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Buddhist's Architecture in London

Name

Professor

Course

Institution

City

Date
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Abstract

Religion has for a very time affected the people’s way of life. The Buddhist community is

significantly known for its architectural skills used in the construction of temples and residential

buildings. The community is known for coming up with temples which reflect the different

beliefs held by them. London city has several such buildings built in the traditional Buddhist

style. These buildings are uniquely built to stand out among other buildings, and it is very easy

for a person to spot them out. The research sort to establish the existence of Buddhist

architecture in London and how the design used in the construction of these building is greatly

informed by their religious beliefs and values. The research involves the visiting of two buildings

to take note of the architecture used and the come up with a comprehensive analysis between the

independent and the dependent variables. The study involves the touring of two religious

buildings, the Buddhaoadipa temple in south London and the Amaravati Buddhist monastery for

the monks near Lupton. The study will look at the architectural language used in the construction

of the two buildings. A comparison will then be made of the Christian churches to note the

similarities and differences regarding the architectural language used. The research will also pay

attention to the landscape since in the Buddhist community the landscape is more important than

even the building. In the end, the study will give final remarks and recommend the way forward.

Keywords: Buddhism, Architecture.

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Table of Contents

Background Information............................................................................................................................ 4
Statement of the problem ........................................................................................................................... 6
Objectives of the study................................................................................................................................ 6
Research Hypothesis ................................................................................................................................... 7
Scope of the study........................................................................................................................................ 7
Literature Review ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Theoretical Review.................................................................................................................................. 7
Contribution of Buddhism to London architecture ......................................................................... 7
The three types of architecture .......................................................................................................... 8
The Buddhapadipa temple ............................................................................................................... 10
The Amaravati monastery................................................................................................................ 11
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Background Information

Our diverse religions and different rituals have immensely influenced the course and

direction of the world’s architecture. Contrary to what many think that religion relates only to the

spiritual well-being of a person and the meaning of life, planning is one area which from time to

time has been incorporated into religious practices1. The incorporation of architecture into

religion makes it hard to draw a boundary between the mind and matter, the spirit, and flesh.

When tracing the history of Buddhist's architecture in London, undoubtedly religion has a

profound effect on the growth and development process of construction. People started being

curious about their surroundings during ancient times and it made them start thinking about their

situation and different survival techniques. Consequently, the elite group came up with bold

suggestions and ultimately concluded that there is the need to establish a comprehensive

relationship between human being, the universe, and nature

Buddhism is something which has left a significant mark and rich heritage in the field of

architecture in London. Arguably, the statue of Buddha has been worshiped in London for many

years. The Indians and the Greek sculptors who early migrated into the United Kingdom worked

harmoniously to come up with a unique form of art. The house of Buddhist’s monks was carved

out of rocks thereby heralding what is known as cave architecture2. Architecture is an accurate

1
Lin, Wei-Cheng. Building a Sacred Mountain: The Buddhist Architecture of China's Mount

Wutai. University of Washington Press, 2014.

2
Fogelin, Lars. "Ritual and presentation in early Buddhist religious architecture." Asian

Perspectives 42, no. 1 (2003): 129-154.

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record and a static evidence of the past, and sacred architecture is mainly used for worshipping,

meditation or praying. The construction of sacred architecture not only reflect on the

developments in the industry, but it also involves religious connotation such as symbols,

religious motif, and philosophy, just to mention a few. The many things and aspect to be

considered in religious buildings are perhaps what makes them more expensive than ordinary

buildings. Buddhism is well known for its unique architecture used in the construction of the

temple. Each design structure and aspect is meant to suit the different needs of their practices.

The design employed in their religious building almost follows the same style all over the world.

London is a city greatly blessed with this Buddhism architecture and a tour around the city

reveals that the architecture has been there for long. The religious architectural buildings by the

Buddhists are used for different purposes. The function of the building highly depends on the

type of architecture and design used in the construction. These structures are used to celebrate

Buddhists festivals. They are also a location of to carry out both community and cultural activity.

The Buddhist also live together in these buildings as a family.

