A new approach to multi-faith architecture. The Jerusalem project case

Multi faith architecture, in its essence, is a means for interfaith dialogue. This religious building typology first appeared in the middle of the 20th century in response to migration to the West and mixture of cultures within societies. 
At present there are large number multi faith buildings in the USA and United Kingdom alone. Currently, all multifaith buildings are designed around a single approach – they seek to emphasise the common ground and common purpose of all religions. This idea, translated into architecture, results in buildings which do not function well as places for worship and do not appeal to religious people, because they fail to recognise or respect the important differences between religions. As a consequence, multifaith buildings do not contribute to the problem as intended and they do not function as religious buildings. Instead they tend merely to stand as symbols and are used for seminars for interfaith dialogue. The thesis is an initial research on the topic of multifaith architecture and seeks to establish a better approach to its design. The work is divided into two parts. The first, theoretical part of the thesis discusses the ideas on which the work is based and how they lead to a design solution which better meets the needs of worshippers and the goal of interfaith dialogue. The work is developed for congregations for Muslims, Jews and Christians as these faiths are the most commonly found ones in today’s multi-cultural societies, but the approach is equally valid for other combinations of religious groups. The second part of the thesis represents a conceptual design project of multi faith complex to be located in Jerusalem, South of the Temple Mount. The project applies the principles derived in the theoretical part and develops further the design to a functioning place for worship which is coherent with the concept and goal of interfaith dialogue.