Architecture as A Physical, Psychological & Spiritual Science – A Case Study on Indo-Aryan Architecture

Abstract

Scholars believe that traditional dwellings propose elements of good-design by considering human system as a whole, composed of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects and one of the means of achieving such holistic approach was their thorough knowledge of human bodies and chakras besides physical and technological side of architecture. However, as science advanced and the material views became more popular, holistic views towards architecture got abandoned, and replaced with specialized sciences dealing with physical aspects of living. Although many scholars such as Christopher Oliver, Christopher Day or Cooper Marcus, tried to emphasize on the importance of psychological aspects of human system, using traditional buildings as successful examples of architecture, the spiritual side of architecture remained unrevealed. This article, studying the art and architecture of Indo-Aryan societies using case studies as a method of data collection, aims at introducing architecture as a combination of physical, psychological and spiritual sciences to help create buildings that not only provide physical comfort, but also nurture the soul. The author believes that one considering the spiritual side of human life, especially the energy body and its chakras, is one of the reasons why traditional Indo-Aryan art and architecture is considered as one of the examples of good-design

Keywords

• architect
• culture
• vernacular architecture
• health giving architecture
• indo-aryan dwelling