Buddhist architecture is something which has been developing since 3 BCE. Early

Buddhism is characterized by three religious structures; monasteries, shrines of prayer halls, and

the venerate relics. In line with the changes in religious practices and beliefs, these architecture

has been changing to accommodate the new developments. The building started slowly during

the times of Buddha, along with the architecture used in the construction of Hindu temples. The

temples during the time of Buddha had a simple structure – it had the sacrificial arena, the inner

space which was a square, the entrance area framed by standing columns3. Essentially, the old

3
Brown, Percy. Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Period). Read Books Ltd, 2013.
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basic plan still survives today through the world London being included. Just like art, the

Buddhist architecture followed the spread of Buddhism throughout the world, and this is how the

design found its way into London.

Over the last two centuries, there has been a steady rise in the decoration of Buddhists

sites with the introduction of human figures and tables. As the spread of Buddhism continued,

its architecture diverged in a unique style. The construction of buildings to such a large extent

was significantly informed by the different kinds of Buddhism. London has a sizable number of

some of these building rich in ancient Buddhist architecture incorporating the different styles and

beliefs.

Statement of the problem

Buddhist architecture to a large extent forms part of London heritage. Many people

throughout the world have been traveling to London to have a glimpse of this remarkable and

most treasured heritage by the Buddhist community in London. However, those who have been

visiting some of these building are known for not paying attention to the finer details and

architectural techniques used in the construction. A considerable number of people are not even

aware of the unique architecture utilized in the construction of Buddhist buildings; it is

something that requires intensive research to collect all the necessary information on the subject

matter.

Objectives of the study

The study aims at identifying the unique architectural style and technique used in the

construction of Buddhist building. Also, the study sorts to determine the reason behind the use of
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different architectural styles and some of the factors which have contributed to the evolution of

Buddhist architecture, especially in London.

Research Hypothesis

There is a significant relationship between Buddhist architectural style in London and the

religious function it serves.

Scope of the study

The study involves the touring of two religious buildings of the Buddhist community.

The study will gather information on the design, decoration, and any other information regarding

the architectural aspect of the buildings.

Literature Review

Theoretical Review

Contribution of Buddhism to London architecture

The process of civilization regardless of whether it is primitive, medieval, ancient, or

modern, it has always resulted in culture. This culture quite often has led to the development of

architecture and art and these is evident among the Buddhist community. These artistic and

architectural development is more visible when an analysis is made into the architecture and art

of the Buddhist community living in London. In the course of history, the Buddhist community

has made an immense contribution to the London architectural heritage. The community is

known for giving its religious beliefs, ideals and sometimes ideas visual expressions thereby
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forming a significant part of its architecture and art4. For a very long time, architecture has been

used as a mirror used for reflecting religious civilization in London and this case, Buddhism has

never been an exception. What Buddhism has given to the world of architecture especially in

London is not just a deep analysis, it has given London a rich and monumental legacy to the

world of design and art to a larger extent.

Throughout history, the Buddhist community has come up with many buildings full of

their art, and in the process the have developed magnificent temples and stupas. Since the

purpose of art and architecture is to inspire and mirror, the beliefs and ideals mirrored in

Buddhist art are a great source of encouragement and inspiration to anyone in London desiring to

follow in the spiritual ideals and beliefs reflected by these buildings5. All the Buddhist structures

ever built in London and their existence have contributed something in London, and are places of

learning, sacred sites, and some are used as a sanctuary

The three types of architecture

As the first Indian religion to demand monastic and communal space, Buddhism has

inspired three types of design employed in the construction of temples and buildings in the city

of London:

4
Young, Stuart H. Conceiving the Indian Buddhist Patriarchs in China. University of Hawai'i

Press, 2015.

5
Alexander, André, and Matthew Akester. The temples of Lhasa: Tibetan Buddhist architecture

from the 7th to the 21st centuries. Serindia, 2005.

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The Stupa

A stupa is a Buddhist object of worship, and its primary purpose is to serve as a chamber

for the remains of Buddha. The architecture used in the development of the stupa has been

developing from time to time, and different buildings in London have different architectural

design used in the construction of it. Notably, some stupas in London are constructed using

marbles while others are built of local stones. However, there are some who use both local stones

and marbles. Most recently, there is also the use of wood and bricks in the construction of the

stupa, and this shows that Buddhist architecture in London is something very dynamic. The

building of the Stupa is carefully done by experts to reflect the different beliefs and ideals held

by the Buddhist community. Arguably, the Buddhist architecture in London has been changing

to cope up with the dynamic architectural industry. There are significant observed structural

differences between the ancient stupa and the new stupa being used in London6. In London

where Buddhism is slowly gaining popularity, most architectures are slowly turning into the

varied and rich Buddhist architectural knowledge and skills for their inspiration.

