Spirituality in Architectural Education : Twelve Years of the Walton Critic Program at The Catholic University of America

How does spirituality enter the education of an architect? Should it? What do we mean by 'spirituality' in the first place? Isn't architectural education a training ground for professional practice and, therefore, technically and secularly oriented? Is there even room to add something as esoteric if not controversial as spirituality to an already packed university curriculum? The humanistic and artistic roots of architecture certainly invite us to consider dimensions well beyond the instrumental, including spirituality. But how would we teach such a thing? And why, if spirituality is indeed relevant to learning architecture, have we heard so little about it? __Spirituality in Architectural Education__ addresses these and many other important philosophical, disciplinary, pedagogic, and practical questions. Grounded on the twelve-year-old Walton Critic Program at the Catholic University of America School of Architecture and Planning, this book offers solid arguments and insightful reflections on the role that "big questions" and spiritual sensibility ought to play in the architectural academy today. Using 11 design studios as stopping grounds, the volume takes the reader into a journey full of meaningful interrogations, pedagogic techniques, challenging realizations, and beautiful designs. Essays from renowned architects Craig W. Hartman, Juhani Pallasmaa, Alberto Campo Baeza, Claudio Silvestrin, Eliana Bórmida, Michael J. Crosbie, Prem Chandavarkar, Rick Joy, Susan Jones, and Daniel Libeskind open new vistas on the impact of spirituality in architectural education and practice. All this work is contextualized within the ongoing discussion of the role of spirituality and religion in higher education at large. The result is an unprecedented volume that starts a long-awaited conversation that will advance architectural schooling. ACSA Distinguished Professor Julio Bermudez, with recognized expertise on spirituality in architecture, will be the guide in this fascinating and contemplative journey. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Foreword • THOMAS WALTON Spirituality in the Design Studio • JULIO BERMUDEZ Spirituality in the Design Studio: Introducing the Walton Program Spirituality in Architectural Education. Meditations. • JULIO BERMUDEZ Spirituality in Architectural Education. Meditations The Walton Studio • JULIO BERMUDEZ The Walton Sudio Being on the Edge of Order: Architecture is Deeply Spiritual, In Conversation with Daniel Libeskind • DANIEL LIBESKIND Being on the Edge of Order “Architecture is Deeply Spiritual” Emotional and Material Foundations of Architecture • SUSAN JONES Emotional and Material Foundations of Architecture Tectonically Emotive Physical, Existential, and Spiritual Home • RICK JOY Physical, Existntial, and Spiritual Home New Worlds Vocation and the Deep Self: Teaching the Voice Within • PREM CHANDAVARKAR Vocation and the Deep Self: Teaching the Voice Within Teaching the Voice Within Changing Notions and Practices of Spirituality and the Sacred • MICHAEL J. CROSBIE Changing Notions and Practices of Spirituality and the Sacred Searching for a New Sacred Space Designing Experiences: Ritual, Narrative, and Embodiment • ELIANA BÓRMIDA Designing Experiences: Ritual, Narrative, and Embodiment Architecture as Experience Contemplative and Non-Egotistical Improvisation • CLAUDIO SILVESTRIN Contemplative and Non-Egotistical Improvisation Spirituality and Designing a Sacred Space Building Essential Ideas • ALBERTO CAMPO BAEZA Building Essential Ideas The Sacred Task of Architecture The Art of Teaching: Objectives in my Walton Studio Consuming Creation • CRAIG W. HARTMAN Consuming Creation: Rethinking Consumption and Materiality Finding the Essence: Place and Spiritualitiy Intuiting Spirituality Through Making, Space, and Light • ANTOINE PREDOCK Intuiting Spirituality Through Making, Space, and Light Spirituality in Architectural Education and Practice • BÓRMIDA, CAMPO BAEZA, CHANDAVARKAR, CROSBIE, JONES, PALLASMAA Spirituality in Architectural Education and Practice Appendix The Voluntary Architectural Simplicity Manifesto Choosing Being: How to Respond to Today’s Unhealthy State of Affairs On the Architectural Design Parti Testimonials Contributors Endnotes, Bibliography, Index Endnotes Bibliography Index