MEDITATION CENTRE, SITAMARHI SITE ANALYSIS 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
Introduction Location Approach Land use Sections Climate
1
1.1 INTRODUCTION Sitamarhi, a word manipulated from ―Sitamahi‖,
This is the birth place of Maa Sita, but it was
Mahi means a hermitage, Sitamarhi means a
famous for its annual flood situation. It was
hermitage of Sita, and Sita word is derived from
declared as most undeveloped district in
―sit‖, the lowest part of a plough made up of
country by the India Today in the year 2003.
iron, which stroke the earthen pot and Sita
Earlier during floods, this district had made its
came out of it. The mythology of this place
identity as an island of north Bihar, completely
dates back to
drowned in water and disconnected from all sides. The situation is now under control by the present government of Bihar, by the construction of various roads, bridges and embankments. Now, this district is easily accessible by rail and road, without any obstruction.
FIGURE 1. "BIRTH OF MAA SITA" -AN ARTIST'S IMPRESSION [source: - www.hjs.org]
treta yug, 7,00,000 years back. This place is not only the birth place of Maa Sita, but it is also the spiritual centre for many sages and saints. Pundrik rishi had his hermit in Pundrik Aranya, Punaura of nowadays. Maharshi Bodhayan, Bhringi rishi and many other names are
FIGURE 2. FLOODED SITAMARHI [sourcewww.madhav.tk]
associated to the district.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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1.2 LOCATION Sitamarhi district, a part of north Bihar, is situated on the Indo-Nepal Border at 85.500latitude and 26.330 longitudes. It is surrounded by Madhubani and Darbhanga districts of Bihar and part of Nepal in the east, Muzaffarpur in the south, East Champaran in the west and Nepal in the north. Earlier it was a sub-division of Muzaffarpur district and got the status of a separate district on 11th December, 1972 with 3 sub-divisions, viz., Sitamarhi Sadar, FIGURE 3. INDIA, [source – wikimedia]
Pupri and Sheohar.
FIGURE 5 SITAMARHI [source- wikimedia]
FIGURE 4. BIHAR [source- wikimedia]
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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FIGURE 8 TO SATELLITE OF SITE [sourceFIGURE 9 OFFERING THE SUNIMAGE GOD IN wikimapia, google] CHHATH. [source - madhav bhardwaj]
1.3 APPROACH The site is located in Runni Saidpur, Sitamarhi, at a distance of 16 km from the district headquarters and 30 km from Muzaffarpur. Runni Saidpur railway station is 3 km away from the site and the National Highway is 100m away from the proposed site. Tribhuvan Airport, Janakpur, Nepal is the nearest airport, 54 km away from Sitamarhi.
FIGURE 6 RUNNI SAIDPUR MAP [sourceSitamarhi.bih.nic.in] FIGURE 7 BRIDGE CONNECTING THE SITE TO NH.[source-madhav bhardwaj]
1. 4 L
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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AND USE
FIGURE 10 LAND USE MAP
The site is located on the bank of river Baghmati. It is surrounded by a green belt on Total area of site is 5.7 hectares the west and agricultural land on the east. The breeze on the site is worth enjoying and gives
Permissible ground coverage =33% of total area
an eternal pleasure to instigate meditation.
Permissible height = 10 meters Setback – 3 m from all sides
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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1.5 SECTIONS
13 SECTION "AA" FIGURE 11
FIGURE 12 14 SECTION "BB "
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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1.6 CLIMATE Sitamarhi has a monsoon type of climate.
FOG On average the month of February is affected by foggy conditions on 5 days.
TEMPERATURE Throughout the month of February daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 26°C that's about 79°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 12°C, that's 54°F. In recent times the highest recorded temperature in February has been 39°C that's 102°F, with the lowest recorded temperature 0°C, about 41°F. RELATIVE HUMIDITY The average daily relative humidity for February is around 65%. PRECIPITATION The average monthly amount of precipitation has been recorded at around 16 mm, that's 1 inches. Throughout the month you can expect to see rain or drizzle falling on 3 days of the month. WIND The average daily wind speed in February has been around 4 kph, that‘s the equivalent to about 2 mph, or 2 knots. In recent years the maximum sustained wind speed has reached 78 kph, that‘s the equivalent of around 48 mph, or 42 knots.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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CASE STUDIES
1.
