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MEDITATIO
N CENTER
Submitted by:
Edrienne John I. Roxas
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Prehistory
Further information: cultural universal and prehistoric religion
Prehistoric religion involved repetitive, rhythmic chants which today are commonlycalled mantras
Antiquity
Further information: Axial Age
Buddha sitting in Lotus positionwith hand mudras, 3rd century
!ome of the earliest written records of meditation "#hyana$, come from the %indu traditions
of &edantism around '()) B*+ he &edasdiscuss the meditative traditions of ancient
-ndia Around the .th to (th centuries B*+, other forms of meditation developed in aoist *hina
and Buddhist -ndia #hyana in early Buddhism also ta/es influence on &edanta 0y ca the 1th
century B*+
he exact origins of Buddhist meditation are su02ect to de0ate among scholars +arly written
records of the multiple levels and states of meditation in Buddhism in -ndia are found in
the sutras of the Pli *anon, which dates to 'st century B*+ he Pali *anon records the 0asic
fourfold formula of salvation via the o0servance of the rules of morality, contemplativeconcentration, /nowledge and li0eration, thus placing meditation as a step along the path of
salvation By the time Buddhism was spreading in *hina, the &imala/irti !utra which dates to
'))*+ included a num0er of passages on meditation and enlightened wisdom, clearly pointing
to 4en
-n the west, 0y 5) B*+ Philo of Alexandria had written on some form of 6spiritual exercises6
involving attention "prosoche$ and concentration and 0y the 3rd century Plotinus had developed
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meditative techniques, which however did not attract a following among *hristian
meditators !aint Augustine experimented with the methods of Plotinus and failed to achieve
ecstasy
he !il/ 7oad transmission of Buddhism introduced meditation to other oriental
countries Bodhidharma is traditionally considered the transmitter of the concept of 4en to *hina
%owever, the first 6original school6 in +ast Asia was founded 0y his contemporary 4hiyi in the
.th century in central *hina 4hiyi managed to systematically organi8e the various teachings that
had 0een imported from -ndia in a way that their relationship with each other made
sense 9onhyo and isang promoted ;orean Buddhism in the a term understood 0y all commentators as some type of meditative practice
"?enesis 51:.3$ here are indications throughout the ana/h "the %e0rew Bi0le$ that =udaism
always contained a central meditative tradition
@iddle Ages
9ith the growth of =apanese Buddhism from the th century onwards, meditative practices were
0rought to and further developed in =apan he =apanese mon/ #osho learned of 4en during his
visit to *hina in .(3 and upon his return opened the first meditation hall in =apan,
at ara @editative practices continued to arrive in =apan from *hina, and were su02ected to
modification 9hen #Cgen returned to =apan from *hina around '55
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of meditation involved ;a00alistic practices, and some involved approaches of =ewish
philosophy
!ufi view or -slamic mysticism involves meditative practices 7emem0rance of ?od in -slam,
which is /nown 0y the concept #hi/r is interpreted in different meditative techniques
in !ufism or -slamic mysticism his 0ecame one of the essential elements of !ufism as it was
systemati8ed in the ''th and '5th centuries -t is 2uxtaposed with fi/r "thin/ing$ which leads to
/nowledge By the '5th century, the practice of !ufism included specific meditative techniques,
and its followers practiced 0reathing controls and the repetition of holy words
+astern *hristian meditation can involve the repetition of a phrase in a specific physical posture,
and can 0e traced 0ac/ to the By8antine period Between the ')th and '1th
centuries, hesychasm was developed, particularly on @ount Athos in ?reece, and continues to the
present -t involves the repetition of the =esus prayer D'E -t is possi0le that there were interactions
0etween %esychasts and the -ndians or the !ufis, 0ut this can not 0e proved
9estern *hristian meditation contrasts with most other approaches in that it does not involve the
repetition of any phrase or action and requires no specific posture 9estern *hristian
meditation progressed from the .th century practice of Bi0le reading among Benedictine mon/s
called Lectio #ivina, ie divine reading -ts four formal steps as a 6ladder6 were defined 0y the
mon/ ?uigo -- in the '5th century with the Latin terms lectio,meditatio, oratio,
and contemplatio "ie read, ponder, pray, contemplate$ 9estern *hristian meditation was further
developed 0y saints such as -gnatius of Loyola and eresa of Avila in the '.th century
@odern history
By the 'th century, the study of Buddhism in the 9est was a topic for intellectuals he
philosopher !chopenhauer discussed it, and &oltaire as/ed for toleration towards Buddhists he
first +nglish translation of the i0etan Boo/ of the #ead was pu0lished in '5improvement Both spiritual and secular forms of meditation have 0een
su02ects of scientific analyses %owever, after .) years of scientific study, the exact mechanism at
wor/ in meditation remains unclear
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Meditation
his article is a0out the induction of specific modes or states of consciousness For other uses,
see @editation "disam0iguation$
A statue of the Buddha meditating, Borim emple, ;orea
@editation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of
