Beacon of faith: a beacon of faith in South America will glow at night and focus natural light in daytime

Architectural Review, The, April, 2004

When it is finished in 2007, the Baha'i Temple proposed for a site near Santiago in Chile will ensure that the faith will have a Mother Temple on all continents. Hariri Pontarini of Toronto were winners of the 185-entry design competition, which was based on a brief that expresses some of the essential tenets of the Baha'i faith. Founded in mid-nineteenth century Persia by the prophet Baha'u'llah, the religion teaches that divine revelation is continuous and progressive, and that all the great religions of the world are fundamentally in harmony. There is no priesthood, and followers are equal, regardless of sex, income and race; they are all enjoined to work for world peace and unity.

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The new temple had to act both as a symbolic lantern and a demonstration of the faith. So the programme called for a centrally focused domical building with nine equal entrances disposed symbolically to welcome people from all directions to prayer and meditation. In response, the architects have proposed a major central space (30m high and wide) for a congregation of 600. A gallery surrounds the volume and, under it, there are nine intimate and luminous chapels.

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Wrapping round and defining the volume are nine huge leaves made of translucent white marble. Between these elegantly curving surfaces are glass membranes; within them is a delicate timber tracery that plays with the daylight that fills the space transmuted through the glass and stone skins. Each stone leaf has a tapered and curved central steel stem, assisted by other vertical bracing elements. Connecting them, and forming the basis of the curved surface, are thin horizontal steel trusses: clearly, the basic structure does resemble that of a leaf, but the pattern has been altered and abstracted to translate it to a form that can be built.

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Leaves overlap at the apex of the dome, where their stems are connected by a tie ring. A further tie ring is at gallery level, and the concrete foundations form another. Because Santiago is prone to earthquakes, the whole structure had to be designed to accommodate ground movement and flex under lateral loads. The inner timber tracery is carried by the steel structure and will flex with the steel stems.

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Round the temple will be nine quiet prayer gardens and a lily pool in which the great white leaves and the sky will be reflected. Inside, focus of the space will be on the centre, emphasized by light from the oculus contained by the upper tie ring. Light will be modified by the wooden tracery and will alter constantly as the sun moves round. At night, the stone shells will glow softly and the inner volume will be revealed between them. It should become a gentle and welcoming beacon to the whole of South America. E. P.

Architects

Hariri Pontarini Architects, Toronto

Structural engineer

Carruthers and Wallace Ltd Consulting Engineers