Mysticism and architecture : an oasis of peace and silence

Abstract

The desire to go one step further than architecture, space and form into the realm of the philosophical and the metaphysical lies at the heart of this work. The aspiration to reach a true understanding of architecture with its internal problems is what influences its contents. Archaic societies tended to live as much as possible in close proximity of consecrated objects. This tendency is perfectly understandable since for primitive societies, the sacred was equivalent to a power and to a reality in view of the hierophanies of the cosmos. This dissertation aims at analysing whether there has been a persistent need to construct spaces to nurture human's soul. If so, what were the elements and aspects that kept persistent throughout the ages? At no point in this investigation is proof conclusive, yet it is hoped that by the cumulative weight of the evidence the relationship is clarified. Following a brief introduction in which the nature of mysticism is reviewed, this dissertation is then divided into three parts. Part One investigates the three main flowering periods of mystical architecture and it probes the view of what scholars used to define as mysticism and if mysticism had undergone any changes according to the spirit of the age. In Part Two, various aspects and elements of mystical architecture have been investigated in light of two local case studies dating to different periods. Part Three explores the relevance of mystical architecture in the twentieth century and its effectiveness regarding 'intentions' and 'response' is examined.