Saheli Motiani

This is a design for a contemporary Buddhist temple in a village outside of the city of Chiang Mai. The design for this temple was inspired by the naga, a half serpent–half dragon creature that adorns many Buddhist temples. In my design, a naga welcomes visitors into the temple in the form of a railing for the stairs leading up to the temple entrance. I modified this idea by creating a structure that allows people to enter the naga.

Although temples are sacred spaces in Thai culture, they are also used for purposes other than worship. I was inspired to create a platform structure that could be used in a multitude of ways. The temple features a public gathering space, an event hosting space, and a space for workshops and meditation. The roof is constructed from steel and terra-cotta tiles, the platform is made of concrete, and the temple walls are built with bricks. The terra-cotta roof tiles allow cooling, and the structure of the roof keeps rain out during the monsoon season.