A nine-panel architectural design will define Canada’s first national Bahá’í House of Worship, combining sculptural forms, natural materials, and an understated presence in the surrounding woodland.

Designed by Vancouver-based architect James Jing Yi Jiang, the proposed temple will be built in Markham, Ont. Its scale, transparent elements, and natural wood tones aim to integrate the structure into the forest rather than dominate its surroundings.

The design centers on nine identical panels arranged in an asymmetrical composition. This structural rhythm beneath the panels provides an underlying sense of order.

The arrangement reflects a central principle of the Bahá’í Faith: unity in diversity. Jiang says the design expresses how individual elements can retain their differences while contributing to a greater whole.

Curved forms also play a defining role in the architecture. Jiang drew inspiration from the wind’s movement, incorporating shapes that evoke the traces and ripples left by a breeze.

The architect describes the landscape as an active part of the design.

The design also recognizes the site’s longstanding spiritual and cultural significance. The property has served as a place of prayer and meditation for decades. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada acquired the current Markham property in 1968, after initially purchasing land in Toronto a decade earlier.