Architectural concepts of religious buildings: Comparing Le Corbusier's Notre Dame and Meier's Jubilee Church

Technology can enhance the spiritual senses, and it can inspire reverence and prayer in us. However, it can distract us from prayer. This study aims to examine the role of technological materials and techniques in translating architectural spiritual concepts related to religious buildings, compared with the use of conventional materials and traditional techniques, highlighting the similarities and differences between the two buildings, by addressing concepts, forms, materials and structures, light, colour, space, place and the contexts of the two buildings design. Meanwhile, this study identifies certain principles that can help architects and students design religious buildings and spiritual spaces, such as mosques, churches and temples. The methodology involves a comparison between the ancient churches?Notre Dame church in France, designed by Le Corbusier in 1950 and built in 1954?and the contemporary Jubilee Church in Rome, designed by Richard Meier in Italy, built in 2003. The two churches are related to each other. Meier architecture has been recognised as late modernism owing to the influence of Le Corbusier?s visual approach. However, there are certain differences between them. The results demonstrate the role of technological materials and techniques in contributing towards making it easy to reflect the spiritual concept. Furthermore, the study reveals how an architect can express spiritual concepts, even when there is no technological assistance, by utilising lighting, colour, space, form, conventional materials, and site forces. This study emphasises that the prudent utilization of technological techniques, tools, and materials can make it easier to produce a comfortable religious space, using liturgical features and architectural concepts, while respecting the context. By contrast, the use of only traditional materials needs a deep study of solar and daylight distribution, and reflection, which requires huge efforts and a long time.