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Arch2O.com - Architecture & Design Magazine
The Buddhist Meditation Centre Metta Vihara is located in Hengstdijk – a small village near the Belgian border – in a remotearea of the Netherlands. The inhabitants of Metta Vihara (defined as ?community of loving kindness? in the Pali language)are members of the Triratna Community, a Buddhist movement not aligned to one traditional school, but one that draws on the whole stream of Buddhist inspiration.
Courtesy of bureau SLA
The new accommodation provides 26 beds in 13 one and two person bedrooms, ameditation hall, library, and dining hall. Form and materials used in the centre relate to the rural vernacular building, butused in a new and fresh way. As the centre is financed mainly by gifts from community members and friends, one of the design briefs was to maximize the the space while minimizing the cost. Our overall design concept was to design a building that, while beautiful, wasn?t overly comforting. This is in line with the philosophy that, while on retreat, one should feel relaxed, but not necessarily ?at home?. As a result, Metta Vihara has strong aesthetics that feature robust and raw materials. Courtesy of bureau SLA – Plan
The overall form of the meditation centre is an interpretation of the so-called Mansard roof, also known as the French roof. Used throughout the area (mainly because of its low cost), the Mansard roof is found widely on houses and barns. The facade of the centre ? al...