Last Weekend I visited Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, the North American Seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery is located next to Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, NY. The building was painted by a Tibetan artist in the style of a traditional Tibetan monastery. The residences, dining room, other facilities and the shrine building all all organized around a yet-to-be completed courtyard. The grounds are decorated with Tibetan prayer flags draped in the trees and along the pathways. We took a tour given by a lovely woman who explained the philosophy of Buddhism, meditation and the history of the buildings. It was a beautiful experience and I left with a feeling of peace and calm.
Last night I attended an AIA Peconic Chapter lecture organized by my colleague and friend, Peter Wilson. The presentation was by Christopher Benninger. He is an internationally renowned architect who has designed spectacular buildings in India. He has been practicing there for 40 years and his work focuses on campuses of universities and institutions. HIs designs reveal a deep understanding of traditional Indian architecture and "place making." His buildings are very connected to the landscapes that surround them. A recent commission achieved LEED Platinum. I was inspired...
So, within one week's time I was immersed in Buddhist architecture and philosophy, without knowing it was going to happen. I am hoping that this might be a foreshadowing of my next design project. A courtyard scheme, perhaps?
And then, of course there's a dog named Kharma that I am fostering, quite by accident...
