Spaces of Belonging: Architecture in Service of Community and Spirit

How can architecture balance the preservation of sense of place and community identity while introducing contemporary design elements to create spaces that are both contextually significant and widely meaningful?

Architecture often finds its essence not in the grand or the monumental but in spaces that inspire belonging, community, and harmony with their context. The 16,000 sq.ft ashram at Nardipur, near Adalaj village in Gandhinagar, embodies this philosophy by weaving the natural environment, cultural memory, and architectural forms into a seamless experience for its visitors. Designed with reverence for its history and environment, the ashram evolves as a meditative retreat, where the landscape and built forms engage in a quiet dialogue.
The site has a profound historical and spiritual resonance. Guru Maharaj performed various ritual offerings at this location, gradually drawing disciples and pilgrims from surrounding villages. Over time, this place transformed into a living ashram that provides lodging and food for visitors. This evolution from a sacred ritual site to a community hub underpins the ashram's design, which retains and enhances the essence of its origins.

The entry is marked by a buffer zone that acts as a pause point, gently transitioning visitors inward. The entry pathway is the ashram's first architectural gesture, retaining the existing bougainvillea canopy that arches over the path. This natural feature, preserved and celebrated, creates an immersive journey that evokes a sense of serenity and anticipation. It leads visitors toward the prayer hall, revealing glimpses of the ashram’s architecture while maintaining an intimate connection with the surrounding nature. The lush landscape—dotted with chikoo trees, orange, sitafal and coconut trees as well, and an ecosystem of birds and bees—is not just incidental but integral, safeguarded as a key design principle. The ashram respects this ecosystem, ensuring no greens were removed and that the site’s inherent biodiversity thrives.

The ashram is thoughtfully planned with a sequence of primary spaces, including the community hall, lodging rooms, dining area, and the sacred fireplace, all culminating in a multipurpose open ground. This arrangement encourages a natural flow, motivating interaction, collectivity, and a seamless connection between built spaces and the expansive outdoors.
The prayer hall stands as the spiritual heart of the ashram, embodying a balance of light, form, and function. Its design draws inspiration from a symmetrical 9x9 grid, reflecting a language that resonates with the principles of  Vastu Shastra, interpreted architecturally rather than religiously. The hall is oriented northeast, allowing soft, filtered light to animate the space while maintaining a contemplative atmosphere. Not all arches are left open; this selective approach manipulates light, creating an interplay of shadows that adds depth and subtlety to the design. The RCC arches, constructed using the ferma module, are structurally incorporated and slightly projected to protect glass from rain and dirt and it inevitably also offers shaded niches for birds, enriching the structure’s relationship with nature. Chamfered window edges soften the visual impact, creating thinner windows within, and enhance natural ventilation. Above, arch windows encircle the hall by becoming skylight, ensuring air circulation and preventing the heightened volume from becoming a thermal trap, while the façade slit highlights the entry point, reinforcing a sense of sacred arrival.
The hall’s subtle and creamy spatial and visual form contrasts with an symbolic structure resembling a flame, rendered in red. It is the fireplace where symbolism is woven into every aspect, from the placement of a small waterbody representing the element of water to the upward-reaching forms symbolizing air. The sacred fireplace, the metaphysical energy core ofthe ashram, ties these elements together, grounding the space in tradition and spirituality. This abstract representation of fire, pointing skyward, connects to the sacred act of hawans once performed here. The fireplace that stands out in its palette and striking form, considered as the spiritual energy center of the ashram, embodies the five elements—earth, fire, water, air, and space—through its visual character, offering a profound connection to both physical and metaphysical realms. The lodging spaces and dining area are visually and spatially connected to the community hall. While the lodging offers private retreats for visitors, the dining area encourages communal activities, reinforcing the ashram’s ethos of shared experiences.