consciousness, either to reali8e some 0enefit or for the mind to simply ac/nowledge its content
without 0ecoming identified with that content, or as an end in itself
he term meditation refers to a 0road variety of practices that includes techniques designed to
promote relaxation, 0uild internal energy or life force "qi, /i, prana, etc$ and develop
compassion love, patience, generosity and forgiveness A particularly am0itious form of
meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single>pointed concentration meant to ena0le its
practitioner to en2oy an indestructi0le sense of well>0eing while engaging in any life activity
he word meditation carries different meanings in different contexts @editation has 0een
practiced since antiquity as a component of numerous religious traditions and 0eliefs @editation
often involves an internal effort to self>regulate the mind in some way @editation is often used to
clear the mind and ease many health concerns, such as high 0lood pressure,E depression,
and anxiety -t may 0e donesitting, or in an active wayIfor instance, Buddhist mon/s involve
awareness in their day>to>day activities as a form of mind>trainingPrayer 0eads or other ritual
o02ects are commonly used during meditation in order to /eep trac/ of or remind the practitioner
a0out some aspect of the training
@editation may involve generating an emotional state for the purpose of analy8ing that stateI such as anger, hatred, etcIor cultivating a particular mental response to various phenomena,
such as compassion he term 6meditation6 can refer to the state itself, as well as to practices or
techniques employed to cultivate the state @editation may also involve repeating a mantra and
closing the eyes he mantra is chosen 0ased on its suita0ility to the individual meditator
@editation has a calming effect and directs awareness inward until pure awareness is achieved,
descri0ed as 60eing awa/e inside without 0eing aware of anything except awareness itself6 -n
0rief, there are do8ens of specific styles of meditation practice, and many different types of
activity commonly referred to as meditative practices
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Etymoloy
he +nglish meditation is derived from the Latin meditatio, from a ver0 meditari, meaning 6to
thin/, contemplate, devise, ponder6-n the Gld estament, hgJ "%e0rew: KK$ means to sigh or
murmur, and also, to meditate 9hen the %e0rew Bi0le was translated into ?ree/, hgJ 0ecamethe ?ree/melete he Latin Bi0le then translated hgJMmelete into meditatio he use of the
term meditatio as part of a formal, stepwise process of meditation goes 0ac/ to the '5th>century
mon/ ?uigo --
he i0etan word for meditation 6?om6 means 6to 0ecome familiar with6 and has the strong
implication of training the mind to 0e familiar with states that are 0eneficial: concentration,
compassion, correct understanding, patience, humility, perseverance, etc
Apart from its historical usage, the term meditation was introduced as a translation for +astern
spiritual practices, referred to as dhyna in Buddhism and in %induism, which comes from
the !ans/rit root dhyai, meaning to contemplate or meditate he term 6meditation6 in +nglishmay also refer to practices from -slamic !ufism, or other traditions such as =ewish ;a00alah and
*hristian %esychasm An edited 0oo/ a0out 6meditation6 pu0lished in 5))3, for example,
included chapter contri0utions 0y authors descri0ing %indu, Buddhist, aoist, =ewish, *hristian
and -slamic traditions !cholars have noted that 6the term NmeditationN as it has entered
contemporary usage6 is parallel to the term 6contemplation6 in *hristianity, 0ut in many cases,
practices similar to modern forms of meditation were simply called NprayerN *hristian, =udaic and
-slamic forms of meditation are typically devotional, scriptural or thematic, while Asian forms of
meditation are often more purely technical
History
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@ain article: %istory of meditation
@an @editating in a ?arden !etting
he history of meditation is intimately 0ound up with the religious context within which it was
practiced !ome authors have even suggested the hypothesis that the emergence of the capacity
for focused attention, an element of many methods of meditation, may have contri0uted to the
final phases of human 0iological evolution !ome of the earliest references to meditation are
found in the %indu &edas 9ilson translates the most famous &edic mantra N?ayatriN thus : 69e
meditate on that desira0le light of the divine !avitri, who influences our pious rites6 "7gveda :
@andala>3, !u/ta>.5, 7cha>')$ Around the .th to (th centuries B*+, other forms of meditation
developed in *onfucian, and aoist *hina and %indu, =ain and Buddhist -ndia
-n the west, 0y 5) B*+ Philo of Alexandria had written on some form of 6spiritual exercises6
involving attention "prosoche$ and concentration and 0y the 3rd century Plotinus had developed
meditative techniques
he Pli *anon, which dates to 'st century B*+ considers -ndian Buddhist meditation as a step
towards salvation By the time Buddhism was spreading in *hina, the &imala/irti !utra which
dates to ')) *+ included a num0er of passages on meditation, clearly pointing to 4en he !il/
7oad transmission of Buddhism introduced meditation to other Asian countries, and in .(3 the
first meditation hall was opened in !ingaporeE 7eturning from *hina around '55
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Buddhist mon/ @editating in a 9aterfall !etting
9estern *hristian meditation contrasts with most other approaches in that it does not involve the
