The existential hologram: toward a neurophenomenological and symbolic theory of sacred presence in architecture

Researchers propose the 'Existential Hologram' as a novel framework to analyze sacred presence in architecture, demonstrating how it emerges through dynamic interactions between embodied experience, memory, symbolism, and resonant atmospheres. The model introduces LUX—a cross-field operator organizing light, shadow, and visibility—to explain structured modes of orientation, attention, and affect in ritual spaces. Applied to the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan and Chartres Cathedral, it reveals distinct configurations of sacred presence (e.g., containment vs. solicitation) without reducing their historical or theological specificity. This neurophenomenological approach offers a transparent, transferable protocol for comparative analysis, advancing interdisciplinary research on how architecture facilitates spiritual experience.

Mehdilou, S., Dolatabadi, F., & Yaghoobi, M. (2026). The existential hologram: toward a neurophenomenological and symbolic theory of sacred presence in architecture. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07260-6