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Integrating Religious Identity through Architectural Iconism for Bingham University Chapel, Karu

Peter Dorcas Agite, Henry Emusa, and Chapi Beatrice Owoicho,

Abstract

This article investigates the role of architectural iconism in expressing and integrating religious identity through the design of the Bingham University Chapel, Karu. It explores the symbolic meanings embedded in sacred architectural elements and their influence on users' spiritual experiences. Anchored in Symbolic Interactionism and the Phenomenology of Place, and utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study examines how Christian iconography is perceived and how it contributes to a sense of spiritual belonging and communal identity. Data collected from 385 respondents reveal a preference for distinct Christian symbols such as the cross, altar, stained glass, and bell towers. The study offers a proposed chapel design and makes recommendations to the discourse on culturally relevant religious architecture in Nigerian educational institutions.

Keywords

Architectural iconismChapelReligious identitySacred Architecture; Symbolic

References

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