2/12/2017 TheKeyArchitecturalElementsRequiredtoDesignYogaandMeditationSpaces|ArchDaily

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The Key Architectural Elements Required to Design Yoga and Meditation Spaces
08:00 - 18 October, 2016 | by Jos Toms Franco
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For several decades, a setof oriental practices and techniques have strongly infiltrated the western world. A new program that, as architects, we
must start solving more oen, and that poses interesting challenges from the point of functional, environmental, and aesthetic.

These disciplines are completely focused on the human being, as they seek to work and satisfytheir physical, psychological and spiritual needs,
and that's why it seems important to analyze how these needs are being met spatially by architects. Many of the operations taken in these spaces
create enabling environments for reflection, introspection, healing, and therefore could also be applied in other relevant programs, such as
housing, educational, hospital, and even oice spaces.

This article seeks to draw lessons from some projects already published on our site, in order to perform a kind of guide for designs that helps our
community of readers to find inspiration more eectively.

Spaces
Although each practice may require specific characteristics, most take place in a large open central space, accompanied by a set of support rooms.

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Main Room

This is the central space of the building where people gather for practice, and generally is a free plan, flexible and adaptable to dierent uses. To
determine its dimensions, wecan use the standard measures of a yoga mat, which unfolds fully stretched in an area of approximately 1.70 x 60
meters. It is suggested to leave at least 50 cm between the mats, to allow the free movement of users during the exercises.

Some of these rooms have a small platformor elevated area where the instructor or guide of the session is located, and it is good to add shelves or
countertops wherepeople can leave their 'tools' during the class (water bottles, towels, blankets, slippers). Usually, the room has mirrors on one or
more walls, but this depends on the needs and the taste of the client.

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We think about the architecture of the temples, in introverted and silent spaces, in places that look inward, of
dim and changing light. (...) We think of the space we need to look at us inward.
DX Architects, abouttheir project 'AYC' in Santiago de Chile

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Bathrooms / Dressing Rooms

Not all centers include dressing rooms, but if there are resources and space, it is good to add. In thecase adding them in, you can increase the size
of the bathrooms allowing dual use. To achieve this objective and allow the space to be occupied by more than one person at a time, in several
projects toilet area is separated from the sink, that is being associated with a kind of small dressing room, which may also include lockers, shelves,
and benches.

Toilets should be located adjacent to the main room, with a quick and easy access from the main entrance area.

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Circulations

Circulations gain great importance in this kind of projects, because not only can function as corridors or hallways, but also can contain storage
spaces, waiting and resting areas, or even a reception. Some cases also take advantage of the walls to incorporate built-in shelves.

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Others

Depending on the order received, the building may include several classrooms, plus massage cabins or jacuzzi, sauna and swimming pools areas.
The height of the spaces is a choice of each client and architect, but the main room, at least, is designed in most cases with a greater height.

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Environmental Conditions
Acoustics

There is a belief that these spaces must be completely silent, but precisely the idea of these disciplines is to be developed in spiteof the ambient
noise. In fact, in many cases, it is recommended to fully perform in exteriors, as many sounds of nature can help a better realizationof dierent
practices. In the case of closed rooms, these sounds (and even smells) can be integrated by incorporating indoor courtyards orgardens that attract
birds, including moving water, and/or allow the flowof the wind.

Obviously, if apractice requires complete silence, the design must allow that the space can be completely isolated.

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The design premise was to create a center in constant contact with nature. For this we planned a flagstone
garden around the property, with a set of perforations to create interior courtyards where gardens were
generated. The spaces and their uses are constantly related through the courtyards and gardens.
Ambrosi I Etchegaray, about their projectSpa Quertaro inQuertaro, Mxico
Ventilation

This is a fundamental issue in these practices, since they all use breath as the basis for its development. It is important to allow cross ventilation
across the room, making sure that there is a certain current renew ofoxygen inside, during the session or at the times when the room is not being
occupied. Forthis, we should generate a first opening in the facade that receives the prevailing winds, and a second opening (preferably bigger) on
the opposite wall.

Ilumination

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The light allows to qualify environmentally the space and can help to lead the intension of the practice being done. In the case of Yoga, direct
connection to the sun is essential in many of their exercises. That's why weshould always favor natural lighting, and is necessary, to incorporate
systems to regulate their intensity, allowing darken the room completely if necessary.