OSHO COMMUNE PUNE 1.1 About OSHO 1.2 Site location 1.3 Zonal plan 1.4 Osho commune information 1.5 Surroundings 1.6 Design context 1.7 Design details
2.
AUROBINDO ASHRAM , NEW DELHI 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Location 2.3 Site Plan 2.4 Site context 2.5 Planning 2.6 Materials 2.7 Design context 2.8 Conclusions
3.
MATRI MANDIR, AUROVILLE 3.1 introduction 3.2 layout 3.3 circulation and planning 3.4 conclusions
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
7 March 21, 1953: Osho becomes enlightened at
OSHO PUNE
the age 21,while majoring in the philosophy at D.N. jain college at Jabalpur. 1953-1956: Education 1956: Osho receives his MA from the university of sagar with first class honors in philosophy.
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES: Osho developed new forms of active meditation. The best known as dynamic meditation which often starts with strenuous FIGURE 15ACHARYA RAJNEESH
physical activity followed by silence and
BHAGWAN SHRI
celebration.
RAJNEESH(1931-1990) was born Rajneesh Chandra Mohan in kuchwara atown in central india. Various sources state that ―bhagwan ― means either ―the blassed one‖ or ―god‖and that shree means master .at the end of his life,he changed his name to OSHO.
FIGURE 16OSHO CENTRE
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
8 These were expected to lead the individual to overcome repression, lower there personal inhibitions , develop a state of emptiness and attain enlightenment .the person would then have no pa no future no attachment, no mind ,no ego, no self. Prior to 1985, the disciples wore red robes ,and a necklace of 108 beads which had an attached picture of Rajneesh. Osho assigned a new name to each of the disciples. Men were given the title swami and women were called Ma. Most members lived a frugal ,simple lifestyle. He taught a form of Monism, that god was in everything and everyone. There is no division between god and no god. People, even at their FIGURE 17OSHO ASHRAM SITES
worse, are divine. His contention was that
ABOUT OSHO ASHRAMS:
national ,religious ,gender and racial divisions are destructive. in addition to more than 50 centres operating in india.nepal and Canada four large residential complexes known as dhams have been established I india and Nepal, where osho dhara samadhi groups are regularly been conducted by osho acharya trivir and acharyas trained by them.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
9 THEIR SITES IN INDIA: OSHO COMMUNE PUNE: osho commune international is a 32 acre campus located in the exclusive and exotically green koregoan park, Pune. It is the current headquarter of osho internationally.
Madhopur, distt. Gurudaspur, Punjab. It is planned to be the extension of osho commune Pune.
SCOPE: The scope of the design lies in the site planning and systematic zonal layout of various activities
OSHODHARA NANAK DHAM, DELHI:
dreamt by by Osho which includes meditation
oshodhara nanak dhaam is located at 50th km
Centre, residential locks, guest rooms, yoga
stone from delhi on GT road used as the
center, gardens, shopping center dealing with
meditation camp center.
Osho related projects , restaurants, library
OSHODHARA GANGOTRI DHAM,
museum and recreational areas
SAURAHA: situated at the bank of Rapti, a tributary of Narayani River, on the outskirts of Royal National Chitwan Park, an international
INFORMATION:
tourist center, in the Chitwan distt. Of Nepal, from Kathmandu it is only 160 km away by
Osho Commune International, a 32-acre campus located in the exclusive and exotically
road.
green Koregaon Park, nestled in the beautiful, OSHODHARA SIDDHARTHA DHAM, CHAMPA: Oshodhara Siddhartha dham is located at champa in bilaspur distt. , Chhhatisgarh at the bank of Hansdeo River.
green city of Pune, is the base from whence Bhagwaan Rajneesh(who in his later years called himself ‗Osho‘), propagated his philosophical teachings upon his return to India.
