Da-mantra
Architectural design consultant, Mulshi
Surrounded by mountains, and view of the lake, the site provided us with abundance of serenity, and the design was mainly brought in to help absorb this. Some of the design strategies used to invoke these feelings, illustrated below are hidden spaces with majestic views, vertical connections(i.e. emphasis on the openings on the roof), large and small blank walls with varying scale of punctures, organised chaos i.e. Decentralized panning for more movement and so that the architecture never dominates the nature, accessibility of privacy and interaction, with the aid of walls and trees, designing crude spaces to be constantly in touch with context which essentially means getting the nature inside and curved walls which would add to the cozy infinite feeling tending towards surrealist spaces.
View from Da-Mantra Site, Mulshi
Da-mantra, was a space dedicated as an ashram/retreat for the followers of a spiritual leader named Adi-da. A space which would be built using natural building techniques, was designed with an intent to imbibe slowness as though being aware of every breathe and yet keeping an element of surprise inducing curiosity to explore more within and outside.
The entire site was studied via site visits and climate based research. The observations drawn from the site and the climate were divided into four groups, Wind, Water, Sun(Fire), Space, Earth.
The room is already there in the form of nature. So how do you see yourself fit in the nature is the question. The idea is to highlight nature in its vastness and solidarity by viewing, wandering and experiencing it as it comes to you. There by not keeping the focus and keeping the focus at the same time, the choice is yours as to how you interpret your being at the moment in retrospect with the nature. The randomness and hidden uncanny built spaces invites mysteriousness and the sacredness to each habitable space making it Electric.
*This project was executed in collaboration my dear friend and a fellow architect, Mr. Mukund Iyer (www.sochalaya.com)