The architecture masterfully balances solid forms and open voids, creating a seamless interplay that defines the spatial experience. By breaking down large volumes into human-scaled elements, it enlivens a sense of intimacy and approachability. Simultaneously, an intentional continuity between spaces allows the transitions to feel natural and connected while keeping the architectural rhythm. This balance between enclosure and openness enhances the sense of spatial hierarchy, grounding visitors in a unified yet layered environment. The tree arches formed by drooping canopies, reminiscent of village pathways, informed the geometry of the bougainvillea-covered entry. The arches continue into the community hall, creating a cohesive architectural language. Raasa Architects emphasize the arch as a symbol of belonging—a timeless form that resonates universally and invites participation. The use of mass and volume as design tools creates a dynamic play of light and shadow, enhancing the spiritual ambiance of the spaces. Proportions and scale are carefully calibrated to evoke both intimacy and awe, ensuring visitors feel both connected and contemplative. This grounded yet intentional approach to light, mass, and void ensures the ashram’s architecture remains understated, timeless, and deeply connected to its context.

The courtyard, positioned at the heart of the ashram, serves as a contemplative pause point, balancing the openness of the prayer hall with a more intimate character. The surrounding spaces, including the dining hall and verandahs, frame the courtyard, creating a seamless flow that encourages interaction while maintaining a sense of enclosure. Visitors engage in various activities here, from cooking preparations to crafting traditional torans, making the courtyard an active and vital space. The visual continuity of the arch from the prayer hall into the courtyard ties the spaces together, ensuring that the spiritual essence of the hall permeates the every day activities of the courtyard.

The design’s alignment with cultural practices and local ways of life ensures that the ashram is embraced as a "third place"— a space that is intentional of connection and belonging, distinct from home and work. The tower in the south, inspired by the bird towers commonly found in villages, stands as a symbolic and visual landmark. The height of the tower also protects the courtyard in the north east by creating shadows. Its presence not only anchors the ashram within its context but also resonates with the villagers, offering a structure that feels both familiar and aspirational.
The dining hall, or bhojanshala, extends the architectural narrative through its use of arches, this time positioned perpendicularly to the façade. This layout creates a sense of discovery, as the arches gradually unfold, drawing users deeper into the space and enhancing their engagement. Designed as an open, naturally lit, and well-ventilated truss structure, the bhojanshala is a communal dining experience that is both functional and welcoming. The inclusion of fixed furniture made by floor modulation not only serves the practical purpose of dining but also acts as a design element, breaking the monotony of the space and adding visual interest to the overall composition.

Material choices in the ashram reinforce its commitment to simplicity and sustainability. The characteristic ivory walls, combined with the earthy red of the symbolic fire form, create a serene yet vibrant palette. The landscape, rather than being overlaid onto the architecture, is integrated as a layer of design. The preservation of the site’s trees and biodiversity reflects a conscious decision to honor and enhance the natural environment. The ashram at Nardipur is not a workspace or commercial entity but a volunteer-driven sanctuary for community and spirituality. It transcends functional utility to become a place of emotional and spiritual connection. The design prioritizes a sense of belonging, reflecting the architects’ belief that architecture can create profound bonds between people and their surroundings. Through its sensitive design, the ashram balances the demands of contemporary architecture with the wisdom of local and context. It is exemplary of the power of architecture to nurture the intangible—belonging, peace, and a connection to the divine. The Nardipur Ashram reminds us that architecture, at its best, is not just about buildings but about the lives and stories they witness.

和平森林——归属空间：服务社区和精神的建筑

建筑如何平衡地方感和社区身份的保护，同时引入当代设计元素来创造既具有上下文意义又具有广泛意义的空间？

建筑的本质往往不在于宏伟或纪念性的结构，而在于那些能够激发归属感、社区感和与环境和谐的空间。 位于甘地纳格尔附近阿达拉杰村的纳尔迪普16,000平方英尺的修道院，通过将自然环境、文化记忆和建筑形式编织成一个无缝的体验，体现了这一哲学。 以对其历史和环境的尊重为设计理念，这座修道院演变为一个冥想的避难所，在这里，景观和建筑形式进行着静谧的对话。 这个地方具有深厚的历史和精神共鸣。 古鲁·马哈拉杰在这个地方进行了各种仪式性供奉，逐渐吸引了周围村庄的弟子和朝圣者。 随着时间的推移，这个地方变成了一个为游客提供住宿和食物的活生生的修道院。 从一个神圣的仪式场所演变为一个社区中心，这一转变支撑了修道院的设计，保留并增强了其起源的本质。

