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COMMUNE
The Brief for this project was to design a retreat centre where people can escape from their everyday lives and/or traumatic experiences through specific activities or therapeutic practices.
My chosen theme was Buddhism. Centered around the concept of the “three jewels of Buddhism”, the plan layout consists of three main segments, each representing the meaning of a specific “jewel”.
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The geometry is certainly not left to chance. It is dictated by the rule of the Golden Section. As the ratio can be found both in nature and many ancient buildings, it is believed to bring harmony to the spaces.
The scheme consists of the main accommodation block, three Zen Gardens and a Shrine. It is intended to provoke emotion and to help visitors grow and evolve.
Softwares Used: Sketchup, AutoCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator
The position of the main entrance is designed so that there is a direct view of the Buddha statue in the Shrine room when you first enter the building.
The bedrooms are minimalistic with a view towards the distant mountains. There is a big panoramic window providing a view towards the gardens and the distant sea.
An external covered pathway is introduced due to the rainy UK weather and the strong SW winds. Pitched zinc roofs help drain the rainwater away.
The scheme accommodates three Zen Gardens. The first two, positioned in the Sangha courtyard are meant to be raked by the visitors of the retreat centre. This encourages meditation and concentration.
The third Zen Garden represents the Dharma courtyard. It is where a statue of Buddha is positioned in the middle, allowing people to sit around it and meditate or contemplate.
The 1st floor extends over the ground floor to create a covered external walkway. Glass sliding doors open directly into the gardens to create a connection between man and nature.
Timber Slats Sketch
There is a big landscape window on the 1st floor facing the garden. In order to keep the privacy of the Dharma courtyard, timber slats were added in front of the window to limit the view down to the garden and to focus it in front to the seashore in the distance.
