This project was completed in one week. the purpose was to mimic the feeling of designing in a competition.
THE CONCEPT OF THE DESIGN IS TO CREATE A SPACE INTENDED TO CREATE AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY AND THE VIEWER TO BE ENLIGHTENED. THE SITE OF THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED "in the clouds," COMPLETELY SECLUDED FROM THE REST OF SOCIETY. THE MONASTERY IS PULLING THE VIEWER AWAY FROM SOCIETY AND REALITY. THE VIEWER ENTERS THROUGH A LONG, DARK CAVE.THE ONLY LIGHT THAT POLLUTES THE DARKNESS IN THE CAVE IS FROM THE WATERFALL, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE SPACE ABOVE. THE VIEWER LEAVES THE DARKNESS AND CONTINUES UP THE STAIRS AND INTO THE WATERFALL ROOM. THE WATERFALL IS THE CENTER OF THE GATHERING SPACE AND CONNECTS THE EXTERIOR WORLD, THE WATERFALL ROOM, AND THE CAVE. THE LOCATION OF THE WATERFALL EMPHASIZES THE SYMBOLISM THAT THE WATERFALL EMBODIES. THE INTENTION IS TO CONNECT THE VIEWER SPIRITUALLY TO BE ENLIGHTENED. THE MAIN STRUCTURE ALLOWS THE VIEWER TO ESCAPE FROM REALITY THROUGH THE STRUCTURAL MATERIAL, WHICH IS DICHROIC GLASS. THE GLASS IS FABRICATED TO ALLOW LIGHT TO PASS THROUGH THE STRUCTURE WHILE ALSO MANIPULATING THE PERCEPTION OF THE EXTERIOR WORLD. THE VIEWER PASSES THE SLEEPING CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE PRIVATE SPACES, AND THE PASSAGE THROUGH A SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT COMES TO AN END. THE STRUCTURES EXIT IS COMPLETELY OPEN. THE VIEWERS' ENLIGHTENMENT OF REALITY AND THEIR ACTUAL REALITY BLEND TO FORM A NEW PERSON. THE SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT IS INTENDED TO GIVE THE VIEWER SELF-REALIZATION, WHICH IS NORMALLY DESTROYED BY THE HARM OF SOCIAL CONDITIONING.
