BAHAI HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Client : National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is
Location : Bihar Sharif, Bihar
Project Year : Ongoing
Builtup Area : 41,000 sqft
Typology : Cultural, Spiritual
Awards : Architecture Live!, Biltrax Media, Architect and Interiors India, Religion World
Shortlisted in Future Civic category of World Architecture Festival, 2022
Bahai house of worship intertwines the vivid narrative of art, craft, technology, and architecture. The edifice sits at the center of 7.5 acre site, located in a historically relevant site of Bihar Sharif, famous for the ancient Buddhist universities of Nalanda and Odantapuri. It is designed as a place of worship open to all irrespective of any religious affiliations.
The quest to hunt for ideas which will have consequences in the future, led to an explorative process to optimize the building efficiency in terms of lighting, heating, cooling and structural stability without compromising on the aesthetics.The form of the prayer hall has been optimized for natural daylight and ventilation. Openings at the center of the dome and in each ring of arches will reduce the weight of the ceiling while allowing gentle light to filter in. The acoustics of the space have been carefully designed, eliminating the need of additional audio visual equipment, further reducing the dependency on electricity.
The layout of the edifice paves way to an organic landscape of trees that invite fauna. Miyawaki technique is proposed along the site peripheries with clearings and water features for informal, community activities. Thus, the micro-climate of the site is enhanced with the addition of trees and water bodies.
A low-cost passive cooling system utilizes the geothermal heat sink of the surrounding earth to cool the edifice from below. Small openings for natural light act as cavity resonators, a traditional acoustic design element used in domes through centuries.
The House of Worship in Bihar Sharif strives to fulfill two simultaneous design ideals – fit into the ‘everyday’ while celebrating the ‘extraordinary’.
The layout of the edifice paves way to an organic landscape of trees that invite fauna. Miyawaki technique is proposed along the site peripheries with clearings and water features for informal, community activities. Thus, the micro-climate of the site is enhanced with the addition of trees and water bodies.
A low-cost passive cooling system utilizes the geothermal heat sink of the surrounding earth to cool the edifice from below. Small openings for natural light act as cavity resonators, a traditional acoustic design element used in domes through centuries.
The House of Worship in Bihar Sharif strives to fulfill two simultaneous design ideals – fit into the ‘everyday’ while celebrating the ‘extraordinary’.