repetition of any phrase or action and requires no specific posture 9estern *hristian
meditation progressed from the .th century practice of Bi0le reading amongBenedictine mon/s
called Lectio #ivina, ie divine reading -ts four formal steps as a 6ladder6 were defined 0y the
mon/ ?uigo -- in the '5th century with the Latin terms lectio, meditatio, oratio,
and contemplatio "ie read, ponder, pray, contemplate$ 9estern*hristian meditation was further
developed 0y saints such as -gnatius of Loyola and eresa of Avila in the '.th century
!ecular forms of meditation were introduced in -ndia in the '()s as a 9esterni8ed form of
%indu meditative techniques and arrived in the nited !tates and +urope in the '.)s 7ather
than focusing on spiritual growth, secular meditation emphasi8es stress reduction, relaxation and
self>improvement Both spiritual and secular forms of meditation have 0een su02ects of scientific
analyses 7esearch on meditation 0egan in '3', with scientific research increasing dramatically
during the '
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Gnce you can descri0e the theme of your meditation room, you will pro0a0ly find it easier to
ma/e decisions a0out all the other design elements to follow Hou will find yourself designing a
room that is cohesive in terms of its overall loo/ and feel, rather than a room that feels
disconnected or thrown together
%ere are 2ust a few examples of themes for your meditation room Please /eep in mind that theseare 2ust ideas to stimulate your own thoughts a0out how you might li/e your meditation room to
loo/ and feel
The Resort
7esort style meditation rooms are inspired 0y the idea of an exotic vacation 9ords that spring to
mind are OBalinese retreat or O#ay !pa hin/ of a relaxing place where you have 0een on
holiday and try to recreate the loo/ and feel of that place
Spartan/Minimalistic
@inimalistic rooms usually feature light, neutral colour tones and have a very stripped 0ac/ loo/
and feel a0out them Gnly the 0are essentials are catered for in a minimalistic room his type of
meditation room is all a0out simplicity, serenity and the total avoidance of visual clutter
The Rainbow
Lots and lots of vi0rant coloursQ For some people this /ind of theme can 0e overwhelming, 0ut
for others it is totally invigorating Hou can 0rea/ all the rules with a rain0ow themepaint
different walls different colours, add 0rightly coloured furnishings, display colourful pictures
he tric/ is not to stop halfway with a rain0ow theme ?o all>out and saturate your meditation
room with colour
The Cocoon
*ocoon>li/e meditation rooms are designed to 0e warm, inviting, enveloping and reclusive he
cocoon effect is 0est suited to smaller rooms as it is harder to accomplish in a large space #ar/ercolour tones com0ined with plenty of natural candle light wor/ very well to create a space that
cocoons you in warmth and peace
The Illuminator
Ruite the opposite to he *ocoon, the -lluminator feels open, spacious and is full of natural light
Bright colour tones com0ined with plenty of comforta0le furnishings and natural cloth com0ine
to create a very pure, luminous space
The Temple
he emple theme is inspired 0y temples, shrines and places of sacred worship -n most cases this
is a room that includes plenty of natural elements, li/e stone, wood carvings, incense and candlesA8tec, Asian or African culture may influence the design
Create Your Own ersonal Theme
9hat inspires youS 9hat places ma/e you feel at peaceS 9hen you thin/ of meditation,
spirituality or relaxation, what places or images come to mindS Let your imagination run free and
develop your own personal theme -f you are designing a meditation room for yourself, then your
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room theme does not have to meet anyoneTs criteria 0ut your own @a/e it special and uniquely
yours
Designing a Meditation Room: Colour Schemes
ow that you have a theme in mind for your meditation room, itTs time to 0egin selecting a colour
scheme 9hen designing a meditation room, there really are no specific rules when it comes to
colours, and in many cases your own personal taste will guide you to the colour tones that are
right for you, however there are a few important factors to consider
First of all, /eep in mind that colour can have a very direct effect on the way you feel Hou are
pro0a0ly already aware of this on an intuitive level, 0ut it might surprise you to /now that
scientific tests have actually proven that after 0eing exposed to specific colours, we experience
mental, emotional and even physical changes Hour 0lood pressure, 0ody temperature and
appetite can all 0e affected 0y colour, so choose colours that have a positive effect on your overall
sense of well0eing
=ust as/ yourself, O%ow do - want to feel in this roomS and then visuali8e colours that represent
those feelings for you Hou might li/e to start 0y writing down a list of feelings that descri0e how
you want to feel when you wal/ into your meditation room Hou might use words li/e serene,
0alanced, relaxed or invigorated, to name a few ow picture yourself surrounded 0y the
colour"s$ you have in mind and o0serve your response #oes the colour scheme in your mind
0ring a0out the right feelings for youS #oes it enhance the essence of who you areS #oes it fit in
with the room theme you have in mindS
Colours and Space erception
he colours you choose will have an effect on your perception of space in the room For example,
dar/er colours may feel very cosy, 0ut they can ma/e a room feel smaller Lighter colour on the
