Magazine

Upon encountering the term ‘sacred spaces’, our mind immediately wanders to cathedrals, temples, mosques; or other architecture we would define as holy. We picture the pinnacles or high dimly lightened interior; perhaps, we envision the minarets with abundant ornamentation, or at times we might see the bright red gates – Torii – of a Japanese shrine.  Silhouettes that emerge are strongly affected by our cultural belonging or the environment we find ourselves in. Other than a space, it brings a feeling. This feeling is the tranquil sensations that permeate our minds and bodies; it is the serenity, a certain peace or quietude, that makes us present and calm. However, the notion of sacred spaces is not restrained by religious concepts, and it is not always strictly defined. Their sublimity is intricately intertwined with human perception, which lets us rethink the saying: does the sacredness as well lie in the eye of the beholder?