Purusha and prakriti is one of the philosophy coming from Hinduism concept, these philosophy are explained the manifestation of the world as a macrocosm, and also describe microcosm.[1] The purpose of these concepts is to retrace back to the subtle element of Purusha, as the ending objective of our live.
![clip_image004[5]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0045.gif)
The process of manifestation of human being are started from the spirit then evolutes into intelligence and ego, and continuing with illumined, stable, and impelling, than become evolutes again in sense and the collaboration with the material as the basic principal of manifestation processed. Philosophy of Purusha and Prakriti used as the purpose of the yoga or meditation where it is reversed the process of manifestation. The meditation procession is evoking the consciousness, awareness, and consideration of something inside and outside our body or the space. By experiencing these, are important of tracing our way back through the stages of evolutes, which is withdrawing our consciousness from the evolutes.
The process is inviting mind and all of our senses through the interaction with the gross elements. Therefore the Gross elements are as the mediator to transport to another level of consciousness.
Experiencing the consciousness direct and indirectly will give some effort a better understanding of self, whether to manage and control emotion. Environment as the people living in has a big effort of influenced human inhabitant and shaping their behaviour and attitude. Landscape as apart of the building is also play an important role in supporting the environment. It is here where the human inhabitant can literally retreat into themselves.
The hierarchy of the level of consciousness is different one and another, so that to achieve the highest level of consciousness is a difficult part. Here are some of the architect and artist have done with some project which is supported the meaning of the meditative space.
Meditative mostly related with mind, but as a beginner the mediate activity need mediator in elaborate their ability to construct their mind in achieving concentration. Here are some images explained about meditative experience through the constructed space.
There are some constructed by artist and architect dealing with the psychological aspect in their design within the difference type of feeling that produced in.
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Peter Zumrogh, Religious Monolith
Image upward are the Religious monolith, the work of architect Peter Zumthor raises the question of ideal outer beauty, the proportion of things, and the poetics of detail. Atmosphere in his oeuvre as an aesthetic; it envelopes us when we visit his buildings. Upon entering his works, we are brought to a level of emotional timelessness. The traces of light draw the eyes slowly towards the sky.[2]
The very small and oval-shaped interior space awakens the senses to experience and allows for a sense of concentration and privacy in enveloped space by wall. The experience of a safe place inside the cave, allows one having deep concentration and direct connection in their mind in one point of the little hole upward.
The reflections of the candles in the mirror are repeated in unlimited way, the never ending shadow will guide a person in one direction and also make a little space looks bigger because of the reflection.
Tadao Ando, Kyomji Temple, Japan
This building is created by architect Tadao Ando in japan, ando wanted to create a building that would return to the origins of wooden architecture, a single structure made up of multiple parts, each full of tension. The sequences of the wood oriented in one direction, it managed people concentration.
Three images show how these construction influences human perception through guided them into one direction, within the sequences, repetition, bentukan yang mengecil ke atas, and the elaboration of elements. It slowly created an experience of the meditative inside of mind. The concentration part made us can arrange the mind in one unity and centralise into our self.
![clip_image025[4]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0254.jpg)
Resort-Spa, Thailand
West 8, Santa Giulia-Italia
The right image show enclosed space by using barrier of material, and collaborating with of stone and mirror quality in black color of surfaces, so that it gives the experienced of enclosed space.The left image show the enclosed area in the decorative surface gives a simple barrier as an enclosing space of personal when going in.[3] It shows how human needed a privacy place as an intimate space with their self and it’s not merely to require a quite and silent space, but also a crowded area can give this kind of experiences.
The left image is an installation, free to the public, allowed the hall to become a gathering place, which are pure, imaginative, and contemplation. The right image is visual perception of water in movement has a strong hypnotic power. Often, a fountain or water feature design is accompanied by a bench nearby from which one can sit and contemplate it.
Hypnotic power through the flow of water and the illuminate space which can be attract someone to think of it and let them induced the phenomena with their own perception, it makes the space become silent although it crowded.
Antony Gormley, Event Horizon, London
Artworks by Richard Serra, Nasher Sclupture Centre, Dalas
This first image is an installation artwork there is a cube box with vapour and disorienting experiences when someone coming in. Therefore the captured viewer become the subject of the work invisible to others inside the cube, but clearly visible to the outside.[4] The foggy area inside make people a little panic and then explore the space, the panic and feeling of unsettling at first will be evolved as the awareness of him self and the surrounding, it is guided someone feeling of awareness.
This artwork is by Richard Serra when firstly coming to this area is feeling a little unsettling where it shocking the mind first and then fills up the mind with the direction.
The images shows that someone running between the two giant steel plates, and from this picture shows how outside light and the gray sky and green of the grass penetrates and illuminates the spaces.
Images upward explain about the experience of meditative in a space:
1. Constructed concentration in experience of contemplative
The sequences and the repetition guided some one to looking forward and curiosity; it slowly induced someone to reach the level of consciousness.
2. Enclosed space in experience of intimacy and privacy
The privacy and intimacy with self could be applied by creating barrier as a border of their space and others.
3. Hypnotic in experience of consciousness
Hypnotic is physiological perception in inducing someone of something
4. Disorientating space in experience of awareness
Uncomforted zone as the first impression in engaging human mind to aware themselves.
From the overall, although it gives different kind of experiences, but important thing is the elaboration of the material or gross elements as mediator in addressing this experience to the people. Meditative area has a broad meaning and experience to reach the purpose of it. The mediator as devices is the spatial devices to transport someone to another level of consciousness.
