. This study proposes light and silence as active design agents capable of shaping emotional, physiological, and spiritual balance. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research analyzes precedents such as Tadao Ando’s Church of Light, Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals, and Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute for their orchestration of light, material, and atmosphere. These qualitative insights are evaluated through measurable frameworks including the WELL Building Standard, the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, and neuroscience-based research that connects environmental qualities with cognitive and emotional restoration. By integrating sensory experience with empirical data, the study establishes a dual framework that unites phenomenology and neuroscience. The results aim to demonstrate that when light and silence are designed intentionally, they can transform sacred architecture into environments that promote psychological clarity, circadian balance, and spiritual well-being. Ultimately, this thesis reframes sacred architecture as a multisensory and evidence-based practice, revealing that the orchestration of light and silence can serve as a pathway toward healing, contemplation, and restoration.
Keywords: sacred architecture, light, silence, restoration, well-being
Disclaimer: Portions of this abstract were developed with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT for writing refinement and clarity. All ideas, sources, and research content are the original work of the author.
Disciplines
Architecture
Light And Silence
This research investigates how sacred architecture can employ light and silence to create restorative spaces that support human well-being. Contemporary sacred environments often prioritize visual form and symbolism while neglecting the sensory and psychological dimensions that foster reflection, calm, and renewal. This study proposes light and silence as active design agents capable of shaping emotional, physiological, and spiritual balance. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research analyzes precedents such as Tadao Ando’s Church of Light, Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals, and Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute for their orchestration of light, material, and atmosphere. These qualitative insights are evaluated through measurable frameworks including the WELL Building Standard, the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, and neuroscience-based research that connects environmental qualities with cognitive and emotional restoration. By integrating sensory experience with empirical data, the study establishes a dual framework that unites phenomenology and neuroscience. The results aim to demonstrate that when light and silence are designed intentionally, they can transform sacred architecture into environments that promote psychological clarity, circadian balance, and spiritual well-being. Ultimately, this thesis reframes sacred architecture as a multisensory and evidence-based practice, revealing that the orchestration of light and silence can serve as a pathway toward healing, contemplation, and restoration.
Keywords: sacred architecture, light, silence, restoration, well-being
Disclaimer: Portions of this abstract were developed with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT for writing refinement and clarity. All ideas, sources, and research content are the original work of the author.