Non-denominational
Chapel at Massachusetts Institute of Technology dedicated in the year 1955 is
designed by famous architect Eero Saarinen.
The chapel is constructed with rough bricks to give the wall a texture. It
is in the shape of a cylinder, with a diameter of 50 feet and a height of 20
feet, surrounded by a shallow moat with water.
The interior has a full height metal sculpture, designed by Harry
Bertoia. It glitters from above down to a small unadorned
marble altar. The light that falls on
the water with ripples travels upward through shallow slits in the walls and
creates mesmerising effect on people inside.
The natural light is complemented by artificial light.
Leland M.
Roth author of History of American architecture says “through the sheer
manipulation of light and its focus on a blazingly white marble altar block,
Saarinen created a place of mystic quiet”.
The curving spire and bell tower is designed
by sculptor Theodore Roszak in the year 1956.
The chapel
set in two grooves of London Plane trees with a long wall to the east has
uniform back ground. Though it is
situated in MIT Campus it stands isolated from the hustle and bustle of other
buildings.
When I
visited MIT and went on free MIT tour, this chapel was closed. Our guide, a young grad student told about it
and showed us this chapel. She even told
us that one of her friends got married in the chapel.
When
religious terrorism is creating unrest in the world, I think we should have
this type of worshipping places in all educational institutions. It will help in understanding that true
religion is to understand each other and live in peace, and to imbibe the
essence of all religions, love and let live.
