PROJECT  Fire Temple Prayer Room

LOCATION Boyds, Maryland, US​

ARCHITECT Knu Design, LLC

CLIENT Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington, Inc.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Scott Knudson, AIA, Principal; Chris O'Brien, Project Manager

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CONTRACTOR withheld

ENGINEERS
Meyer Consulting Engineers

RK Consulting
RK Consulting

PHOTOGRAPHER Prakash Patel

CONSULTANTS (if applicable)

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  8/26/2022

PROJECT SUMMARY
The social and cultural hub of Washington, DC’s Zoroastrian community well served their social needs but lacked a crucial element: a space for contemplation and spiritual preparation. The existing prayer room was lost amidst a chaotic environment, entered through an open cloakroom that offered no transition into sanctity—ignoring essential rituals like washing hands, removing shoes, and donning headwear. Our design aimed to rectify this, creating a journey that fosters a serene and reverent atmosphere.

The initial challenge was to establish a procession of spaces that increasingly evoke sacredness. From the moment one enters the lobby, a deliberate sequence unfolds—a three-step enfilade that symbolizes the core tenets of Zoroastrianism: good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

Choosing: At the nexus of the lobby, a deliberate choice must be made to embark on the path towards prayer. By narrowing the openings to adjoining spaces, we focused attention on this pivotal decision point.

Cleansing: Advancing further, a tiled apse featuring a brass bowl from India offers a place for ritual washing—a nod to the ancient fire temples with wash basins in their stone courtyards

Changing: Continuing along the enfilade, a widened space provides cubbies for shoes and a private area with a curtain for donning sacred attire, ensuring privacy and reverence. A translucent glass wall with varying opacity separates the preparatory enfilade from the sanctified spaces. Its opaque edges shield the changing areas, while its clear center frames a vista from the lobby, leading the eye to a cherished silver afarganyu (fire urn) and ultimately to the Faravahar, the symbol of Zoroastrianism.

Passing through a frosted glass door with a tactile wood handle, one enters the prayer room itself. This sacred sanctuary is designed as a tripartite arrangement, larger and more interconnected than the enfilade, facilitating a deeper spiritual experience.

Gathering: Centered around an ancient Persian rug, the space features a wooden bench and a tapestry depicting Zoroaster. A marble counter supports wooden trays for lighting divo candles and incense, with frosted glass windows diffusing soft light to maintain an atmosphere of introspection.

Contemplation: Focused on the Faravahar atop its marble plinth, the room provides holy texts for contemplation. A slatted wood ceiling enhances acoustics. Ceremonial prayers use a small afarganyu burning sandalwood, its smoke discreetly vented through a concealed exhaust, ensuring a tear-free experience for congregants.

Fire Dome: The culmination of the space is the Fire Dome, where a golden afarganyu rests atop a stepped pedestal. Architect-designed CNC-routed wood screens, mounted on rollers, shield the flame from sunlight without obstructing seated views. A curving low wall with a marble cap creates enclosure, enhancing the intimate ambiance while preserving a connection to the sacred flame.

This design embodies a holistic approach to spiritual architecture, seamlessly integrating cultural symbolism with practical functionality. It invites participants on a transformative journey from everyday concerns to a realm of spiritual elevation and communal reverence.

JURY COMMENTS (if applicable)

This project celebrates the connection between faith, ritual and design all within one room. We particularly appreciate the fine detailing of the wood screen.

IMAGES – CAPTIONS & CREDITS

Image 1  Gradated frosted glass is part of the procession from secular from the sacred; heirloom artifacts anchor visual axes. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 2  The space was gently molded to focus on the dome where the mobed tends the flame in a golden afarganyu. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 3  The procession from secular to sacred spaces transitions at a frosted glass wall. Hierloom artifacts anchor visual axes. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 4  The approach sequence is a tripartite corridor to reflect on Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds in preparation for prayer. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 5  A handwashing basin purifies the body before entry into the sacred space. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 6  Shoes are removed before entering the prayer room, rewarded by the texture of a sisal rug. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 7  A soothing palette of natural materials include wool rugs, ash floors, sapele ceilings, and marble counters. (c) Prakash Patel Photography
Image 8  Custom-designed CNC-routed sapele panels on rollers are used to filter light from the windows and to divide the space. (c) Prakash Patel Photography

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF