By Elisabeth Bakker Johnson, AIA
The Interfaith Design Knowledge Community (IDKC) Forum at the AIA Conference in Boston brought together architects, designers, and academics from diverse faith backgrounds to discuss the intersection of art & architecture, spirituality, and community. Attendees explored topics such as symbolism, iconography, sustainable design, and the evolving role of sacred spaces in modern society. The fluid and thoughtful dialogue considered the challenges of decommissioning religious buildings, the respectful reuse of sacred spaces, the integration of sustainability into faith-based architecture, and the exploration of the deeper meanings behind design, sacred art motifs, and how it is represented. The cross-cultural, multi-faith participants also emphasized the importance of cultural shifts, such as the move from spiritual to community-focused spaces, and the need for collaboration among designers to address these changes. Ideas for future exploration included showcasing projects, fostering academic writing, and creating platforms for dialogue, such as a Slack channel or community hub. The Forum underscored the collective objective of cultivating and developing relevant environments that honor faith traditions thereby facilitating insight, wisdom and reflection while still addressing contemporary needs.