Ordering, time, & place : a Cistercian monastery

This thesis investigates the making of architecture according to the monastic principles of order, time and place as prescribed in the Rule of St. Benedict. Monastic life requires order and those who live according to the Rule of St. Benedict lead a life that is structured according to a set of activities: work, prayer, living in community, reading, hospitality, mutual help, and support. It is order that instills a sense of harmony within the monastic community and allows for each member to develop their lives spirituality. Cistercians follow the Rule of St. Benedict with strict observance. Historically, Cistercian monasteries and churches are simple and minimalist in design and construction. Their simplicity and sparseness reinforces the ideal of poverty and desire to escape the material world. Truthfulness and honesty are inherent qualities of Cistercian architecture. Spaces are created that respond directly to a monk's daily activities of 'ora' and 'labora'. The proposed project will be the design of a Cistercian monastery in a remote location bordering the village of Hot Springs, North Carolina. Architectural notions of ordering, time, and place as they relate to Cistercian principles will be investigated and incorporated in the overall design of the monastery.