MEDITATION & SPIRITUAL

SPACES
ASNA, BIBIN, SANA, SHAFEEDA
NEED OF SPIRITUAL RETREAT
Busy schedule of our life
A chance to calm down/slow down
to achieve physical & spiritual enrichment
SPACIAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Administration
2. Records
3. Amphitheatres
4. Library
5. Health Care
6. Meditation space
7. Yoga spaces
8. Congregation Spaces
9. Ancillary facilities
BASIC LAYOUT OF A MEDITATION/SPIRITUAL SPACE
Administration
Separate offices = minimum 8-10sq.m (according to the grid module);
Open plan office = minimum 12-15sq.m
Floor to ceiling height are recommended for floor areas of:
Up to 50sq.m = 2.50m
Over 50sq.m = 2.75m
Over 100sq.m = 3.00m
Over 250 & upto 2000sq.m =3.25sq.m
MINIMUM FLOOR AREA REQUIREMENT FOR OFFICE WORKSTATIONS
records
The aisle space should be 4.6sq.m
Vertical filing system = 5.2sq.m floor area
Flat filing systems = 3.2sq.m floor area and the aisle space 3.6sq.m
MINIMUM FLOOR AREA REQUIREMENT FOR RECORDS
ANCILLARY FACILITIES
Conference room
Waiting Area
Restrooms (separate)
Library
Book-stack capacity is based on :
A . The number of volumes shelved in a standard stack section.
B . The square-footage requirements for a standard stack section.

The number of volumes that can be shelved in a standard stack section depends on :
(1) Book heights and the number of shelves per section.
(2) book thickness.
(3) the decision in regard to what is considered a full section .
THE SIZE OF THE THEATRE -
3,000 spectators without the use of amplification for the
actors' voices.

OUTSIDE THE THEATRE -
Parking Lots should be- Large enough to handle one car for
every 3 spectators. Surfaced with gravel or asphalt and
provided with good drainage .
Well lighted for ease and security in parking and walking .
Well marked with signs
The Entrance to the theatre Well marked, simple, and
attractive .
Amphitheatres
NO FIXED SPECIFICATIONS HAVE YET BEEN
DRAWN WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OUTDOOR
THEATRES EVERYWHERE.
Meditation Space
Concentrative meditation focuses the attention on the breath, an image, or a sound, in order to still the mind and allow a greater
awareness and clarity to emerge.The simplest form of concentrative meditation is to sit quietly and focus the attention on the breath.
Physical space requirement = 0.44 sq.m
Psychological space required = 2.5 sq.m/person
Space required for meditation

Meditation space design involves taking the entire environment into account: Noises, dcor, furnishings and possible distraction
are all points for contemplation.
The goal should be to create a space that can go to and instantly begin the meditation process any time of the day we might feel
like it.
Designed as a place of prayer for eternal world peace,the meditation space embraces all people, transcending their religious
,ethical ,cultural and historical differences and conflicts.
In keeping with its function and purpose,the space appears serene and solemn.
The simplicity of form,homogeneous use of material,neutral tone and the subtle use of light and shadow create an environment
that relates not only to sight but to other sense as well,establishing a perceptual stage upon which the body moves and interact
Meditation Space
COLOURS FOR MIND
LAVENDER Mystical, spiritual
WHITE Spirituality, Protection
BLUE WHITE Spiritually focused
LIGHT BLUE Peaceful, spiritual
BLUE Deep peace
AQUAMARINE Peaceful, compassion
Landscape layout should be as simple as possible.
Some possible layouts are a circle which represents the cycle of life, a square representing universal order, or
symbols such as a Celtic knot which represents a journey.
Provide an area of lawn or some type of seating suitable for sitting for long periods of time.
Provide a focal point within view of the seating area.
Include a water feature where possible. It is the perfect focal point for contemplation.
Avoid using clashing colors.
Choose cool colors (violet, blue, green) in the plantings
Yoga Space
Based on the anthropometric requirement for doing the activity: area required per person
(a circle of 6 radius = 10 sq.m per person and a minimum height of 2.1m)
CASE STUDIES
MATHRIMANDIR, AUROVILLE
LOTUS TEMPLE, DELHI
LOTUS TEMPLE
NEW DELHI, INDIA
Lotus Temple
Philosophy
At the core of the Bah' teachings is the acceptance of the oneness of mankind, oneness of religion and oneness of God. The faith,
founded in Iran by Bah'u'llh (Glory of God), raises worship above ritualistic and communal forms. It advocates an unfettered
search after truth, condemns superstition and prejudice, teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and
harmony hand-in-hand with science. It inculcates the principle of equal opportunity, rights and privileges for both sexes, advocates
compulsory education and exalts work performed in the spirit of service to the rank of worship.
MATRIMANDIR
AUROVILLE, PUDUCHERRY
Town / city : Aurovile
State : Tamil Nadu
Ground breaking : 21 Feb 1971
Completed : Feb 2008
Architect : The Mother (Roger Anges)
Lotus Temple