According to Jain mythology, the Samavasarana temple brought the faithful closer to enlightenment through its tiered architectural forms—each ascending space marking the accumulation of knowledge on the path toward enlightenment. Today, that spiritual vernacular endures in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Serie Architects have completed its own contemporary homage: the new Raj Sabhagruh, centerpiece of the nearly 250-acre Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram. Set atop a crescent-shaped hill, the building rises from the 5,000-seat auditorium at its base, a column-free expanse distinguished by its monumental concrete arches. At its crown, meanwhile, a soaring 300-person meditation hall glows like a lantern thanks to over 1,000 integrated pin lights. And outside, the building’s angled façades bear some 800,000 bricks crafted from salvaged marble, their hand-chiseled surfaces yielding subtle texture. Whether you’re a practitioner of the ancient Indian religion (based on tenets of compassion, nonviolence, and equality) or simply an admirer of great design, the edifice promises to lift hearts as it draws eyes to the sky.
