ACADEMIC | 02
CALMER MIND
YEAR
Autumn 2018
LOCATION
Latvia
CLASSIFICATION
Residential
Why: The world's challenges are resulting in increased worldwide anxiety and depression.
Solution: Latvia's abundant forests for biophilic relaxation and meditative isolation
PREMISE
This was a group entry for the 2018 Bee Breeders Meditation Cabin Competition that I completed with Aaron Tkac and Joy Mullappally. Together we are The Human Design Project (THDP). We've worked on several competitions and individual architectural projects together.
The goal of this cabin is to temporarily separate the user from the external stimuli of modern society, and provide an opportunity to reconnect with the inner self. The proposed atmosphere is light and elevated, but simultaneously grounded and natural. We employed building elements of differing weight, a parallelism to our own metaphysiology.
INSIGHT
The initial design inspiration came from Latvia's local limestone and a desire to balance heavy and light materials. The competition called for something easily constructed and replicable. As we considered the body and mind's needs when healing, the design developed into a narrative of that healing process.
Concept Sketches
PROPOSAL
Per the competition guidelines, the cabin is off the grid and self-sustaining, and creates minimal impact on the ground and surrounding environment. The simple construction design is replicable and modular. We organized the cabin into a simple 3 x 3 grid spanning 18' x 18'. This fits an open meditation space, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
WATER + ENERGY GATHERING
SPACES
The final design features curtains that are gently ever-shifting, and symbolize the fluid threshholds in everyday life and in our mind. They serve as soft partitions for the cabin's rooms, as well as canvases for the forest-filtered sunlight and shadows. These curtains are hung on a light metal framework erected on a limestone slab base. The cabin harvests rainwater and wind energy to achieve self-sustenance.
FINAL POSTERS