other hand will help to open a room up, 0ut may not have the warmth you are after
Colour Selection
@ost interior decorators will advise you to avoid the overuse of 0old colours, however if a certain
colour resonates positively with you, then do not hesitate to defy convention and use as much of
it as you li/e ot all traditional decorating advice applies when you are designing a meditation
room ;eep your desired room theme in mind and go with your instincts
-f in dou0t a0out colours for your meditation room, then order a sample of the paint you have in
mind and try it out on a wall or two
More tips on colour and paint:
%ave you ever heard of the .):3):') design ruleS his design rule is a suggested guide to the
proportions of colour that you should use in a room: .)U dominant colour, 3)U intermediate
colour, ')U accent colour ypically, the dominant colour covers most of the walls, the
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intermediate colour might 0e used on one feature wall, and the accent colour might 0e used 2ust
around window frames or on doors @onochromatic rooms can 0e a little 0land, 0ut rooms with
too many colours can 0e visually distracting he .):3):') design rule is 2ust a handy hint for
creating a colour scheme that is nicely 0alanced
-f you are finding colour selection to 0e difficult, head down to your local paint shop @ost offerfree colour charts, free colour scheme suggestions and cheap, if not free sample paints @any
paint manufacturers also offer very helpful online guides which may include free colour selection
software and colour scheme advice
aint and !ir "ualit#
-f you are concerned a0out the purity of the air in your meditation room, please consider using
low>emission paints so as to minimi8e the presence of chemical fumes -n a process /nown as
Ooff>gassing, paints release small quantities of chemicals into the atmosphere for months or even
years after they have finished drying Low emission paints reduce this effect dramatically
-f you intend to use any high>gloss paints in your meditation room, ma/e sure you select a water>
0ased variety Gil>0ased high gloss paints loo/ great, 0ut they ta/e days to dry properly and they
can smell for wee/s afterwards
Designing a Meditation Room: $ighting
- have addressed the su02ect of lighting immediately after the su02ect of colour 0ecause colour
and light interplay with one another in a variety of ways, dramatically affecting the way we
perceive the space around us For example, a room that has 0een painted in warm colours maystill seem cold if the wrong type of lighting is used Li/ewise, a room may seem smaller or larger
depending on the way colour and light are com0ined A lac/ of lighting will ma/e colours seem
dar/er than they really are, and too much lighting may wash out the colours in your room
$ight Control
-f you are designing a meditation room, it is important that you have control over light levels !o
if your meditation room has windows, they will pro0a0ly need 0linds or curtains of some sort
"more on window furnishings a little later on$ Gverhead lights are 0est if they feature a dimming
function, which will allow you to have total control over the light levels in your room - also
recommend that you do not meditate in total dar/ness Personally, when - meditate - donTt li/e a
completely dar/ room, 0ut - donTt li/e it to 0e too 0right either, so - will dim down the overheadlights and light a candle or two !pea/ing of candles, this 0rings me to another point a0out light
$ight %ualit#
Light is often divided into two main categories V cool and warm "sometimes referred to as O0lue
or Oyellow in tint$ -n almost all cases warm lighting is the 0est choice for a meditation room -n
case you hadnTt guessed already, candles provide a very warm light indeed, and provide more
natural am0ience than almost any other light form you can imagine
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-f you have the choice, avoid fluorescent lighting Fluorescent light is the coldest, 0luest and most
sterile type of light 9orse still, large fluorescent lighting fixtures are also famous for
Oflic/erthe light levels they produce may seem to oscillate ever so slightly, 0ut very rapidly
For some people this can cause irritation and even headaches
- am aware that in some countries, traditional light glo0es have 0een prohi0ited in an effort toreduce energy consumption, leaving fluorescent glo0es as the only availa0le alternative
Fortunately, most fluorescent glo0e manufacturers reali8e how unpopular the cold light of
fluorescence can 0e, and many of them now offer specially designed Owarm fluorescent glo0es
Both traditional filament light glo0es and halogen light glo0es produce a very warm type of light
Please note that 0lue>tinted halogen glo0es are availa0le for people who prefer a colder light
nless this is your preference you should avoid this type of halogen glo0esomething to /eep in
mind the next time you are shopping for replacementsQ
&eature $ighting and $amps
he addition of lamps is an excellent way to add more controlled lighting options to a meditation
room Feature lighting li/e this can 0e used to add emphasis to one part of your room, and will
provide plenty of atmosphere !alt crystal lamps are a popular choice for meditation rooms these
days, 0ut are hardly your only optionwhy not try using candles in coloured glass holders to cast
a vi0rant glow a0out your roomS
9hen designing a meditation room, /eep the a0ove recommendations in mind and you will 0e
well on your way to creating a room that has great atmosphere and that can 0e ad2usted to suit
your needs at any time of day or night