Incorporated with the project of HDB block
In the HDB block of Commonwealth, where the project is located, is a common block where there are some area provided for human inhabitant activity inside. From the analyses, some places are not done their duty as well as their function, one of them is Amphitheater area, this area is very silent because not much people going in and not much performance are held here. In the other hand, some people still used this area, one of them coming in for practicing tai chi, and another just coming in and sit here, while overwhelming with his mind.
From this kind of phenomena that happens inside, it showed in this area need to be a meditative area to facilitate people who need privacy or enclosed space for their own.
First approaching is by selecting the site and done some observation of some possibility to developed area with meditative aura, so that will not be centralizing in this amphitheater. The possibility is coming from the character of the site which it has a phenomena of sunset in the west area, where some people enjoy it by standing without proper placed are provided for enjoying this phenomena.
Based of the research about Purusha and Prakriti and developed from it, some of the research will be implant as the idea, where the meditative area is not merely requiring a silent space. So that to vibrant the space with the meditative aura, it will be developed and collaborate the meditative area with the communal space.
![clip_image042[4]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0424-thumb.jpg?w=244&h=150)
Second approaching is by conceptual design where from the entrance the inhabitant will be introduced by one of meditative experiences. And continued with another experienced inside, where it combine with the public activity.
![clip_image042[4]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0424.jpg)
Third is design application, it can be seen where some places are developed to supporting the image of meditative.
![clip_image044[4]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0444-thumb.jpg?w=244&h=188)
The entrance is developed by putting some sequences of high column using material of stone and water as the reflection, to concentrate the people coming in, because entrance as a gate, when they are coming or exit.
![clip_image044[4]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0444.jpg)
![clip_image046[4]](http://spatialdesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/clip-image0464.jpg)
The amphitheater will be represent as a meditative space experienced an enclosed space and intimate space, the place for seating is changed to make the people comfort when they are seating.
The playground and the additional area, this area are developed as a connect area, where the stairs are represent with the little changed to improve the essence of awareness.
Conclusion
1. The differentiation meaning of meditative and the collaboration in some activity in the area of landscape building
Meditative area as the part of the human living are mostly has a mediator as the way to transport someone to the level of consciousness. The purpose is giving the refreshment of spirit. After we can gain the advantages of it,
2. Aura of meditative embrace the space through the landscape as apart of environment in human living, as the elaborated from philosophical of Purusa and prakriti
BIBILIOGRAFI
http://www.swamij.com/prakriti-purusha-sankhya.htm
http://www.dailyepiphany.net/2004/may/7.htm
http://www.west8.nl/projects/parks/santa_giulia/
Llorca, Jean Max. (2007) Water in form and light : Page One.
Day, Christopher. (1998) Spirit and Place : Healing our environment. Architectural Press.
Moore, Charles. (1993) The Poetics of Garden. The MIT Press.
House of God
Taylor, Brian Brace. (1995) Geoffrey Bawa. London : Thames and Huson.
Magazines :
240 Singapore Architecture: Thingking the new leisure-scapes, August/September 2007, page 124 – 129
[1] Quote from : http://www.swamij.com/prakriti-purusha-sankhya.htm
[2] 240 Singapore Architecture: Thinking the new leisure scope, August/September 2007, page 124 – 129
February 29, 2008 at 11:34 am
[...] Meditative and Landscape through awareness of the environmentIra’s research [...]
March 4, 2008 at 9:25 am
Kent’s comments:
1. Research lack focus. Title ‘Meditative and landscape through awareness of the environment’ is ungrammatical and ambiguous.
2. Although there is originality in the essay, the selected case studies are random and does not clearly demonstrate how they relate to the Purusha-Prakriti manifestation cycle.
3. Research is based on case-studies with different levels of experiential dimensions. Any space will have experiential impact on users. Hypnotic spaces are not strictly related to meditative or reflective space. Critical depth is selection of case studies in relation to the Purusha-Prakriti cycle is not evident.
4. Verbal presentation is dependent on laptop screen, should be presenting without the need f reading off the screen.
5. Graphics are bare without materials and strong shadows. Overly ambitious scope of works covered resulting in unsatisfactory graphical presentation..
6. Summary of research not evident in design proposal.
7. Vista towards Greek sculpture not contextually appropriate.
8. Meditative area too open, lack privacy and enclosure.
9. Focus on Purusha-Prakriti dichotomy has shifted to evocative and spaces suitable for self-reflection. Logical development of research is lacking.
Ash’s comments
Verbal presentation quite well structured, with a good level of verbal competency.
Graphics scheme lacks design and digital resolution. Tracking movements of camera views lack strategic purposes, making it not entirely relevant to her intended scheme.
Content wise, the selection of images have implied relevance. Examples selected were able to demonstrate some understanding of layered phenomenological readings, though greater depth and clarity is expected.
The application of understanding these examples did not however, match the difficult central scheme of Purusha and Prakriti
Further conviction is needed to clarify her central connection of Purusha and Prakriti with the examples researched.
Examples that were selected, seemed conveniently mixed and matched into an applications scheme. Had Dewi engaged a better range of examples with depth of readings and layered analyses, it would have been a sound and wonderful scheme.
She should be credited though, for summarising the select examples in an experiential listing of what might make a meditative space.
The designed application onto a site did not do justice to her research understanding. Overall, the designs were hastily applied in a manner lacking sensibility, and in depth connection with the research content