Seat of the Universal House of Justice
- For the institution, see Universal House of Justice
The Seat of the Universal House of Justice is a building located in Haifa, Israel where the Universal House of Justice sits. Here, the House of Justice can meet dignitaries and pilgrims, and attend to other business. It is also home to a few other offices of the World Centre.
It is located at the apex of The Arc and built with fifty-eight[1] Corinthian columns around it to mirror the design of the International Archives. To the west are the Center for the Study of the Texts and the Archives. To the east is the International Teaching Center and site of the future International Baha'i Library. The architect was Hossein Amanat. It was completed in 1982 during the second stage of building on the Arc, and occupied in 1983.
During a Bahá’í pilgrimage the members of the Universal House of Justice greet each of the pilgrims in turn before they are shown around main areas of the building and the roof. From the rooftop visitors get a superb view of the arc, its buildings and the terraced gardens above the Shrine of the Bab.
History[edit]
In view of the importance attached to the Universal House of Justice as the Supreme Institution in the Faith--the Guardian had referred to it as the 'apex of the administrative order' and 'the supreme organ of the Bahá’í World Commonwealth'--it became evident that the building which was to serve as its permanent seat should be more prominent, more imposing and larger than the other buildings on the arc, but should compose with them a harmonious and beautiful precinct. In the light of Shoghi Effendi's allusion to the Universal House of Justice as the crowning institution of the administrative order it seemed in conformity with the spirit of the writings to consider the building as a majestic crown adorning the great institutions around the arc on Mount Carmel. Such a building would have to be not only functional but should also reflect the heavenly manifestations of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh; that is to say, that while serving all the purposes normally required of an administrative centre, it should suggest in its architecture something of the spiritual importance and majesty of the supreme administrative institution of Bahá’u’lláh's World Order which it houses. On seeing the building one should feel more than an aesthetic response; the structure should convey intimations of the beauty and majesty of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
The beloved Guardian had stated that the buildings around the arc were to follow a harmonizing style of architecture, a style which he himself established by building the International Archives in the classical Ionic order. This required that the architecture of the remaining buildings be classical, or of a contemporary style incorporating principles of classical architecture; and since the building for the Universal House of Justice had to be more imposing, larger and more majestic than the other edifices to be built around the arc, it was felt appropriate to adopt the Corinthian order. Initially in the schemes proposed to the Universal House of Justice were included a design in the modern style with consideration given to classical proportions and principles, and one of pure classical style, which was accepted.
It would seem that the air of tranquility and peace so apparent in the gardens and sacred precincts of the Holy Places would require the buildings to be erected in the area to have some degree of detail and fine work. The poetry and delicacy incorporated in the fine details of the Corinthian Order seemed to be an appropriate answer inspired by the existing atmosphere.
This building is situated on the axis of the arc at its highest and most prominent point, the main facade and the entrance looking out across the bay towards the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. Its relationship in importance to the other buildings on the arc is clearly stated by its location as well as by architectural details and by its size and height. Tall fluted Corinthian columns adorn the arcade which surrounds the building. At the point of the axis of the arc, at the entrance to the building, there is a portico projecting forward from the colonnade, supported by six additional columns. From this portico a flight of wide steps leads down to the arc and to the path going to the other institutional buildings on the arc. The proportion of this six-columned portico is the deciding factor establishing the relationship of harmony and proportion with the International Archives building. At the same time the depth and height of the portico recalls similar porticos in Persian architecture, and the space it provides gives an invitation for all the world to enter. Above the main door through which guests and pilgrims enter, is the spacious window of the room in which the House of Justice meets. This Council Chamber also faces towards the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh; it is the heart of the whole building and is crowned by the dome. Like many domes in eastern architecture, the dome is based on an octagon in the heart of the building itself with an interesting system of integration with the geometry of the length and breadth of the building.
The building is faced with white marble, and the columns and dome are the same. The geometrical design, in terms of proportion and size, was considered in relation to the existing structures as well as to the surrounding gardens. The building covers an area of sixty-eight by thirty-six metres, with eighteen columns on each long side and ten on each of the others. The height of the building is about fourteen metres, and from the base to the top of the dome is twenty-five metres. The dome is deliberately not designed in a more prominent form in order not to compete with the beautiful dome of the Shrine of the Báb. The roof is covered in green glazed tiles similar to those used on the International Archives building, and offers harmonious glimpses from the gardens above.
The interior of the building is essentially simple. The structural design has provided spaces for installation in the future, as may become necessary, of new technological without alteration or difficulty.
In addition to the Council Chamber of the House of Justice, a reception hall for pilgrims and important visitors, a conference room, and space for the immediate secretariat of the House of Justice have been provided.
The slope of the mountain made it possible to build a basement and a sub-basement between the foundations and the main ground floor; therefore the building is five and a half storeys, with a total surface of 11,000 square metres. One of the lower storeys provides a secondary service entrance which is used daily by those who work in the building.
Once the design was approved, studies were made to determine the best way to construct it. The first problem was the choice of the stone and its carving. After a very detailed study it was decided that Pentelikon marble from Greece, quarried near Athens, was the best possible stone for this building; this is the same stone as that used in the Acropolis. The blocks of marble from Greece were shipped to Italy where they were carved and cut and then re-shipped to Haifa.
The structural core or skeleton of the building is made of reinforced concrete. The marble cladding was hung on that and can be replaced in future when necessary after centuries of wear.
A parking area is located east of the building, cut into the slope of the mountain and covered by gardens. No vehicles will be seen around the building. Access to this parking area, as well as to the service entrance, is from a street which touches the boundary of the Bahá’í property on the east. All traffic to the building will be from this street, thus the serenity of the beautiful arc gardens will not be disturbed.
External links[edit]
- The Universal House of Justice - from www.bahai.org
- Constitution of the Universal House of Justice
- Administration - US National Baha'i website
References[edit]
- ↑ Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places note 55 on page 44 states: "It was later decided that the stone would come from Greece and be carved in Italy; the sixty columns of the original plan were reduced to fifty-eight."
Bibliography[edit]
- The Universal House of Justice. The Bahá’í World - An Internationl Record Vol XVI 1973-1973 pages 399-404. Great Britain: University Press, Oxford.
