Urban Monastery

Throughout human civilization, legendary cities have served as stages for countless epic narratives. Even today, international metropolises like New York remain hubs of culture, attracting people who come to write their life stories amid the hustle and bustle of towering skyscrapers. Nonetheless, the daily rush of urban life often leaves us feeling that something is missing. The peace and vitality of nature are essential for contemplation, introspection and recovery. Can we truly find this state of mind in a modern metropolis?

Architect Jonny Ryley, founder of Studio Ryley, has been trying to find an answer. After finishing his university studies in England he moved to New York, where he conceived the idea of designing an “urban monastery” where he would explore the question, “What creates a space of stillness and contemplation?”

His resulting high-rise concept aims to remove people from their surroundings, allowing them to “turn inwards.” Seamlessly integrating into the New York skyline, Ryley has designed this building to emanate a serene and transcendent atmosphere. From its striking visual impact to its interior spaces, the structure resembles a sturdy tree reaching skyward—a vast yet intimate retreat bathed in sunlight and tranquillity.

The building’s interior, characterized by sleek wooden lines and purposeful openings, is inspired by the monasteries and churches of Western architecture, specifically the monastic designs of Dutch monk and architect Hans Van Der Laan. Intended to reduce weight and provide repetitiveness and symmetry, the recessed square grids guide the eye, capturing the radiance of sunlight filtering down as it purifies both body and spirit.

Views of the city are limited, with glimpses here and there creating a sensory experience that leads visitors to forget about the hustle and bustle outside. The oversized structural elements, visible throughout, contribute to this aim, leading one to focus on something larger than oneself.

“Our urban planning often overlooks spaces for rest,” Ryley says. “The Urban Monastery aims to address this gap by blending elements of traditional monasteries and adapting them for shorter urban stints or retreats, while also exploring the untapped sustainable potential of timber high-rises in cities dominated by concrete, brick, and glass.”

Glancing further at the building’s interior, one encounters an environment enveloped in warm wood, which radiates a welcoming and peaceful ambiance. On the rooftop walled garden, you can hear the city below, but you can’t see it. You can simply gaze upwards. You’re invited to walk around the perimeter through a series of openings, a repetitive process acting as a physical sedative.

“In designing this project, I want to emphasize that it’s not just about the objective environment created by a space, but about the impact of spatial design on the behaviour of those within it. This is something that I don’t think we as designers of the built environment take seriously enough,” Ryley says.

Traditional buildings that inspire spirituality often involuntarily quiet the people entering them, allowing them to turn inwards to contemplate and engage in spiritual and divine dialogues.

“This is our way of learning, our way of growing. Such buildings provide us with a space to communicate with God amid the chaos of everyday life,” Ryley says. He thus wonders, “Why can’t we take more of these things—of rest, contemplation, and stillness—and integrate them into our built world?”

“In my hometown church growing up, we often sang a song that said, ‘He’s got the whole world in His hands,’ depicting our Creator gently cradling His creation. In the Urban Monastery, you experience this subtle embrace, floating in time within each grid, becoming a part of something much larger in the universe.”