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Space Adjacency Diagram
Space Adjacency Diagram [ showing ideal spatial progression]
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!ands"a#e Meditation
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&olume 1(, -ssue ' :: 0y homas %anrahan
@editation %all east elevation, with the three residence halls in the distance
he 9on #harma *enter is a 3),)))>square>foot meditation and spiritual retreat in *laverac/,
ew Hor/ for a ;orean Buddhist sect that emphasi8es 0alance in daily life with a focus on nature
he retreat site is a ())>acre property on a hill with views west to the %udson 7iver &alley and
the *ats/ill @ountains he 0uildings for the retreat V including permanent and guest residences,
an administration 0uilding, and a meditation hall V are sited as far as possi0le from the rural
highway 7oute 53 to the south he 0uildings are oriented west toward views of the *ats/ill
@ountains, and south to maximi8e natural light
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@editation %all and Administration 0uilding, with their connective porches, which frame views
he mission of the center is to create a place where the complexities and struggles of daily life
are secondary to a meditative experience, and untouched nature is seen as an ideali8ed state where
human activity recedes in importance Architecture is understood as a threshold to this vision of
unspoiled natural 0eauty, while the preservation of the natural environment itself is equally
important, assuming an ethical significance 0oth in terms of design and the day>to>day practices
at the *enter &irtually every aspect of the pro2ect was designed 0y us with these two ideas inmind: architecture as a threshold to nature and the preservation and appreciation of the
surrounding natural landscapes as an expression of the 9on *enterTs values he clients
requested that as many natural materials as possi0le 0e used in harmony with the rural character
of the region, and as a reflection of the centerTs mission and its emphasis on ecological design
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&iew of the site, with guest residence in distance, and permanent residence in foreground
he sym0ol of the Buddhist organi8ation is an open circle, suggesting in conceptual terms a void
without a0sence and infinite return, and the 0uildings, in turn, are organi8ed around the formal
concepts of the open frame and spiral he open frame is associated with meditation and the
@editation %all, the focus of the retreat experience he spiral form is used in the design of the
0uildings for daily activities, 0ut also suggests the practice of wal/ing meditation he spiral
0uildings have pu0lic corridors that return upon themselves and form a courtyard with a view tothe *ats/ills that encourage reflection 9al/ing meditation outside the 0uildings include paths
that lin/ the retreat 0uildings into the siteTs 3()>acre nature preserve
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?uest residence halls, fitted with photovoltaic arrays
he five 0uildings of the center are organi8ed on the site around a series of outdoor spaces of
various si8es and experiences he spaces 0etween the 0uildings are large landscapes while
intimate, meditative courtyards comprise the center of the four spiral 0uildings he 0uildings are
placed upon the site relative to each other in an informal, clustered arrangement on the west>
facing hillside in the manner of tree and roc/ clusters commonly found in the %udson 7iver
region he 0uildings also have outdoor spaces in the form of screened porches that invo/e this
image of tree clusters while also providing wood>screened outdoor porches for meeting and quiet
reflection he interior spaces are designed explicitly as thresholds to 0oth these porches and the
landscapes 0eyond with a design language 0ased upon the experience of natural light, wooden
surfaces on floors, and walls and framed views to the west
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!ite Plan
Administration and @editation %all plan
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A unified vision of landscape and architecture 0egins with the sequence through the site he first
point of access ta/es visitors through a stone entrance gate 7etreat visitors are encouraged to
leave their cars at the par/ing lot, located approximately ()) feet south of the meditation hall, and
wal/ to the center along a winding path under the tree line he first view of the retreat compound
from the path is the grass lawn in front of the administration 0uilding and ad2oining @editation
%all pon arrival, the view of the @editation %all acts as a pu0lic gate to the retreat experiencehe 3,)))>square>foot @editation %all is a precise, rectangular void and a lightweight frame to
the natural surroundings -ts wood structure is exposed on three sides to form entrance and
viewing porches, while the interior offers views of the mountains from the meditation space he
administration 0uilding is lin/ed to the @editation %all 0y a series of porches designed to
accommodate formal wal/ing from administration to meditation hese two 0uildings and their
porches frame the outdoor lawn with views of the *ats/ills
he other 0uildings include the residential 0uildings for guests and permanent residents he
designs of the residential 0uildings and the administration 0uilding refer to centuries>old grass>
roofed ;orean farm>houses he roof shapes of each of these 0uildings transform in section
