The Urban Monastery is an exploration into what creates a space of stillness and contemplation, applying those findings to the generic high rise typology. Monastic traditions and conditions have provided guidance for the design of The Urban Monastery, in both the programme and the physical design of the building, but in places I have intentionally augmented these traditions within the design, with the goal of pushing the boundaries of what both the monastery and the high rise as a typology are capable of spatially.

Whilst important even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the themes of reflection, contemplation and rest are more important now than ever, and I have been exploring how different elements of the design can alter one’s perception of a space, transforming it from just a room with a function, into something bigger - physically, mentally and spiritually. The idea of ‘rest’ is not designed into our cities or buildings with the importance that it should hold, and the Urban Monastery aims to raise this issue and suggest a starting point to finding a solution.