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Room of silence: A place of reflection for students and visitors
The Room of Silence at the UNI Bochum has been offering a retreat for students for contemplation and reflection since 2022.
Room of silence: A place of reflection for students and visitors
The Room of Silence in the cafeteria building, which opened in October 2022, is an important place of retreat for students and employees. According to reports from news.rub.de This room is visited by an average of 49 people every day who are looking for a moment of peace and reflection. Most visitors flock to the room between 1 and 3 p.m. to pray or simply enjoy the silence.
The accompanying study, led by Dr. Martin Radermacher from the Center for Religious Studies (CERES) provides deeper insights into the use of the room. Around 85 percent of visitors are students, and the average age is in the 20s and 30s. Interestingly, 74 percent of guests are female. The religious composition of the visitors is diverse: 41 percent are Christian, 29 percent are Muslim and around 25 percent have no faith.
Motivation and use
The main reasons to visit the room are to pray and seek inner peace. A third of those surveyed said they came out of curiosity. Over half of respondents rarely use the space, while just over a quarter frequent it frequently, particularly visitors from a Muslim background.
The vast majority of users feel comfortable in this special space. Only 20 percent report disruptions from other visitors. Still, some survey participants expressed concerns about conflicts that may arise in the room, such as praying out loud or using the room for propaganda. It was also noted that the equipment for Muslim prayer practices is inadequate.
Users have overwhelmingly positive comments about the design of the room. There was a desire for a division or privacy within the room. A screen was suggested as a possible solution, but had not yet been installed when the survey took place.
Spaces of silence in different contexts
The idea of spaces of silence is not new and comes to life in various social contexts. In a study by Sabine Kraft examines how such spaces are designed and used in areas such as airports, schools and hospitals. The aim of such spaces is to create an open atmosphere for reflection, reflection and prayer.
This study also discusses architectural design and the symbolism of silence. The Space of Silence is viewed as multifunctional, without a specific religious association, providing a welcome neutrality for many visitors.
By creating such retreats, an increasingly existing need for inner contemplation and spiritual space in a hectic world is addressed. This shows how important it is to create places where people can find peace, both in academic environments and in other areas of life. The room of silence in the cafeteria building seems to be a successful implementation of this idea.