Artificial Light as A Supporting Element to Achieve Sacredness in the Holy Spirit Cathedral Church of Denpasar

Abstract

The sacred space in Catholic Church buildings is intended for people to experience the mystery of God’s work of salvation and the epiphany of faith through light as one of its design elements. Light is seen as a significant aspect of Catholic teachings, representing divine manifestation through its symbolic function. The presence of artificial light in the worship room of the Holy Spirit Cathedral Denpasar was designed to accommodate all worship activities in conveying symbolic meanings. This study aimed to determine how artificial lighting through pragmatic, psychological, and symbolic functions is present in the prayer room. The data collection techniques used were observation, interviews, and questionnaires. The study results showed that the pragmatic function of light in the worship room of the Holy Spirit Cathedral Denpasar is considered a supporting aspect, while light with its psychological and symbolic functions is considered to be the main aspect, which is very influential in creating a spatial atmosphere that facilitates the religious experience of the churchgoer. Although the presence of artificial lighting in the worship room does not fulfill visual comfort, churchgoers consider the presence of artificial light to be able to accommodate the whole procession of worship activities.