We can close our eyes and meditate. Whatever be the faith we have, the God we pray to, the Almighty we beseech – prayer kindles a spiritual joy in our hearts. The same prayer done in a place of worship takes the joy several notches higher. Here, we examine five places of worship of different faiths – and understand how architectural compositions done in a contemporary context induce spiritual uplifting of the human soul.

Anish Kapoor, is a British-Indian sculptor, famously known for his expertise in installation art and conceptual art. His penchant for rich colours and polished surfaces is reflected through his use of saturated pigments and striking architectural forms. Kapoor is immensely recognized for his biomorphic sculptures and installations; a series consisting of arrangements of abstract geometric forms that spilled beyond the object itself.

Any work of architecture can be sublime, sacred, and spiritually uplifting – even if it is not meant to be a place of worship. This is a less understood, and a much lesser discussed aspect of Sanjay Puri’s architecture. A contemporary architect widely known for his abstractions and modulations of traditional typologies Sanjay also shares ideas for sacred spaces from his portfolio. This photo-essay includes images that showcase transcendental spaces from the smorgasbord of the architect’s projects.