Climatic Comfort

Kate WardARCH 649

11.13.2003

What is the significance of climatic comfort in sacred buildings?

Bet GiorgisLalibela, Ethiopia

One of 13 churches at Lalibela(the number varies from 10 to 13)

Kailasa TempleEllora, IndiaOne of 34 caves in Ellora

Ellora & LalibelaKailasa Temple Bet Giorgis

Faith Hindu Christian (Ethiopian Orthodox)

Function Temple Church

Form Centralized form in courtyard

Centralized form in courtyard

Time 750 A.D. 1250 A.D.

Location Ellora, India Lalibela, Ethiopia

Climate Hot and humid Hot and arid

Building Technology

Free-standing building dug from rock

Free-standing building dug from rock

Faith

Kailasa Temple: Hindu

Bet Giorgis: Christian

Faith: Kailasa Temple

Pyramidal form of temple is meant to copy the form of Mount Kailash, the home of the Hindu god Shiva

Faith: Kailasa TempleIn the early days of Buddhism, monks were beggars and itinerants. However, during the monsoon, they had to settle somewhere, so they made use of the natural shelter of caves. To pass the time, they began to decorate the rock walls. These caves eventually evolved into monasteries and temples. This was the beginning of the Ajanta caves, whose monks later abandoned Ajanta and moved to Ellora.

The Hindu faith also uses underground temples/caves, as is evident at Ellora. The Buddhist caves were built first, then the Hindu caves, including the Kailasa Temple, and lastly the Jain caves.

Faith: Bet GiorgisTwo stories:

King Lalibela’s brother, Harbay was jealous of Lalibela, and poisoned him. The king went into a 3 day “death,” where he visited the first, second and third heaven. God told him to return home to Roha (the capital city, later renamed Lalibela). While there, God also gave him the plans for the rock temples.

King Lalibela visited Jerusalem and wanted to build a new holy city. A river, named the Jordan River, divides the 13 churches into 2 groups, one representing earthly Jerusalem, the other heavenly Jerulsalem.

While the churches were being built, St. George (the national saint of Ethiopia) came by and wondered why there was no church in his name. A hoof print in the courtyard attests to this legend.

Function House of a deity Still used for festivals

House of a deity Still used daily

Form

Form: Scale

Building: 12 meters square, by 13 meters high

Courtyard: 25 meters square

Building: 50 meters deep, by 33 meters wide, by 30 meters high

Courtyard: 84 meters deep, by 47 meters wide, by 33 meters high

Form: Kailasa Temple Holy of Holies for the sacred statue Above this, a many-storied tower Dravidian style, characterized by:

Octagonal tower “Massive pyramidal structures over the gateways connecting

the successive courtyards that compose the temple precincts” Flag pillars Two story corridor surround on three sides Niches and pavilions for sacred images Enter from countryside through gateway

Form: Bet Giorgis Cruciform floor plan following

the Greek cross Three entrances facing west Side chapel Triple-stepped platform Nine blind lower-level

windows 12 upper windows Enter by long, narrow trench

Time 750 A.D. Believed to take 7000

workers 150 years to complete

Believed to have been started by the Rashtrakuta king, Krishna I

1250 A.D. Legend claims that the

church was completed in 24 years

Believed to have been started by King Lalibela

History: Kailasa TempleThe Ajanta caves were built before the Ellora caves. It is believed that the Ajanta caves were abandoned because they were too remote, and the monks moved to Ellora and began carving those caves.

History: Bet GiorgisThe Aksum empire (Christian) was in decline, and its rulers retreated to higher lands. They defended themselves from others by using the mountains and valleys. However, they also cut themselves off from mainstream Christianity. Eventually the Aksum dynasty collapsed and the Zagwe dynasty appeared, of which King Lalibela was one.

The city of Aksum also boasts some rock-hewn caverns, believed to be the predecessors of the churches at Lalibela. The inspiration for these was also believed to be divine.

Location

Location: Ellora & Ajanta

Loaction: Ellora & Ajanta Passages

Location: Kailasa Temple

Backed up to a cliff, the temple faces out onto the countryside Faces west

Location: Lalibela

Location: Lalibela

Location: Lalibela Passages

Location: Bet Giorgis Mountain, with no face of the

building easily viewable Doorways face west for

religious reasons

Location: ClimateKailasa Temple Average tempurature: 110°

(summer) 70° (winter)

Seasons: March – May: hot and dry June – Sept: hot and wet Oct – Nov: warm and dry Dec – Feb: cool and dry

Bet Giorgis Average tempurature: 61°

Seasons: March – April: hot and wet May: hot and dry June – Aug: cool and wet Sept – Feb: cool and dry

Lalibela, Ethiopia has a more temperate climate than Ellora, India, but according to W. Köppen, both are hot and arid bordering on hot and humid.

Location: Climate

Building Technology Monolithic structure, dug from

volcanic rock Freestanding from

surrounding rock walls First cut a rectilinear U-

shaped trench level with surrounding countryside, then carved further from the top down

Monolithic structure, dug from volcanic rock

Freestanding from surrounding rock walls

First cut out trenches, leaving a square block, then carved both externally and internally from the top down

Building Technology: Kailasa Temple

Hot-arid Massive walls Few windows Some flat roofs (religious building style)

Hot-humid Scattered layout Large windows Some pitched roofs (religious building style)

Both Overhangs Depth into earth keeps space cools

Combines elements of hot-arid climates and hot-humid climates

Building Technology: Kailasa Temple

Scattered layout & massive walls

Overhangs and large windows

Building Technology: Bet GiorgisElements of hot-arid climate

Massive walls Few, small, high windows Overhangs (shade from

surrounding walls) Flat roof Depth into earth keeps

space cools

ConclusionKailasa Temple Building type was originally

used for both religious and climatic reasons

Hindu faith is individualistic, and requires that there are no distractions, including climatic discomfort

Roofs designed for religious reasons

Bet Giorgis Building type was originally

used because of “divine inspiration”

Designed for protection from raiders and religious persecution

Also designed for the climate, but it is not religiously relevant that it does

Roofs designed for climatic reasons

The excavated building type was originally developed for religious reasons. However, both climate and faith had a hand in developing the details of each building.

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