OSHODHARA ANAND DHAM, MADHOPUR: Oshodhara anand dham, Shah Kandi Road,
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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REASON FOR SELECTION OF
The osho ashram is oriented on a north south axis.
SITE:
Total site area: 32 acre The city of Pune was a perfect choice for the Area of the site of pyramid complex: 5.5 acre Ashram owing to its perfect climate which lasts (excluding Nala Park) almost throughout the year , its greenery and the tolerant attitude of its inhabitants added to
Total built-up area of pyramidal complex: 1.5
which its proximity to Bombay was very
acre (6640 sq. m)
convenient for the large number of foreign members of the commune.
ORIENTATION:
An L-shaped building has small rooms where people can come and stay. Adjoining the pyramid is a rectangle block with 60 rooms guest house that has been
FIGURE 18 LOCATION , SURROUNDINGS
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
11 constructed. The wall of the residence is in semi-gloss black ceramic tiles with borders and corners in black granite. The windows have black aluminum framing around blue tinted glass, these architectural forms stand out against the rough black cuddupah paving and the greenery around. The four-storey high guest house are be simple, but elegant and with touch of luxury. It has most facilities of a modern hotel-but without room service, telephone or television.
FIGURE 19APPROACH
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DESIGN FORM The design is the cluster of four building. The large square blocks are the solid pyramids with provision of large meditation halls and other
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
FIGURE 20 PLAN , OSHO MEDITATION COMMUNE , PUNE
13 smaller halls below them, a L shaped building
idol was placed under a pyramidal rooftop to
has small rooms where people come and stay.
generate energy in the devotees.
The pyramids are oriented on the east.
CONCEPT OF COLOUR
The dirty nallah in site has been converted into
there are three basic colours used in the
a lively water body with landscaping all around,
complex :-
providing a beautiful setting to the commune,
-black
where people can come and stay. -blue A large tree near the entrance shades the central open public space...
-white
CONCEPT OF PYRAMID
Black contains within it, all colours, harness cosmic energies and is stable.
In the word pyramid, pyra means fire, the universal life energy and preserves it in its
Area of usage- facade
bosom. Experiments and testimonial affirm
Blue signifies the first colour one perceives after
changes in the mental, physical and emotional
enlightment-the halo of fire
states of individuals after exposure to pyramid Are of usage – all windows. vibrations. It is now believd that one of the major functions of pyramids has to harness the cosmic energies, which kept the pyramid interior fresh
White defines piousness and purity of form. Area of usage – all interiors.
and energized. In india , the pyramid shapes were combined with domes in temple architecture. The main
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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MEDITATION
windows clear glass with blue film, subdue and enrich the quality of natural light inside
HALL(PYRAMID)
the spacious meditation halls. The spatial experience created is one of tranquility, however with a dynamic undertone like a
Area of the meditation block: 1400 sq. m
repetitive surge of charging energy. Area of central hall: 950 sq. m
The pyramid is nine storeys high from the outside and six-storeys high from inside and fully air conditioned
It is supported on just four pillars, and is floored with dark green Udaipur marble, it
FIGURE 21THE PYRAMID.
has no carpets or curtains and has indirect indoor lighting apart from natural light coming in through the wide windows.
Giving aesthetic touch to the pyramid are enormous quantities of water .The pyramid, in fact is surrounded by a water body and access to it is over a small bridge from FIGURE 22THE PYRAMID
inside one of the commune complex.
COMMUNE ACTIVITIES AND
The solid pyramids are large meditation halls with smaller halls below them. The
FUNCTIONALANALYSIS
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
15 "Just discover your hidden splender.