The chaitya

The Chaitya or the hall of worship is built on different places in the city of London by the

use of bricks. It is the focus and Centre of devotion and adoration by the Buddhist community

living in London, and for every long time, it has been the central place where prayers and

devotions of the faithful worshippers are directed. Surprisingly, the chaitya in its fully developed

shape resembles the Christian church, and the resemblance is not only in usage but shape as

6
Wijesuriya, Gamini. "The Past is in the Present." In Conservation of living religious heritage, pp.

p-30. ICCROM, 2005.

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well7. It has a long rectangular hall which is round at the rear end, and it is divided into an apse,

nave, and two aisles. The nave is separated from the aisles by pillars. Both the nave and the two

aisles are covered by a barrel-shaped vault. The doors are located exactly opposite the votive

chaitya, and it is made to appear like a big arched window.

The Sangharama

The Sangharama is also known as the monastery. The design of the monastery in London

is carried out in the same way as a private house. Quite often, it is a story building, and each side

of the inner part has a long corridor with its roof supported by pillars8. The monastery is seen as

a right place where members of the Buddhist community meet to have fun and exchange views

on different issues affecting them. It is the place where the community monks live, and it

presents an excellent example of the unique Buddhist architecture. It offers a unique architectural

style coupled with the beautiful choice of ornaments and color. There is an extensive use of

painting, images, and mandalas producing a rich architectural iconography.

The Buddhapadipa Temple

The Buddhapadipa Temple has white exterior walls well contrasted with its red roof and

golden frames of the doors and the windows. The inside walls are carefully painted to showcase

the life of Buddha. Inside the temple, there is a huge shrine built for Buddha, with three statues

in it; the black, golden and green statues, all surrounded by decorations and candles. There is a

7
Phuoc, Le Huu. "Buddhist architecture." (2010): 344.

8
Pichard, Pierre, and François Lagirarde. The Buddhist Monastery: A cross-cultural survey. Vol.

12. Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient, 2003.

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house, several bridges and a pond within the ground. Also, it gardens signs containing messages

of wisdom. Undoubtedly, the temple is rich in Buddhist architecture having been decorated by

Thai artists, and a visit to the temple is necessary for the study to have a deep understanding of

the Buddhist’s architecture in London.

The Amaravati Monastery

The monastery is built using both contemporary and traditional designs. Unlike the

Buddhapadipa Temple, the buildings of the monastery are highly varied with the use of

professional architecture. The monastery is known for having environmentally sound structures

build in a traditional Buddhist style. From a distance, the design of the monastery encourages

both the qualities of balance, spaciousness, and brightness. There are significant differences

between the design used in the construction of the temple and the monastery. One notable

difference is that the latter has a lot of professional architecture rather than sticking to the

contemporary Buddhist designs.

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Bibliography

Alexander, André, and Matthew Akester. The Temples of Lhasa: Tibetan Buddhist Architecture

from the 7th to the 21st centuries. Serindia, 2005.

Brown, Percy. Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Period). Read Books Ltd, 2013.

Fogelin, Lars. "Ritual and presentation in early Buddhist religious architecture." Asian

Perspectives 42, no. 1 (2003): 129-154.

Lin, Wei-Cheng. Building a Sacred Mountain: The Buddhist Architecture of China's Mount Wutai.

University of Washington Press, 2014.

Pichard, Pierre, and François Lagirarde. The Buddhist Monastery: A cross-cultural survey. Vol.

12. Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient, 2003.

Phuoc, Le Huu. "Buddhist architecture." (2010): 344.

Wijesuriya, Gamini. "The Past is in the Present." In Conservation of living religious heritage, pp.

p-30. ICCROM, 2005.

Young, Stuart H. Conceiving the Indian Buddhist Patriarchs in China. University of Hawai'i Press,

2015.