What will be the largest Buddhist temple in Europe has been approved for a site in Birmingham. The Buddhist Maha Vihara temple is planned to stand off Hockley Circus on New John Street to the north-west of Birmingham city centre.
It's been designed by Dinuka Rajapakse who has come up with a structure dominated by a dome, or "stupa" which follows the Sri Lankan tradition of being half a sphere with a spire. The "stupa" will contain the Shrine Room and be the holiest place within the building, something the shape of it symbolizes which is that of the assent to Nirvana.
Other references to Sri Lankan architecture also abound. The entrance has a Kandyan roof, the most prominent historical example of which is the Temple of the Tooth. The project only needs £2 million to be constructed, and as such the details that one would expect on a historic building are merely referenced here rather than replicated.
As well as the main prayer area, a number of other facilities are included in the building with dining rooms, a gym, common room, bedrooms plus multi faith areas including a Korean memorial hall and a Devala Hindu shrine.
(http://www.skyscrapernews.com)
