The architect of the Baha’i House of Worship in Chicago, Louis Bourgeois, spent years designing and building this plaster model for the chance that his design would be chosen. It is now displayed in a corridor, when rounding the corner one comes upon it, lit from within, a silent testimony to the artist’s grand vision.
“When the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is accomplished, when the lights are emanating therefrom, the righteous ones are presenting themselves therein, the prayers are performed with supplication towards the mysterious Kingdom, the voice of glorification is raised to the Lord, the Supreme, then the believers shall rejoice, the hearts shall be dilated and overflow with the love of the All-living and Self-existent God.”-Abdu’l-Baha
-Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith