Forest of Peace – Community Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, by Raasa Architects

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Note: The contents below are published as provided by the architect/designer.

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

The site has a profound historical and spiritual resonance, 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 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 connection between built spaces and the expansive outdoors.

The tree arches formed by drooping canopies, reminiscent of village pathways, informed the geometry of the bougainvillaea-covered entry. The sense of enclosure by arches continues into the community hall, courtyard, bhojanshala and lodgings, creating a cohesive architectural language.

The prayer hall stands as the spiritual heart while the courtyard is the functional heart of the ashram, embodying a balance of light, form, and function. The prayer hall is oriented northeast, allowing soft, filtered light to animate the space while maintaining a contemplative atmosphere.

The architecture masterfully balances solid forms and open voids, creating an interplay that defines the spatial experience. By breaking down large volumes into human-scaled elements, 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.

The tower in the south, inspired by the bird towers commonly found in villages, stands as a symbolic and visual landmark. 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 sacred fireplace, the metaphysical energy core of the 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. 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 low cost while material choices reinforce simplicity and sustainability. Ivory walls contrast with the earthy red of the symbolic fire form, creating a serene yet vibrant palette. Landscape integration ensures the ashram remains deeply connected to its natural surroundings.

The Nardipur Ashram is not a commercial space but a sanctuary for community and spirituality, transcending function to allow emotional and spiritual connections. Its sensitive design balances contemporary architecture with local wisdom, exemplifying the power of architecture to nurture belonging, peace, and a connection to the divine. It stands as a reminder that architecture, at its best, is about more than buildings – it is about the lives and stories they witness.

Gallery:

Gallery – Drawings:

Project Details:

Name: Forest of Peace (Space of Belonging: Architecture in Service of Community and Spirit)
Location: Nardipur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Built area: 16,380 sq. ft.
Site area: 55,485 sq. ft.
Year: 2024
Typology: Community Architecture and Public Spaces
Architecture firm: Raasa Architects
Client: Committee members of Nardipur Ashram
Design team: Girisha Gajjar, Naitik Vakharia
Structural engineer: Intrinstruct Design by Manthan Radadia
Civil engineer: Vipul Gajjar
Construction: Kirti Patel
Supervision: Sunil Prajapati
Description: Shivangi Buch
Photography: Karan Gajjar // The Space Tracing Company

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