2024 - Sanctuary of Mindfulness for Urbanist

Mindfulness meditation is developing consciousness to achieve mindfulness or creating remembrance by staying in the present moment and don’t dwell on the past as well as no worry about the future which causes suffering. Practicing mindfulness is beneficial for both physical health and well-being and mental health as well as ay of life.
Sanctuary of Mindfulness for Urbanist project, therefore, it is a place where various methods of mindfulness are gathered both the development of universal mindfulness and cultivating mindfulness based on Buddhism. This is for creating a wide range of options available to those interested in developing awareness. At the same time, it supports people who want to relax and people who want to study additional knowledge. The main aim is to relieve the stress of those who come to use the project. Moreover, there has been research addressing that the development of consciousness or mindfulness development Can relieve stress and heal the mind.
The main design concept is ‘Praise the Light – Shines Through the Mind’. The meaning of this concept is to promote the development of awareness for relieving stress through building use with an emphasis on the “Phassa” or “senses of physically and mentally contact”. These senses contribute to stress relief and induces relaxation. At the same time, it promotes the development of consciousness through the use of the building. It is designed by considering the experience of building users through image. smell, sound, and touch. The design emphasizes especially on spatial awareness and promoting the use of space through brightness and daylight.
Guidelines for designing workshop space begin from walkways into the building. In order to make users feel the transition of the space into a more peaceful area, wooden slats were used to reduce the light that would enter the walkway for reducing the light entering. Therefore, the illumination of the corridor has decreased. It also reduces the unwanted scenery that enters the field of vision and can foster a feeling of calm before entering the international mindfulness room. When entering the international mindfulness room, people will find an open space that is ready to be changed according to the room’s usage activities. For example, first of all, the use of cushions to develop mindfulness by focusing on in-and-out breathing. Secondly, opposite the entrance, there is a double skin wall inspired by Japanese shoji gates, which the inner layer is a translucent wall that can allow light to pass inside, while still maintaining privacy within the room. This inner wall can be moved open and closed to receive views outside and to create air ventilation. The outer wall, which is 1 meter away, is a wall at the bottom consisting of glass and 60-centimeter-high wood-pattern aluminum mullions. The top of the outer wall is translucent, like the inner walls, and parts of it can be moved open to allow air circulation. The light that is obtained by attenuating the light with two layers of walls (Double Skin Wall) is, therefore, a dim light.
Due to Buddhist beliefs in Thailand, people respect and have faith in Buddha images, The design for the space in this room include a light opening above. This is in order to admit the daylight to shine down on the Buddha image which is placed facing north according to Buddhism belief. The other wall of the room has a skylight cut into it to allow natural light to shine down onto the white walls, adding brightness to the room. The balcony of the room is a walkway for developing consciousness through walking meditation. The façade wall of the balcony has openings. Each opening has a distance appropriate to the distance of each step in walking meditation. When it’s time to put people’s feet up, their foot will be placed on the ground where the light is shining. From the start of the walk to the end, each opening increases in height causing more light to come in. This situation creates a gradient in the brightness of the walkway. It is as if walking reveals the light of life.