around a spiral organi8ation, from a simple slope in section to a complex triangulated geometry atthe entrance porches he internal organi8ation of each courtyard 0uilding supports silent wal/ing
meditation around the inner courtyards and ad2acent outdoor porches and spaces he courtyards
provide passive cooling, allowing cross ventilation Li/e the @editation %all, all of the courtyard
0uildings are deeply shaded to the west and south to allow natural day>lighting without excessive
heat gain he permanent residence 0uilding is exclusively for retired ministers, and provides
lodging for 51 mem0ers of the organi8ation he two guest residences provide lodging for up to
) retreat visitors 7ooms are simply and elegantly furnished with specially designed furniture
made from plywood and oa/ complementing the architectural design All interior lights are low>
voltage fluorescent or L+#, while exterior lights are solar>powered fluorescent low lighting, with
8ero light pollution
+ntry vesti0ule of @editation %all
Locally harvested eastern cedar is used for
the structural system of glue>lam 0eams and
solid posts and framing mem0ers he
0uildings are clad in cedar 0oards, and the
porch dec/s are made from cedar plan/s
he interior floors are oa/, and the wood
walls are a com0ination of oa/ and pine
he entire complex is designed as a net
8ero>car0on footprint pro2ect he architectsdesigned a heating and cooling system that
includes geo>thermal wells, a photovoltaic
array, solar thermal roof panels, and a
central 0io>mass 0oiler he 9on Buddhists
have committed to harvesting only fallen
trees from their nature reserve as fuel for the
0oiler, resulting in a 8ero>car0on footprint
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for the heat system he 0uildings employ
state>of>the>art construction systems,
including spray>foam insulation, low>e glass
insulated windows, and a radiant in>floor
heating system to minimi8e energy costs for
year>round occupancy
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@editation hall interior, with windows that frame views of the distance
*olla0orators: -nterior design: @yonggi !ul #esignW Lighting design: Light and !paceW @+P
environmental engineering: *! ArchW structural engineering: 9ayman * 9ing *onsulting
+ngineerW !ite engineering: Patric/ Prendergast, P+W ?eneral contracting: %eitmann Builders
*ommunity health center
A healthcare center, health center, or community health center is one of a networ/
of clinics staffed 0y a group of general practitioners and nurses providing healthcare services to
people in a certain area ypical services covered are family practice and dental care,Dclarification
neededE 0ut some clinics have expanded greatly and can include internal medicine, pediatric,
womenTs care, family planning, pharmacy, optometry, la0, and more -n countries with universal
healthcare, most people use the healthcare centers -n countries without universal healthcare, the
clients include the uninsured, underinsured, low>income or those living in areas where little
access to primary health care is availa0leDcitation neededE
E$AM%!ES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_practitionerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_healthcarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_healthcarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_healthcarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_practitionerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_healthcarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_healthcarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed
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Buddhist @editation *entre @etta &ihara
0y Bureau !LA
#o8ens of square windows puncture the corrugated steel shell of this 0arn>li/e Buddhist
meditation centre in a rural part of the etherlands 0y #utch architects Bureau !LA "Xslideshow$
he Buddhist organisation @etta &ihara as/ed the architects to create as much space as possi0lewithin the modest 0udget
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://www.bureausla.nl/http://www.bureausla.nl/http://www.mettavihara.nl/http://www.mettavihara.nl/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://www.bureausla.nl/http://www.mettavihara.nl/
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69hat we wanted was an aesthetic that was 0eautiful 0ut not too comforta0le,6 architect Peter van
Assche told #e8een 6he reason people go to the meditation centre is not to feel cosy V they
want to go deeper, to sense something that is not too o0vious he feeling of the 0uilding should
express this6
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he resulting 0uilding provides 0eds for 5. people in '3 0edrooms as well as a meditation hall,
li0rary and dining hall
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A mansard roof was chosen as a cost>effective way of providing extra living space while also
0orrowing from the vernacular architecture of 4eeland, which is near the Belgian 0order
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hree colours of corrugated steel have 0een used for the facades and roof, with red cedar 0eams
mar/ing the top and 0ottom edges of each steel sheet
he square &elux windows have 0een fitted inside white wooden frames to disguise ugly 2oints
with the steel
he end walls are clad in wood salvaged from scaffolding left over 0y the 0uilders
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At one end of the 0uilding is a large meditation room with gla8ed walls and corrugated steel
shutters, which open out onto a view of the rural landscape