1.Meditation types(8 types)
life can be simply a song of joy."-Osho
Osho Dynamic Meditation
An atmosphere of encouragement. it offers one a
Osho Kundalini Meditation
Osho Natraj Meditation
Osho Nadahrahma Meditation
Osho No-Dimensions
Osho Vipassana Meditation
Osho White Robe Brotherhood
Osho Club Meditation
holiday to break free from external stresses ofnourish the soul. The lush green spiritual offers a multitude of possibilities for inner discoveries and exploration "There is no greater magicthan meditation to transfer the Negative into the positive, to transform darkness into light-
This is the
miracle of
meditation"- Osho Alll the work is done on a volunt its activitiesary
2.Healing arts of east and west
basis, as an Integral part of meditation by the 3.Western therapy approaches people who come to transform their quality of life. According to one's own capacity and willingness, one can render one's service towards the commune
4.Esoteric sciences 5.Lectures discourses
and participate In activities. In Osho's own words, 6.Library reading room 'Work doesn't have to be a duty but a Joyful 7.Vocational activities expression of your newly discovered life.'
Mental arts
Creative arts
ACTIVITIES
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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Zen sports
13. Multiverisity plaza
Computers and Multimeda
14. Osho Teeth - Nala Park
Gardening of the lawn
15. Administrative block 16. Maintenance
SPACES 1. Visitor centre
Electrical
2. Welcome centre
Air conditioning
3. Gautama the Buddha hail 4. Book Shop-publications.CD-ROMs etc. 5. Video room 6. Library/reading room 7. Restraunt 8. Samadhi area 9. Artists Studio-music,painting&sculpture 10. Souvenir shop - sale of creative talents of Inmates 11. Club - sundry , sports facilities and therapies 12. Centralised kitchen
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
17 He did intensive inner work, which led to a number of spiritual experiences. ….And a yogi…. Sri Aurobindo arrived in Pondicherry on April 4, 1910. After four years of
SRI AUROBINDO, A
silent yoga, he started in 1914 ----jointly with the mother---- a philosophy
SCHOLAR….
monthly magazine called ―The Arya‖ in which his work was published.
THE MOTHER –A CONSCIOUS LABORATORY FOR A NEW SPECIES The Mother was born in Paris on February 21, 1878. While still a child she spontaneously followed on inner disciple which was accompanied by numerous psychic and spiritual experiences. She first meet Sri Aurobindo in 1914, and at Sri Aurobindo was born in Calcutta on August 15, 1872. At the age of seven he was sent by
once recognized in him the figure of the great guide of whom she had repeated visions.
his father to England to receive an English
After a stay in japan she came back to
education.
Pondicherry in 1920, and never left again.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
18 In 9126, Sri Aurobindo withdrew in his room
of peace, concord, harmony ; where all fighting
and stopped meeting people, then she received
instincts of man would be used exclusively to
the material and spiritual charge of the
conquer the causes of his sufferings and
disciples, giving great attention to the physical
misery; to surmount his weakness and
and spiritual development of each Ashramite.
ignorance, to triumph over his limitations and
From 1965 onwards she often spoke of
incapacities; a place where the needs of the spirit and the care for progress would get
Auroville.
procedure over the satisfaction of desires and On November 17, 1973, she left her body.
A DREAM
passions, the seeking for pleasures and materials enjoyment.
LAYOUT In 1954, the mother wrote the foolowing text. It was originally meant for the ashram, where she found a practical ground to implement this vision. In 1965, The Mother decided to launch the project of Auroville, which is amazing manifest this ‖Dream‖. A dream:‖there should be somewhere upon a earth a place that no motion could claim as its sole property ; a place where all humans beings There are two main entrances for the Ashram. of good will, sincere in their aspiration, could Main entrances from the Sri Aurobindo Marg live freely as citizens of world , obeying one and the other one is located facing Sarvodaya single authority, that of supreme truth , a place
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
19 Enclaves, which acts as a safer entrance for the
detail intervention area , to be studied from the
schools. The vast site of Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi.
