Eudaimonia

LOCATION: Brookings, South Dakota
PROJECT TYPE: Sanctuary
YEAR: 3th Year

 

As part of a collaborative team including Marianne, Tori, Dillon, and myself, we developed Eudaimonia Sanctuary for the ACSA 2023 Steel Competition: Spiritual Space. Our goal was an all-faith spiritual building promoting contemplation, meditation, and prayer.

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Inspired by Eudaimonia—an ancient Greek concept meaning human flourishing—our design guides visitors through a journey of mind, body, and soul. Each floor represents one aspect, organized through sacred geometry, particularly triangular forms, and proportioned using the golden ratio to enhance balance and harmony.

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The ground floor (body) contains administrative spaces, grounding visitors. The middle level (mind) emphasizes natural light and reflective spaces, while the top level (soul) houses a secluded meditation room, symbolizing spiritual ascension.

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Central to the structure is a DNA-inspired steel column representing human-nature interconnectedness. Its exposed steel frame minimizes material use and highlights sustainability by reducing concrete. Biophilic design principles integrate nature through prospect views and secluded outdoor spaces, offering tranquility and privacy.

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Lighting is carefully curated to enhance spiritual experiences, blending direct natural light from a ceiling aperture with soft ambient side lighting. Material choices reinforce the sacred-profane contrast: minimalist white interiors signify purity, while raw concrete and exposed steel exteriors symbolize everyday life. Wood flooring and doors provide warmth.

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The structural symmetry reinforces stability and harmony, both physically and spiritually.

Eudaimonia Sanctuary fosters reflection, connection, and transcendence, demonstrating architecture’s potential to profoundly shape human experience beyond form and function.