Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
2019 at rat[LAB] Studio
Balancing sacred geometry with engineering logic, this temple was design through an algorithmic process using spatial and structural constraints as its parameters
The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Koppur is a collaborative project by Shilpa Architects and rat[LAB] Studio. The temple is located on an 11-acre site on the outskirts of Chennai and is part of a 338-acre master plan. The design of the temple reinterprets India’s vernacular through parametric design.
The design features an 11-sided polygon (hendecagon), articulated as a three-dimensional polyhedron. The design team used an algorithmic process to create the form, using spatial and structural constraints as parameters. The hendecagon evolved into three-dimensional spaces while evaluating environmental aspects such as daylight, solar heat gain, and shadows.
Inside, the flooring pattern in the main hall is a mathematical looping system using 11 vertices of the hendecagon that fold to form interstitial spaces within the geometry. A recursive division of curves creates a focal point at the ground level where the pattern curves and guides visitors for prayers and offerings. A pure white space from inside is lit by sunlight diffusing from the oculus on top.
Skills: Grasshopper3D, Rhino3D, Architectural Design, Project Coordination