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-nside, 0are limestone has 0een used for the load>0earing walls while the other walls are made
from environmentally certified @#F
Polished concrete has 0een used on all the floors with the exception of the meditation hall, which
is covered with 0lac/ 0am0oo
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he architects added: 6he 0uilding has 0een warmly received 0y local residents, as evident in a
conversation we heard 0etween two passing cyclists: Nhis new cowshed loo/s really good, 0ut
why does it have so many windowsSN6
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9eNve featured two other Buddhist 0uildings on #e8een V a house for a priest along the !hi/o/u
pilgrimage route in =apan and a priestNs quarters in the =apanese Alps
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/06/enbutsu-do-at-eifuku-ji-temple-by-zai-shirakawa-architects-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/06/enbutsu-do-at-eifuku-ji-temple-by-zai-shirakawa-architects-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/02/kuri-at-chushinji-temple-by-katsuhiro-miyamoto-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/02/kuri-at-chushinji-temple-by-katsuhiro-miyamoto-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/02/kuri-at-chushinji-temple-by-katsuhiro-miyamoto-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/06/enbutsu-do-at-eifuku-ji-temple-by-zai-shirakawa-architects-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/06/enbutsu-do-at-eifuku-ji-temple-by-zai-shirakawa-architects-associates/http://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/02/kuri-at-chushinji-temple-by-katsuhiro-miyamoto-associates/
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Site plan – click above for larger image
9e previously pu0lished Bureau !LANs ational ?lass @useum %olland in Leerdam, which saw
two houses connected 0y four overlapping 0ridges wrapped in aluminium mesh
Ground floor plan – click above for larger image
http://www.dezeen.com/2010/09/16/national-glass-museum-holland-by-bureau-sla/http://www.dezeen.com/2010/09/16/national-glass-museum-holland-by-bureau-sla/
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First floor plan – click above for larger image
Photographs are 0y =eroen @usch
%ereNs some further information from the architects:
he Buddhist @editation *entre @etta &ihara is located in %engstdi2/ V a small village near the
Belgian 0order V in a remote area of the etherlands he inha0itants of @etta &ihara "defined as
Ncommunity of loving /indnessN in the Pali language$ are mem0ers of the riratna *ommunity, a
Buddhist movement not aligned to one traditional school, 0ut one that draws on the whole stream
of Buddhist inspiration
Long section – click above for larger image
he new accommodation provides 5. 0eds in '3 one> and two>person 0edrooms, a meditation
hall, li0rary and dining hall Form and materials used in the centre relate to the rural vernacular
0uilding, 0ut used in a new and fresh way
http://www.jeroenmusch.nl/http://www.jeroenmusch.nl/
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As the centre is financed mainly 0y gifts from community mem0ers and friends, one of the design
0riefs was to maximise the the space while minimising the cost Gur overall design concept was
to design a 0uilding that, while 0eautiful, wasnTt overly comforting his is in line with the
philosophy that, while on retreat, one should feel relaxed 0ut not necessarily Nat homeN As a
result, @etta &ihara has strong aesthetics that feature ro0ust and raw materials
Long section – click above for larger image
he overall form of the meditation centre is an interpretation of the so>called @ansard roof, also
/nown as the French roof sed throughout the area "mainly 0ecause of its low cost$, the
@ansard roof is found widely on houses and 0arns he facade of the centre V along with the
cladding of the roof V is made of corrugated steel, a material popular for its low cost, strength,
and long life ypically, the draw0ac/ of using corrugated steel is in the ungraceful way it 2oins
with other materials, specifically at the corners and in the overlays At @etta &ihara, however, it
has 0een used Nas isN: no 2oints and no connections 9estern red cedar 0eams and white wood
window frames mar/ the transitions from one steel sheet to the next, with the hori8ontal lines of
the 0eams giving the 0uilding depth and profile hree different colors of steel are used, and in
three different wavelengths -ndeed at first sight, it is not at all clear what the scale of the 0uilding
is: does it have five floorsS hreeS woS
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Cross section A
he same approach of using raw materials in this new way is also used in the design of the
windows he windows in the steel s/in V in facade and roof V are standard &elux windows,
which are technically super0 and relatively inexpensive As with the corrugated steel, however,
there is often an aesthetic compromise in the 2oints with other materials -n the case of @etta
&ihara, though, they are framed with white painted wood, giving them a distinctive loo/
Cross section B
As a contrast to the more industrial loo/s of the steel, the short sides of the 0uilding and the
terrace walls are cladded with wood, a ro0ust 0ut also warm material For this, wood already
availa0le on site was used: the leftovers of the scaffolding wood used 0y the 0uilders he
structureNs interior consists of unfinished 0uilding materials, al0eit used in a considerate V even
delicate V way
