Mental Purifier

 The ability to focus is not only considered a critical skill for success, but opportunities for introspection and mindful contemplation are also beneficial to one’s mental health. It is the meditative practice and the related architectural spaces in Buddhism that drew my attention. Traditionally in Buddhism, meditation techniques including breathing meditation, walking meditation and visualization practices are used to achieve the ideal mental qualities of mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight. If trance states can be accessed or induced by external, environmental factors, and is a way of tapping into the unconscious mind for the purposes of relaxation, healing and inspiration, how may architecture aid in establishing a space that would cater for the intricate interaction between one’s mind and body? The tangible, physical aspects of materiality, of spatialarrangement of the interior and exterior, the choreography of light and shadow, sound and silence, and the incorporation of natural elements—how would these come into play in the creation of a state of spirituality?