MEDITATION CENTRE AND ITS

SPACES
CHALAVADI MEGHANA
Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry

Set up in the year 1926 by Aurobindo Ghosh, one of India’s greatest

philosopher poets, Sri Aurobindo Ashram has been one of the most
famous meditation destinations in South India. The philosophy of its
founder which was deeply rooted in yoga inspired a number of followers
. This Ferrero-rocher shaped building requires a prior booking in case
one wants to meditate inside the building. The architecture of the
building is one of its key attributes; there is a crystal in the centre of the
meditation area upon which a lone ray of sunshine passes through and
gives a spectacular visual display.
 Isha Yoga and Meditation

On the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains, Coimbatore at the Isha Yoga

Centre is a dedicated area for mediation called Dhyanlinga. The
architecture of this structure has been carefully planned to keep in mind
ancient traditions and using modern technology at the same time. An
excerpt from their website will show readers what they can expect from
this retreat.

“It does not ascribe to any particular belief or faith. It does not require
any pooja or worship. Just sitting silently for a few minutes within the
sphere of Dhyanlinga is enough to make even those unaware of
meditation, experience a state of deep meditativeness….”

An interesting architectural feature of the dome in which the meditation

is to take place, is that it was built without the use of steel, cement or
concrete but with brick and mortar which were then stabilized with lime,
sand, alum and herbal additives which are meant to last for more than
5000 years without any dissipation
The Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune spans 40 acres
and is a retreat designed amidst lush greenery. The center is
known for paying homage to the philosopher Osho and his
teachings, beckoning tourists in with its yoga and meditation
programs. Designed by Hafeez Contractor, it is situated in a posh
neighbourhood in Pune.

The resort campus is designed as a commune consisting of various

spaces like the meditation hall, cafes, multiversity, guest houses within
the fringes of the Zen garden, green-shaded walkways, pools, and parks.
The entire complex is strewn with symmetrical pyramid-shaped blocks.

The primary meditation hall, nine storeys high with an area of 18,000
square feet, is completely soundproof and functions as an auditorium
with a capacity of five thousand as well. Its outer skin is clad entirely in
black marble, which provides thermal insulation to the interiors. The
front facade is symmetrical and sits atop a waterbody, looking serene.
 Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’is the architect of the Art of Living Ashram in
Bangalore as well as the architect of 'A One World Family-
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakum'

This magnificent structure of the thousand-petals fame, with an entirely

white marble floor and a lotus-shaped edifice is a wonderful blend of
Vedic architecture and modern technology . The Mantap, known for its
intricate craftsmanship, stunning illumination and elegant décor was
built with the dedicated efforts of 7,000 workers and volunteers. The
glass dome that tops the building is adorned with a magnificent ‘kalash’
– 15’ ft 3”in high- the biggest in Asia.

Although the weight of the massive structure seems to be concentrated

along the centre, there is no central column supporting it, instead it is
supported by 81 pillars that run along side of the building.
Dhamma Bodhi, Bodh Gaya

It is well known that Gauthama Buddha first obtained enlightenment at

Bodh Gaya, Bihar. Hence, visiting the Dhamma Bodhi can also be
fascinating to history buffs. At Dhamma Bodhi, Vipassana meditation is
widely taught under the guidance of S.N.Goenka. 10-day courses
generally on the first and the 16th day of every month and the classes
can consist of 80 students at a time.

At Bodh Gaya, the MahaBodhi Temple Complex houses a Bodhi tree

where one can escape from the hustle-bustle of the city life and find
peace and tranquillity at the same place as once, the Buddha did.
The Key Architectural Elements Required to Design Meditation Space

Circulations

Circulations gain great importance in this kind of projects, because not

only can function as corridors or hallways, but also can contain storage
spaces, waiting and resting areas, or even a reception. Some cases also
take advantage of the walls to incorporate built-in shelves.

