'POORNA : An Institute for Holistic Health’

1. The following are some excerpts from my report.

2. Photographs of the model

A view of the main axis from the reception building to the treatment centre.

A line is established from the treatment centre which is the heart of the design to the entrance which develops into a secondary form complementing the form of the treatment centreand framing it in its view. This axis is the most elementary means of organizing forms aand spaces. Although imaginary and not visible, it is a powerful dominating and regulating device. Because of its linear condition it has qualities of length and direction and induces movement and views along its path.

It is about this axis line that a blanced distribution of equivalent forms and spaces is achieved. These include all the ancillary facilities of the centre and also the Institute building.

The use of recurring patterns in he form of the gateways along this axis line helps to organize the spaces in a hierarchial order and gives the user a feeling of slowly approaching his ultimate goal and all the time framing the Meditation hall in the form of the pyramid.

A closer view of the treatment centre and the meditation hall in the form of a pyramid in the centre which is partially immersed in the water body surrounding it and appears to be floating on it.

Since most of the forms of treatment are based on ancient and traditional medicine, it would be justified to evolve a design philosophy based on ancient and traditional but at the same time scientific, practical and holistic philosophies of building art. These include the use of the principles of the Vastu-Purusha Mandala (the Cosmic Mandala), the Yin and Yang etc.

The basic plan of treatment centre is based on the Cosmic Mandala which is represented by a series of concentric rectangles in the hierarchial order of their importance. The central portion being occupied Brahma and used for the most sacred purpose, the first and the inner rung being occupied by some of the important dieties and used for lesser sacred purposes, while the outermost rungs being occupied by the Gods of the lower rank.

The most important thing in all the ancient philosophies is the existence of the ‘Whole’ which is ‘Nothing’ and yet ‘Everything’ and it is represented by the geometric centre of the Mandala which is a ‘Bindu’ or ‘Shunya’. In ancient temple architecture it was represented by the idol of the deity in the Garbha Griha. In this case at the centre of the Mandala is the Meditation hall which will be in the shape of a pyramid and the tip of its apex will represent the geometric centre of the Mandala i.e. the Bindu. To isolate the meditation hall from its surroundings, around it there is a ring of the group therapy halls which are again smaller pyramids and the outer most ring is that of the consulting and treatment rooms.

The outer ring of he consulting and treatment rooms forms a kind of an enclosure to the sacred inside and the collonade on ites inner side helps to bind the space into one. It leads to the inclusion of the surrounding in to the sacred field whlie keeping its distance. It activates the space within and defines it.

A view of the entrance area showing the parking lot on th extreme right, the reception and administration building next to it, the helpers residences in the foreground and the restaurant and shops behind them.

A view of the institute building and the amphitheatre in front of it.

A view of the residences for doctors and students on the other side of the main axis.

A view of the patients residences close to the treatment centre and overlooking the stream. The residential area for the patients being an activity by itself and only mostly related to the treatment centre by its circulation pattern, it is placed next to te treatment centre and along the side of the stream for added viewing pleasure and is therefore detached from the axis.

A view of the cafeteria for the patients also overlooking the stream.

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