VIRTUAL London.

Abstract

Sacred places and religious architecture, also known as sacred architecture are areas where “special” qualities may be revealed. Established on traditional studies and phenomenology of religion (Brenneman et al, 1982) Eliade (1961) explains sacred space is an instance of hierophany, “a situation where something sacred shows itself to us” (p. 11). For philosopher Mircea Eliade (1959), the sacred was defined by space, time and cosmology. The sacred place is one where the three cosmic levels: earth, heaven and the underworld, at once come into contact with each other, and are represented. Drawing on sociologist Emile Durkheim’s (1915) work, Eliade says the sacred distinguishes itself from the profane; the sacred are those things set apart from society or transcend everyday life and the profane is everything else. As the world turns, time moves on, people change and places change. This study focuses on the transformative place. When spaces are built they have an intended purpose; years after, that place transforms through environmental factors as well as sociological factors. The transforming place, specifically sacred space, is a delicate subject.This case study features a Cathedral in Southern California it is transformative story. A theoretical framework involving sacredness and place attachment are revealed.