!tructural walls are 0are unplastered lime stone Floors are raw concrete, polished and uncovered,
with the exception of the meditation hall, which features 0lac/ 0am0oo flooring on>load0earing
walls are made of ecologically manufactured @#F sheets and are coated with transparent
colours, in order that the structure of the material remains visi0le
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Cross section C
-n the meditation hall, doors open to the outside, allowing open air meditation 9hen closed,these doors > made of perforated corrugated steel V serve to filter the sunlight his gives the
space an intimate atmosphere, providing optimal conditions for meditation he 0uilding has 0een
warmly received 0y local residents, as evident in a conversation we heard 0etween two passing
cyclists: 6his new cowshed loo/s really good, 0ut why does it have so many windowsS6 he
@etta &ihara 0uilding is the first newly 0uilt meditation centre in the etherlands
Cross section D
Pro2ect: Buddhist @editation *entre @etta &ihara
!tart design: 5))
!tart 0uilding: M5)''
Gpening: .M5)'5
?ross Area: 1.( m5
Building costs: ca Y.(),))) ex &A
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#esign: 0ureau !LA
*lient: @etta &ihara
Address: %engstdi2/se ;er/straat 3., %engstdi2/, he etherlands
Program: '3 0edrooms, meditation hall, li0rary and dining hall
*ontractor: &an ;erc/hoven Bouw, ;looster8ande
!tructural +ngineer: !ineth +ngineering, !chiphol
!ustaina0ility: !unraytec, 9oerden
Pro2ect team: Peter van Assche, %is/e van der @eer, ?onZalo @oreira, *harlotte &ermaning,
=ustyna Gsiec/a
C o n c l u s i o n s
Conte't
An urban context of ten r equ ir e s
a un ique sol ut ion for a
r eli g iou s s pace ! " i s often
con si st s of a #a$ to separate
t"e int er nal spa ces from t "e
street b$ a ser ie s of buffer
spaces For e xam pl e% t"e cour t$ards in t "e Budd " i st
med it at ion center and t"e
& ind u t em pl e
!pproach
De pend in g on t"e context% an approac" can be d ir ect % cer emon ial % and
a xial or # ind in g and more invol ved 'uc" of t " i s depends on t"e d en sit $ o f
t"e area around% t"e amount of t r a ff ic pa ss in g % and t"e line s of sit e to t "e
space Fo r e xam pl e% in t"e Budd " i st med it at ion centre t"e entr$ i s pl aced
around a corner off of t"e main st r eet
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Spatial rogression
!"e s pat ial pr o g r e ss ion r elie s
"eav il $ on t"e purpose and
focus of t "e bu il d in g For
e xam pl e% in t"e & ind u t em pl e
t"e spaces move from t i g "t and
bur ied % c limbin g to li g "t and
open% s $mbo li ( in g t"e sou l ) s
*our ne $ t o en li g "t enment
Organi(ation
!"e or g an i ( at ion of spaces al so
depends on t"e purpose of t"e
s pace C at "ed r al s % for e xam pl e%
are or g an i ( ed a xiall $ in line # it " t"e main al t ar o f t"e supreme
d eit $ & ind u spaces of #or s" i p
tend to be more r ad ial
)olume
!"e vo l ume of spaces are most often used to r ein f or ce t"e s pat ial
pr o g r e ss ion Fo r e xam pl e% in t"e C at "o lic c"urc" on +ueen ) s#a $ t "e spaces
r emain small and narro# unt il t"e$ reac" t"e sanctuar$ #ere t "e vol ume
incr ea se s d r amat icall$
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$ight
Li g "t i s u suall $ used in connect ion # it " s pat ial
vol ume to en"ance t "e pr o g r e ss ion t"roug" t"e
spaces , m por tant spaces
and d e st inat ion s t end
to be li g "t er #" il e passages tend to be d immer ! " i s "el p s to em p"a si ( e a sense
of arr iva l and move peo pl e t"roug" t"e t r an s it ional s pace s
Materials
' at er ial s often r el $ on t"e
use of t"e space% suc" as
t"e need for mar bl e in t"e
& ind u mand ir !"e$ can
al so be used for
p s $c"ol o g ical effect F or
e xam p l e% t"e use of #ood
in t"e & ind u and Budd " i st
spaces to create a f ee lin g
of #armt"% or t"e br i g "t #" it e #all s in t"e+ueens#a$ c"urc" t o
en"ance t"e comfor t abl e%
cent r ali ( ed f ee l of t"e
geometr$ and a sense of t "e
pure and sacr ed
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*oundaries
Bound ar ie s are e ssent ial to t"e
s pat ial pr o g r e ss ion !"e$ makeit d i ff icu l t or eas$ to move
bet#een spac es and en"ance t"e
f ee lin g of im por tance of a
space For e xam pl e% t"e on l $
door l e f t cl o sed in t"e
+ueen ) s#a $ c"urc" i s t "e door
to t"e sanctuar$% sett in g i s a par
t as im por t an t
Decoration / Ornamentation
Decor at ion can be used for
a mu l t it ud e of pur po se s , n
t"e Budd " i st space% #all
mur al s #"ere used to
en"ance t"e p s $c"ol o g ical
effect of t "e preparator$
spaces # it " l and sca pe s
and f l or al patterns cr eat in g
a cal min g effect - " il e st ained g l a ss # ind o# s in a
C "r i st ian c"urc" can be
used t o teac" and to t ell
st or ie s
hilosoph# / &ocus
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Re+erences:
htt#s:&&en.'i(i#edia.or&'i(i&Meditation
htt#:&&'''.de)een."om&*+,*&,+&-+&buddhistmeditation"entremetta/ihara
bybureausla&
htt#:&&0aithand0orm."om&0eature&lands"a#emeditation&
htt#:&&'''."ho#ra."om&""l&thehistoryo0meditation
htt#:&&'''.theuidedmeditationsite."om&desininameditationroom.html
Desinin an 1rban Meditation Centre by Joliette M. 2ade(en: 1ni/ersity o0Nebras(a !in"oln3
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://faithandform.com/feature/landscape-meditation/http://www.chopra.com/ccl/the-history-of-meditationhttp://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/30/buddhist-meditation-centre-metta-vihara-by-bureau-sla/http://faithandform.com/feature/landscape-meditation/http://www.chopra.com/ccl/the-history-of-meditation