is about 29.92 acres in area. It has been developed slowly and steadily and is still under
DESIGN
construction. There is a vast difference between the older blocks and new ones, which includes
The rooms or enclosures are laid out around
The Mother International School, Mirambika
hexagonal courtyards. (fig) The building would
and the tapsya block. The newer blocks are
ultimately enclose around one large courtyard
based upon symbolic architecture of the
around which there would be twelve such small
symbols of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and
duo decagonal blocks.
also on the concepts of Energy and other
The planning grid is a space –filling grid
phisophies.
composed of squares and equilateral triangles. The courtyards are surrounded by overlooking corridors, around which the square grids are divided into two rooms and the triangles are divided into two sets of toilets and dressing areas. Except on ground floor, each room gets a balcony on the outer faces. CONCLUSIONS
MIRAMBIKA AND TAPASYA None—conventional energy techniques have The Tapasya, which is the ashram residential been used, for both economical and spiritually block and mirambika, which is a research as reasons. The new buildings have been well as a training Centre, have been taken as a designed, keeping in mind the composite climate of Delhi.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
20 Window designs encourage only use of daylight in the rooms. Buildings are integrated with solar water heating(plate 5.7) Load baring structure reduces embodied energy by reduced consumption of concrete and steel. The symbols of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo are the basis for the design and planning of the building.But this has also esulted into many
DESIGN FEATURES FOR
negative spaces, because of a triangle and square grid.
COMPOSITE CLIMATE: Triangles are mostly used for toilets and for Rough white slate finish on the exteriors for
staircase space.
high emissivity and poor absoptivity. Deep recessed windows Properly designed windows and ventilators and interconnected courtyards aid in cross ventilation. Dense vegetation modifies ambient conditions.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
21 was formally inaugurated on Feb 28 1968. It is located in Tami Nadu, 10 kilometers from north of Pondichery. The 1968 galaxy concept of town. was visualized by French architect Roger Anger and his team for population of about 50,000 people in an area approximately 2.5 km in diameter.
INTRODUCTION The mother; ―Silence…..Purity….A ray of light
MATRI MANDIR.
of new hope… no images, no images, no altar, no organized meditation flowers, no incense, and ….no religion ….. Matri Mandir to be the divine‘s answer to man‘s aspiration for human perfection‖.
LOCATION The project of Auroville was started in 1964 with the objective of making a city dedicated to an implementation of the ideal of human city. It
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
22
AUROVILLES CONCEPT DESIGN CONCEPTS The township of Auroville, 12km from
AND PHILOSOPHY
Pondicherry spirals out from the centre much like a spiral galaxy with a network of major
The meditation centre is the genesis to a spiritual journey, a place to develop union with the divine as envisioned by shri Aurobindo and the mother. Consequently it forms a vital component of the design project Matri Mandir. Auroville is an epitome of Aurobindian principles and one of the key examples to take
roads forming its ‗arms‘ and contained within these arms are different sectors .The whole concept is symbolic of dynamism of movement around a pivot, depicting the natural order. Thw point controlling the movement of this pivot is the soul of Auroville .
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
cue form
AND MATERIALS The entire structure uses reinforced cement concrete. At the same time , the harsh starkness of concrete is hidden through various cladding to evoke a certain illusionary ambience a dream like space. The industrial finish of the geodesic structure is covered up by parabolic stainless steel discs, clad with gold foil fussed between glass plates giving the whole structure an expression of purity, beauty and grandeur, The meditation chamber is claded with white
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
23 Italian marble, to mark the tranquility and
expression of dissonance; a depiction of the
serenity of the space. Opening on the geodesic
rising Earth rending open to a craters space for
shell are covered with rose-orange fused glass,
the supernatural floating appearance of the
to create an intended ambience in the main
structure.
alta. Inside the meditation chamber the space marking the columns 8.65m. in length are constructed out of s
BUILDING MATERIALS EXTERIORS
The gold discs cladding
Disc frams: stainless steel sheet
ingle joint galvanized steel pipes.
