The Jedi Temple: Layered architecture and monk culture

General Preface

When George Lucas created Star Wars, he wanted his universe to feel "lived in" – opposing the futuristic “clean slate” aesthetic of other sci-fi locales. Through Lucas’ attempt at realism, we are gifted a smattering of community-based case studies strewn across the Star Wars galaxy - a handful of which we will explore using the book Star Wars: Complete Locations.

Today we are knighted in the halls of the Jedi Temple with its community of force-wielding monks.

An Architectural Collage

The Jedi Temple, with its sacred spires, wise-cracking libraries, contemplative cushions, and myriad colonnades, is a piecemeal of history and architecture. A sure disaster of era, style, and form melds itself into a seamless jedi habitat. This disjointed jenga of history-driven architecture assures a timeless temple that will never go out of style.

varying styles of architecture; some classic, some contemporary, some a bit of both

Courtesy: The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), The Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Memorials: Literal vs. Abstract

The temple honors its deceased with towering gold sculptures and mosaics of its founding jedi. These memorials are quite literal - making obvious the temple's progenitors. The immortalized jedi figurines shepherd the temple's entrants, adding personification to an otherwise insentient structure. Furthermore, more golden jedi sculptures are housed in the temple's central spire. These figures are the most revered jedi, and thus, they represent the pinnacle of a jedi's aspirations.

One struggles to find more abstract memorials, but given their abstract nature, one may need an inside scoop to realize their presence. A person could argue that the entire temple is an abstract layering of jedi history, its battle with the sith, and its outstretched ziggurat connection to the force.

entrance to the Jedi Temple with its shepherding jedi sculptures

Courtesy: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

the ziggurat housing the jedi's high council chamber; reaching out to the force like the Tower of Babel

Courtesy: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Contemplation Stations and The Council Chamber

As one would expect in a monk-like temple, "Contemplation Stations" abound throughout the structures. A balcony, like the one used by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, stands atop one of the spires and serves as a defacto "waiting room" of solitude or a "conversational escape" where one can be frank outside an otherwise formal council chamber. 

The council chamber itself features a radial mosaic along the ground plane. Along the large outer circle are the seated jedi masters who make up the jedi council. A subject - a padawan, knight, or master who is not on the council - stands in the small central circle and either reports to or takes instruction from the surrounding council. This puts the subject in a sort of scrutinous spotlight. In fact, one wonders whether this arrangement of inward-seated councilmen was an embodiment of the ignorant jedi and their unseen demise.     

a contemplation station allowing candid conversation between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan

Courtesy: The Phantom Menace (1999)

the council chamber with Anakin standing within the circle of scrutiny

Courtesy: The Phantom Menace (1999)

The People

Those in the temple are purely jedi or jedi candidates. Politicians and soldiers aren't customarily allowed inside; although, soldiers and guards may be stationed in strategic portions. The jedi masters often congregate in the spires while conducting their jedi business and monitoring the war effort. Jedi knights wander the halls and libraries with their padawan in tow, and younglings receive teachings within the temple's bulky interior. Though such abilities are rare, force-sensitivity may span across most if not all sentient species.

younglings accompanied by a jedi master and jedi knight; other jedi hover in the background

courtesy: Attack of the Clones (2002) 

What We Can Learn 

In an age of costly building renovations and "progressive" teardowns, perhaps a "historical layering" akin to the jedi temple is more preferrable a building style with its economical salvage and acknowledgment of time. In tandem with this historical layering of the centuries is the decadal layering of generations - from youngling to padawan to master - which occupies the temple. In no particular order, there is a perpetual interplay between past, present, and future which coalesces into one timeless community within one timeless structure.

As for memorials, literal artistry has its place - if only to personify a structure and aid one's ascension with the proverbial force. It is thus abstractly which the spires hope to achieve - reaching skyward toward the "heavens" in search of enlightenment.

courtesy: Star Wars: Complete Locations (illustrators: Jenssen & Chasemore)

References:

Film: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Film: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Film: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Star Wars: Complete Locations (illustrated by Jenssen & Chasemore). Lucas Books. DK. (2005)