Muzamil Mutalib

advisor

City University Malaysia

Malaysia

Lecturer specializing in Interior Design and Architecture, with a strong passion for blending… more

This project is a powerful and deeply philosophical exploration of architecture as a vessel for metaphysical experience. Rooted in the Theosophical concept of the Septenary system, the design transcends traditional notions of function and form, and instead becomes a layered spiritual ascent an architectural embodiment of the soul's journey through the seven principles of being. What is particularly compelling is the vertical narrative each floor representing a distinct metaphysical stage, linked not just spatially but symbolically through a central staircase and gradually diminishing openings. The architectural language here is bold and evocative, with the cube form, heavy concrete massing and singular skylight orchestrating a dramatic interplay between darkness and light. This manipulation of light becomes not just a visual device but a metaphorical one: light as enlightenment, divinity and the unreachable seventh principle Atma.

Technically, the detailing is handled with clarity. The offset floor slabs resist repetition, creating a sense of discovery and challenge at each level. The use of a mirrored glass cube as the base is both visually striking and philosophically consistent representing reflection, inversion and the threshold between the material and the spiritual.

Overall, “The Essential Truth” is a conceptually rich and experientially profound project. It reminds us that architecture can go beyond solving problems it can guide, transform and elevate the human spirit.