Disc material- stainless steel sheet
Gold leafe: 28 gm of gold per 1000 leaves
The emphasis is given to the surfaces in terms
Leaf size: 85mmm X 85mm
architectural features controlling and directing
Total number of discs: 1415
the light quality and overall ambience inside
Small convex discs: 954
and outside the building. The reinforced
Large concave discs: 461
concrete framework, infilled with ferrocement
Av. diameter (large discs)- 2.3 meter
panels, is covered with red sandstone
Av. diameter (small discs): 1.5 meter
transported from Agra, to form the petals
Interior glass inner skin
around the structure. The sandstone is
Glass cladding has been provided on
of colours and textures, becoming the dominant
intermixed with patches of grass, in an
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
the inner line of the sphere of
24
Matrimandir. Big peach coloured panels,
There are ancient monuments that continue to
800 in number oare required to cover
fascinate us; and there are buildings in where
the entire inner surface area of about
one breathes in, what we call, a certain
3,000 sq. Mts.
―spirit‖.Why is this so? Sri Aurobindo mentions
After fusing colour onto 8m thick float – glas, it is
this presence of the invincible in his book ―The
laminated to a second sheet of clear glass for
Foundations of Indian Cultre‖.
safety reasons. Each glass panel triangular in
STRUCTURE SYSTEM shape is roughly measuring 3Mts. At the base and 2.4 Mts. In height.
The final built form of the structure can be described as a flattened sphere consisting of a huge chamber suspende in a massive concrete mesh globe mounted on four pairs of concrete pillars. At the exact centre of the chamber a crystal globe mounted has been placed as a focal point of attention.The profile of the structure , though geometrically controlled, is not mathematically definable. For the purpose of understanding, the shape can be approximated as a surface of revoluton of an ellipse 36m x2m.Four pairs of 38m
THE SACRED
high sickle-- shaped piers, which are theucturallyru principle load-bearing components of the structure
GEOMETRY
support the space frame.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
25
METALS END PILLAR
supervising the construction work,deveped a prototype non-tracking mechanism called a
EXTENSION
haliostat which will be used to direct sun's rays on to a crystal globe.
The decision regarding the pillar extention is yet to be finalised. But whatever adaption is made, it is
THE INNER CHAMBER
evident that these extensions would be part of the The spacious inner chamber, located in the upper overall design since they constitute the natural hemisphere , is envisioned as being completly continuation of the central structure.The pillars white, with white marble walls and white carpeting ,although structurally self-sufficient indicate the with a pure white crystal globe in the centre , start of the final curve defining the rhythm and suffused by a steady ray of sunlight falling on it movement of the whole. from the apex of the sphere. The chamber is a dodecagonal in plan. The length of one side is about 6m and vertical height about 8.65m. there are 1 freestanding coumns located mid-way between the walls and the crystal in the centre.Seemingly ordinary galvanised steel tubes, these 8.65m x 60cm columns are seamlessly welded.
THE HELIOSTAT
The cylinders made of 6mm thick sheets will be finished with a smooth white surface to merge.
To realize the Mother's concept of a strong half of
CONCEPT OF MATRI MANDIR
light always striking the centre .The engineer
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
26 proposal put forward was based on the bud spr outi ng fro m the ear th. The out sid e of the stru ctur e was pro
Architect's interpretation:
The scheme of Matri Mandir as conceived by architect. Roger Anger, is symbolic of the 'egg of Vishnu' (in Sanskrit, the Salagram). The first
posed to be a shell, half underground and halt' above, which one entered by first going deep down underground, and then coming up via a staircase which branched off into several
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
27 stairways, all leading up to the meditation
center of the city on a sparsely vegetated site
chamber. This chamber was conceived as a
although the surrounding area is well vegetated at a
great bare space there was a kind of gallery by
height of 50m above the sea level. As one
which one came from below.
approaches the temple through a circumperambulatory path, the sparse foliage offers glimpses of the superstructure situated over vast
THE MOTHER'S
open land like an Acropolis, providing no apparent idea of scale, adding a variable of mysticism.