入口处有一个缓冲区，作为一个暂停点，轻柔地将访客引导向内。 入口小径是修道院的第一个建筑手势，保留了现有的三角梅树冠，拱形覆盖在小径上。 这一自然特征被保留和庆祝，创造了一段沉浸式的旅程，唤起宁静和期待的感觉。 它引导游客走向祈祷大厅，展示了修道院建筑的一瞥，同时保持与周围自然的亲密联系。 郁郁葱葱的景观——点缀着番石榴树、橙树、释迦树和椰子树，以及鸟类和蜜蜂的生态系统——不仅是偶然的，而是不可或缺的，作为一个关键的设计原则得到了保护。 这个修道院尊重这种生态系统，确保没有移除任何绿色植物，并且该地点固有的生物多样性得以繁荣。

这个修道院经过深思熟虑地规划了一个主要空间的顺序，包括社区大厅、住宿房间、餐饮区和神圣的壁炉，所有这些都汇聚在一个多功能的开放场地。 这种布局鼓励自然流动，激发互动、集体性，并在建筑空间与广阔户外之间形成无缝连接。 祈祷大厅作为修道院的精神核心，体现了光、形态和功能的平衡。 它的设计灵感来自一个对称的9x9网格，反映了一种与Vastu Shastra原则相呼应的语言，这种语言是从建筑学的角度而非宗教的角度进行解释的。 大厅朝向东北，柔和的过滤光线为空间注入活力，同时保持了沉思的氛围。 并不是所有的拱门都留开；这种选择性的方法操控光线，创造出阴影的交错，为设计增添了深度和细腻感。 使用ferma模块建造的RCC拱门在结构上被整合并稍微突出，以保护玻璃免受雨水和污垢的侵袭，同时不可避免地为鸟类提供了阴凉的栖息处，丰富了结构与自然的关系。 倒角窗边缘柔化了视觉冲击，内部形成了更薄的窗户，并增强了自然通风。 上方，拱形窗户环绕大厅，成为天窗，确保空气流通，防止高耸的空间成为热量的陷阱，而立面上的缝隙则突显了入口，增强了神圣到来的感觉。 大厅细腻而奶油般的空间和视觉形式与一个象征性的红色火焰结构形成对比。 这是壁炉，在这里象征主义渗透到每一个细节，从代表水元素的小水体的布置到象征空气的向上延伸的形态。 神圣的壁炉，作为修道院的形而上学能量核心，将这些元素结合在一起，使空间扎根于传统和灵性。 这种指向天空的火焰抽象表现，连接着曾在这里进行的神圣哈万仪式。 在其色彩和引人注目的形式中脱颖而出的壁炉，被视为修道院的精神能量中心，通过其视觉特征体现了五大元素——土、水、火、空气和空间——为物质和形而上领域提供了深刻的连接。 住宿空间和餐饮区在视觉和空间上与社区大厅相连。 虽然住宿区为游客提供私人休憩空间，但餐饮区则鼓励共同活动，强化了修道院共享体验的精神。

建筑巧妙地平衡了实体形式和开放的空隙，创造出一种无缝的互动，定义了空间体验。 通过将大体量分解为人尺度的元素，它赋予了空间一种亲密感和可接近性。 同时，空间之间的有意连续性使得过渡显得自然且连贯，同时保持了建筑的节奏感。 这种封闭与开放之间的平衡增强了空间层次感，使访客置身于一个统一而又分层的环境中。