In Buddhist mythology Jetvana is the name of one the Buddha?s most important spatial edifice which when literally translated means: the grove of Jeta, land donated to the sangha for founding a monastery. It was of semiotic significance that the site offered by Samir Somaiya owner of the neighboring sugar factory in rural Maharashtra for the Buddhist Learning Center was thickly forested, an idyllic grove of sorts.

© Edmund Sumner

Architects: Sameep Padora & Associates

Location: Maharashtra, India

Design Team: Aparna Dhareshwar, Kriti Veerappan, Karan Bhat

Photographs: Edmund Sumner

Construction Team: Soudagar Kulal, Atul Kulkarni
Structural Design: Rajiv Shah

Artisan Consultants And Coordinators: Kiran Vaghela, Tejas Kotak, Bharat Chauhan, Hemant Dudhaiya

Project Managers And Site Supervision: Saudagar Kudal, Atul Kulkarni Thatch Company: Matha Chhaj

Cowdung Mud Plastered Floor: Local villagers

Client: Somaiya Trust

© Edmund Sumner

From the architect. In Buddhist mythology Jetvana is the name of one the Buddha?s most important spatial edifice which when literally translated means: the grove of Jeta, land donated to the sangha for founding a monastery. It was of semiotic significance that the site offered by Samir Somaiya owner of the neig...