Aesthetics and Materials

The aesthetics of space depends entirely on the client requirement, but

generally, you should avoid distracting elements or exaggerated
decorations. It is recommended using warm materials and soft colors (or
directly white) to help attendees achieve a certain degree of initial
concentration. As practices carried out in permanent contact with the
ground, floors are usually covered with wood or materials rather 'soft'
and warm to the touch.
Acoustics

There is a belief that these spaces must be completely silent, but

precisely the idea of these disciplines is to be developed in spite of the
ambient noise. In fact, in many cases, it is recommended to fully
perform in exteriors, as many sounds of nature can help a better
realization of different practices. In the case of closed rooms, these
sounds (and even smells) can be integrated by incorporating indoor
courtyards or gardens that attract birds, including moving water, and/or
allow the flow of the wind.

Ventilation
This is a fundamental issue in these practices, since they all use breath
as the basis for its development. It is important to allow cross ventilation
across the room, making sure that there is a certain current renew of
oxygen inside, during the session or at the times when the room is not
being occupied. For this, we should generate a first opening in the
facade that receives the prevailing winds, and a second opening
(preferably bigger) on the opposite wall.
The Botanica Meditation Centre is located on the outskirts of the old city of Hefei,china.

Architects: HAS design and research

Area : 230 m²
Year : 2022
Photographs :Yu Bai
Manufacturers : Catellani & Smith, HAY, Longman, Prince Iron, RXIN, luci
Lead Architects : Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee
Constructor : Hefei Botuo Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.

The owner of this project has been working in the real estate industry in the past,
under the high pressure of the work rhythm, she has always had an incomparable
love for plants. She dreams to establish a botanical garden that is open to the
public and can provide community residents with meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, and
other spiritual training courses to educate them on the aesthetic concept of a "slow
life".

The HAS-designed Botanica Meditation Center presents a ‘quiet and

The facade material of the small, meditative structure
along with the landscape stone are all sourced from the
local Hefei travertine. Hundreds of stones had been
hand-beaten by local craftsmen to create their distinct
irregular edges, suggesting that they had been naturally
eroded by their misty context over time.
rich sense of the landscape hierarchy.’ Early in the mornings, the
garden introduces a natural resting space for visitors and animals alike,
including local insects, birds, and squirrels. In the afternoon, the mist
will automatically activate to both water the plants and generate the
cool, dream-like oasis from the bustling city .
THE EPHEMERAL ATMOSPHERE CREATED BY A WATERING SYSTEM

During the project’s early stages, the architects conducted in-depth research into the requirements of a traditional botanical
garden, and discovered that they call for massive water tanks. ‘Although they can be used as watering systems for botanical
gardens, they are spatially separated into two systems: plants and equipment.’

Learning from the conventional systems, the team at HAS(Hung And Songkittipakdee) proposed a reversal. While a traditional
equipment water tank is typically hidden beneath the ground, the Botanical Meditation Center celebrates the structure,
expressing it in travertine as a multi-functional meditation space.

Next, an ‘extended’ underground system brings water to every corner of the botanical garden in the form of an ephemeral mist.
This misty, extended watering system enhances the unique and poetic space with a dream-like atmosphere, reflecting the ritual
sense of meditation, yoga, and Tai Chi.

The extended watering system not only solves the problem of the traditional water tank and the botanical garden
deviating from each other, but also adds to the uniquely designed water mist device in a more poetical way that reflects
the ritual sense of meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, and other activities .
In addition, the facade materials of the Botanica Meditation Centre and landscape
stone are all taken from the local travertine in Hefei. Hundreds of stones are hand-
beaten by local craftsmen with irregular edges as if it is a natural phenomenon
formed by water mist erosion. The Botanica Meditation Centre, which can provide
a large amount of water mist irrigation system, not only brings a cool micro-
ecosystem to the environment, but its hidden form allows residents to have a
dramatic and extraordinary experience in the morning, afternoon, and night.