Temple Beth Adamah

Beth Adamah is a synagogue for a site in downtown Eugene, Oregon. Modern synagogues fulfill three primary needs of the Jewish community: prayer, education and gathering. The sanctuary is placed in the center of the site binding the other functions together. The exterior walls build up a sense of protective enclosure while the two wings open up to an interior community garden. The sanctuary is adjoined to a private sacred garden which introduces the dynamic beauty of nature into the ritual of prayer. The congregation experiences the passage of time through the ever-changing natural conditions, making each visit a unique experience that highlights the spiritual relationship between human life and the surrounding environment. A sacred garden adjoins the sanctuary, enabling the experience of temporal change to intertwine with the act of communal prayer.