INTERPRETATION: As she drew it, the Mother gave her own interpretation of the 'egg'."The bottom of an egg is always narrower than the top, so we can olace the staircase at the base and the spiral staircase comes up to the temple with, say, seven stairway openings....." She positioned the meditation chamber floor at the widest point of the shell, and conceived of a passage all around the chamber much in the same way as a pradakshina path.
LAYOUT:
CIRCULATION AND PLANNING: The intersection points established by the interlocking of the great pyramid triangles with the
Matri Mandir is located near the geographical
circles defined by the inner chamber and outer shell
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
28 locate other Le points in the geometry.
The exterior surface of the outer skin.
The location of the spiral ramps' penetration through the buttresses.
The charkas or energy points within the vertical
The central theme of living in and working for an actual human unity is
form. The staircase between the pillars lead to the
symbolized by the fact that various
first slab that is annular in plan, following which one
zones of the township radiate outwards
arrives in front of a blind wall. The two doors in it
from a central point: The Matri Mandir
lead to the double spiral staircase, which winds
in the peace area. In this area there is
from level one to level two. From here, a pair of
also a central Banyan tree and the
spiral ramps begin, one ascending to, and the other
Amphitheater with its urn, housing the
descending from the inner chamber. The two ramps
soils of nations from all over the world.
stand out delicately in the space created below the
The Mother wanted each thing to be in
chamber and give a strong sense of dynamism.
its place and envisaged four Zones in
Which can be attributed to their long. Unsupported
her dream. Accomodated in a spiraling
length. Each node and each connection along the
movement are four distinct zones-
ramp(and there are a hundred of them) has its own type of stress distribution.
THE GALAXY PLAN
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
The residential zone
Industrial zone
Cultural zone and
International zone
29
PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE
thermal expansion. Therefore integrated collectors should also be made in small packs and also should
Architecturally integrated hot water system. For thermosiphonicflat-plate solar collector systems for hot water are provided. There is no electrical
have a ledge in front for maintenance purpose. Both these changes are being incorporated in the new blocks.
backup. The total capacity is 2400 litres/day (about 30 litres/person-day).
The thermal behaviour of rooms is satisfactory. No device other than ceiling fans are used.
The two systems feeding the north side are optimally tilted at 45 degrees. The two other
RAIN WATER
systems, feeding on the south side room, are vertically mounted on the parapet wall facing
HARVESTING:
South. Rain water harvesting is also done in the Ashram. The terrace sections were designed keeping in mind During the rains, the rain water is not wasted, but is the solar hot water constraints. All systems are directed towards a well, specially for this purpose. masonary integrated and mounted on walls or RCC According to the experts, this really helps to slabs. All tanks are neatly placed over toilet pipe maintain the water level. shafts within room like structures. This also helps in providing better aesthetics. The terrace has got a very efficient drainage detail. The terrace is also used for washing and drying of clothes.
ELECTRICITY The solar hot water system has worked extremely well. There is no back-up electrical use for heating
CONSERVATION:
water. However, the glass break occasinally due to
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
30 Electricity is sparingly provided all over with low
Symbols of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother are found
voltage corridor lights, two lights, and one fan per
mostly in railings of the new ashram blocks, in jalli
room with three lights in the attached toilets and
works and even the ceiling grid in the auditorium of
dressing areas no. 15-ampere sockets are required.
Mirambika school.
Electrical conservation is due to the the timetable of the residents matching daylight patterns. no power is used for cleaning, hot water, washing of clothes, toilets or any other function except (cold) water pumping.
SYMBOLIC ARCHITECTURE The Tapasya Block and Mirambika follow a similar Aurobinxdian architectural vocabulary in planning and elevation. The graphic symbols of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother are generators of the plan. The structural system of load bearing with columns wherever required is also common to both the buildings. There are twelve courtyards in both the buildings, which represent the twelve aspects of The Mother.
MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI
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MEDITATION CENTRE , SITAMARHI