A Bahá’í temple for Canada

Abstract

Using the piece of land in Markham, Ontario, purchased by the Bahá’í community for the eventual actualization of the first Bahá’í Temple in Canada, the intent of this Master’s Degree Project is to propose a design for that purpose. In pursuit of this objective, research is done exploring the characteristics of a Bahá’í Temple, using both religious texts and a study of precedent, reviewing possibilities for experimentation. A brief overview of symbolism and sacred place is conducted, beginning with general terms, and then examining a few relevant Bahá’í examples, such as the number nine. Subsequently, a short study of Canadian culture and architecture is done, examining possibilities of expression, in addition to subsequent design influences. After a fairly thorough site analysis, a method of design development is devised, resulting in the final product: A Bahá’í Temple for Canada.