In order to avoid glare, in most of the projects presented inthis article, light does not fall directly on people, and have been used zenithal openings,
windows at floor level, fuzzy screens, and lightcourtyardsurrounding the mainroom.

If practices are carried out at night, artificial lighting choice should be warm and also adjustable.

The construction is transformed with light changes, thus achieving a balance with its natural surroundings,
which is transmitted into their spaces and therefore to project users.
Carolina Echevarri + Alberto Burckhardt, about their project'Yoga-Kamadhemy' inCundinamarca, Colombia
Aesthetics and Materials

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The aesthetics of space depends entirely on the clientrequirement, but generally, you should avoid distracting elements or exaggerated
decorations. It isrecommended using warm materials and so colors(or directly white) to help attendees achieve a certain degree of initial
concentration. As practices carried out in permanent contact with the ground, floors are usually covered with wood or materials rather 'so' and
warm to the touch.

The aim of the project is the creation of spaces where materials, furniture, lighting and colors accompany
yoga practice, creating a smooth transition in the path. It is relaxed and limited spaces that allow the user to
stop their busy lifestyle and connecting slowly, with body and a serene mental space.
Studio Shito about their project'YogaOne Mandri' inBarcelona, Espaa
Orientation and Geometry

Some of the projects are based spatially and geometrically in the traditional tenets of the dierent practices, as many claim that certain
orientations and configurations may enhance the eectiveness of the exercises.

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For example, we talk about some beneficial cardinal directions, like the East (where would travel certain subtle energies accompanying the
movement of the Earth) orMagnetic North(near the geographic North, which would allow us to align with the magnetic field of our planet). Other
cases have based their design in the studio of thesacred geometries, and have even madedowsingground surveys to learn of benign energies
present at the project site.

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These organic references allow us to drop some stiness of a more practical design, moving to generate curves or circular shapes that
couldimpactpositively on the user experience inside of the building.

Have you designed one of these spaces, or do you perform one of these practices oen?

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ARCHDAILY

Ritual House of Yoga / goCstudio

18 From the architect. Inhabiting a 1909 historic masonry building in Seattle's vibrant Capitol Hill
neighborhood, Ritual House is amongst a number of new businesses making 19th Avenue East their
home. The weathered brick storefront of Ritual House, works in contrast to the light modern interior
beyond, which spans from street to alley.
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AYC / DX Arquitectos
30 From the architect. We think about the architecture of temples, introverted and quiet spaces, with
dim and changing light. We believe in simple ways, in order and structure, in repetition, in air and
wind, the sun, breathing and the shapes of the body in the space we need to look inward.
Read the article on archdaily.com >

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ARCHDAILY

Spa Quertaro / Ambrosi I Etchegaray

18 From the architect. The assignment was to create an Integral Yoga and Spa Center in an area of
418 irregular square meters, located in Colonia Carretas, two blocks from the historic Arcos, in the
city of Quertaro. The design premise was to create a center in constant contact with nature (the
outside).
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Kamadhenu Yoga Studio / Carolina Echevarri + Alberto
Burckhardt
20 Kamadhenu is a private institution, conceived around the basic principles of yoga practices,
demanding the architects to generate an architectural program focused on creating a Yoga studio to
fulll the needs of yoga practitioners from Bogota, and its neighboring towns.
Read the article on archdaily.com >

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ARCHDAILY

Yoga Deva / Blank Studio

14 From the architect. Yoga Deva (deva is a Sanskrit word, meaning deity) creates an internal
sequence of spaces whose primary impulse is to remove the visitor from the exterior visual
environmental conditions in every way.
Read the article on archdaily.com >

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Meditation Pavilion & Garden / GMAA
20 The Meditation Pavilion blends in the global conception of the park where it's placed, enhancing
the composition with its own qualities. The idea of this pavilion is projected through the particular
relation of the wooden volume gently hovering above a crossing water surface, creating an
ensemble precisely aligned with the cardinal directions.
Read the article on archdaily.com >

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See more:
News Misc Sustainability Community Yoga Meditation

Cite: Franco, Jos Toms. "The Key Architectural Elements Required to Design Yoga and Meditation Spaces" 18 Oct 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed 12 Feb 2017.
<http://www.archdaily.com/797259/the-key-architectural-elements-required-to-design-yoga-and-mediation-spaces/>

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