Bach Ngo

SHADE OF LIGHT

Proposed for Toronto’s Hubbard Park, this Universal Sanctuary utilizes sacred geometry to transcend religious divisions, replacing doctrinal instruction with a sensory, circular architecture that eliminates hierarchy. The experience is designed as a somatic journey, transitioning from the public park’s rough stone to smooth interior marble to physically signal a shift from the everyday to the contemplative. At its core, water serves as a universal spiritual medium: it falls from a central oculus to represent descending wisdom, forms ripples that mirror the fluidity of personal faith, and creates a shallow boundary around a raw natural rock center. By juxtaposing refined, polished surfaces with untouched stone, the sanctuary challenges visitors to reflect on whether the divine is a human refinement or an inherent force of nature. Ultimately, the project redefines the sacred as a shared experience of light, material, and movement, offering a meditative common ground for a diverse urban society.

“Religion has shaped civilizations throughout history through rituals, spatial organization, and symbolic meaning. However, in today’s diverse and multicultural society, religious spaces sometimes emphasize differences rather than unity. This project rethinks sacred architecture through experience, geometry, and movement to create a shared spiritual space beyond specific doctrines.”