Wish-Making as a Spatial Type: Building Architecture for Spiritual Ecology
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Ma-jingyunm-march-arch-2026-thesis.pdf
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48.84 MB
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Author(s)
Ma, Jingyun (Molly)
Advisor(s)
Cadogan, Garnette
Date Issued
February 2026
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This thesis investigates architecture as a medium for spiritual manifestation, focusing on the ritual of wish making. Rather than treating buildings as functional shelters, this project proposes four distinct "temples" designed as sensory environments that facilitate the expression, containment, and release of human desires. By abstracting biological logics into tectonic forms, the architecture serves as a bridge between the intangible wish and the physical world.
The narrative unfolds through four ritualistic stages: Burial (The Earthworm), Absorption (The Sponge), Accumulation (The Ant), and Resonance (The Octopus). Each temple offers a unique spatial experience that aligns with the psychological states of hope and reflection. Through the strategic use of light, shadow, and materiality, the project explores how the built environment can frame the precise moment of a wish’s inception. Ultimately, this work argues that architecture can reclaim its role as a sacred site for personal and collective ritual, turning the act of wishing into a profound spatial event.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture
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