Rethinking Sacred Space: A Buffalo Porch Story

November 8, 2024

BY ISABEL BERMAN

In her TEDxBuffalo talk, alum Kalyn Faller (M.Arch *20) explores the idea of rethinking sacred space by sharing the story of a simple Buffalo porch that has connected a decade’s worth of tenants and friends.

Faller, a designer and builder with architectural training, uses the porch to illustrate how sacred spaces can be closer to home than we might realize. Through the lens of architecture, community, and faith, she invites us to consider what really makes a space sacred.

To an outside observer, this porch is simply an old, worn-out structure with two ferns and some twinkling lights. However, for the tenants and friends who have gathered on it over the years, this porch holds far more meaning. It has been a site of joy and sadness, doubt and faith, as well as a place for both despair and hope. The porch has evolved into a space where vulnerability and connection thrive, becoming a central gathering point for people in various stages of life and facing a range of emotions.

Faller’s talk ultimately challenges the traditional view of sacred spaces as formal or religious, suggesting instead that they can be found in the places we use to nurture relationships and build community. By sharing her story, Faller encourages us all to rethink what makes a space sacred and to create or recognize such spaces in our own lives, where moments of transcendence, healing, and community can flourish.

To watch the full TedxBuffalo talk, visit YouTube. 

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