The Temple in the House

Although this volume is decribed as as architecture/spirituality, the former is engulfed, even drowned, in the latter. Various architects provide freestanding quotes, but the author's text owes much more to the likes of Mircea Eliade. It is clear from his lengthy explications on the subject, that architect Lawlor is very widely read in the religion and ritual of Native Americans, Hindus, Buddhists, ancient Greeks and others. But for anyone interested in the subject, the rich extent traditions of specific to the human spirit in architecture (particularly of the Japanese and Chinese) and the equally rich thinking of early 20th-century architects make much more intriguing reading. Chapters like ``Spirit and Mortar,'' ``The Eight Elemental Forms'' and ``Mind/Body/Architecture'' are interesting riffs on the nature of materials; the uses and meanings of walls, columns and windows; and mental and physical scale, respectively. But taken as a whole, the book lacks a sense of natural progression. For readers interested in incorporating the sacred into their own dwellings, Lawlor includes suggestions at the end of each chapter (``Notice any pillars in your setting; they might take the form of table legs, standing lamps, candlesticks, or other times. How might these be redesigned to imitate your own stance and aspirations?''). Illustrations. (Aug.)