Indo-Tibetan Monastery

Thesis Report

2019-20

Name: Barkha Thorat

Enrolment no.: 153521050105

10th Semester, 5th year

Introduction
What is monastery?
 In Buddhism, the purpose of monastery is not only limited to worship and practice of
rituals, but it acts a common space for communities to come together as one body.
 A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters
and workplace of monks, whether living in communities or alone.

Concept of Buddhist monastery

 A monastery is a residence of community of monks who live away from the world.
 Place of residence for group of monks, also becomes a center for religion and
religious education and allied arts and crafts activities.
 The concept of a Buddhist monastery is so strong that the sacred architectural form
and motifs are reflection of culture.
 Buddhist art and architecture is one of the best examples that demonstrate the
influence of religion and rulers.
 Buddhist monastery acts as the cultural center.

Research/architectural question
1. Vision
Providing apprenticeship in traditional Tibetan art form, education and making Tibetan
experience accessible for contemporary lifestyle.

2. Aim
To preserve the traditions and values of the monastery and holding up its cultural values by
designing an architectural module by creating an essence of modern as well as the traditional
form.

3. Objectives
 To think about each space making responding to nature.
 To encourage ancient Buddhist art and craft to promote economy.
 To understand the ancient monumental principle of the Buddhist monument and try
to reflect in contemporary time.

4. Scope and limitations

 To understand the fundamental principles of Buddhist monastery and interpret it
into a built form, elements, symbols and colors retaining the essence of philosophy.
 To encourage the user group for future expansion and evolution.
 To explore and understand vernacular building typologies and materials and respond
to them sensitively.
 To understand ecology of site and try to intervene without harming or disturbing the
nature.
Identification of project site
1. Site details
 Proposed site: Mohal Dhaang Chummi, Himachal Pradesh
 Latitude: 32.134632
 Longitude: 75.689171
 Climate: The climate varies from
Hot and sub-humid tropical (450–900 meters) in the southern low tracts,
Warm and temperate (900–1800 meters),
Cool and temperate (1900–2400 meters),
Cold glacial and alpine (2400–4800 meters).
 Temperature: The average temperature in the summer months vary from 22 degrees to
37 degree Celsius. The temperature varies from 0 degree to 15 degree Celsius.
 Avg. Rainfall: 2909 to 3800 mm
 Avg. snowfall: elevations of nearly 3000 m
 Accessibility: Kulu bus terminal to Mohal : 6.7km
Joginder nagar railway station to Mohal : 120km
Manali to Mohal : 44.8km

The proposed centre of Baudh Darshan i.e an institute would help preserve and expand
Buddhists studies.30 acres of land at Mohal Dhaang Chummi has been approved for the
centre. Necessary clearances from the state forest department is expected to follow. The
entire project cost of Rs.45 corer will be borne by the Indian government.
Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, Tabo is one of the largest monastic
complexes in India, with several caves and contemporary structures. It attracts thousands of
scholars and researchers from all over the world. It is the second most visited tourist place in
the Buddhist circuit in India after Bodh Gaya. Spiti Valley, where the Tabo monastery is
located, is a cold desert dotted by tiny helmets spread over the Himalayan peaks. It adjoins
Tibet.
Geu, a village on the Indo-Tibetan border in the Spiti Valley, is known for a 550-year-old
mummified body of a monk. The mummy was found by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP) after an earthquake that hit the region in 1975. It was discovered from one of the eight
stupas. Even the teeth, nails and hair on the skull are intact.
2.Regulatory frameworks
3.Design Guidelines

Program components
 Buddhist Temple
 Assembly Hall
 Guest house
 Workshop or class room
 Monolithic Stupa
 Prayer Wheel
 Stupa
 Protector Temple
 Residents for teacher or Senior Monks
 Open or semi-open space
 Monastery
 Monk’s Quarters

Methodology
 The initial thought towards the approach of my thesis is exploration.
 The choice of the subject for thesis was due to interest in Buddhist art and
architecture.
 The methodology adapted to understand and explore the topic selected is traveling.
 Visit the site and understand the use of space, context of place and its impact. For the
facts and figures, magazines, photographs and books will be used.
 Adapt documentation to enhance Material understanding, proportion systems,
construction techniques and spatial organization of the context.

Case Studies
1. Norbulingka Institute (live study)
2. Jetavan monastery
 Architects : Sameep Padora & Associates
 Location : Maharashtra, India
 Category : Monastery

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.
The institute was programmed as a spiritual & skill development center for the native
Dalit Baudh Ambedkar Buddhist community. The mandate of Jetavana is to provide a
spiritual anchor for their practice of Buddhist thought through meditation and yoga
while also imparting training and skill development for members of the community.

With the mandate of not harming a single tree on site the sizable program was split up
into 6 buildings each situated in gaps between the heavy planting. Through the design
process two courtyards emerged as links suturing these buildings into a common
identity

.
3.Buddhist temple
Designed: 2012
Project team: Kwanchanok weschasart, veera leelapattanaputi

Description:
The project is located in suburban area of Bangkok, Thailand, accessible area for city people
considered as contemporary people, and full of natural resources area .From the chaotic of the
surrounding to peacefulness of the site, it is necessary to have transition as “journey to truth”.
When people enter to the site, they will also entering nature. This area is surrounded by trees
giving a sense of isolation from outside as a threshold. The programs provided in this area are
office, alms house and museum to motivate people to come and learn. After that, there is strong
axis as a deep and narrowed path leading to Dhamma Pavilion (truth of nature pavilion) letting one
might concentrate on inner journey. At the back of Dhamma pavilion, visitor will discover the
nature of the site, open space with forest and pond surrounded. The emptiness makes things clearer
as same as seeing the truth through peaceful mind.
There is the learning center including museum that contemporary people can learn the overall
concept of Buddhism and they might be motivated to continue their own experiment by practicing
Dhamma. Then, to respond to their inner journey, in term of perception, the site planning is
designed base on the concept of path to get rid of suffering which are to respect the nature, to take
a glance at oneself and to enlighten with truth by three sequences of journey to truth which are
entering nature, to concentrate on inner journey and seeing the truth through peaceful mind.
References/Bibliography
 https://tibet.net/1000-year-old-monastery-to-have-buddhist-studies-centre/ (proposal for
Baudh darshan- institute)
 https://issuu.com/sahilpasahan/docs/cv_portfolio_sahil_pasahan (case study-2)
 https://www.archdaily.com/790646/jetavan-sameep-padora-and-
associates?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all (case study-3)
 https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/nccn/the-contemporary-buddhist-
temple-project-pages.html (case study-4)