The goal of the project was to create a meditation and healing center for residents of the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood in Denver. The core idea was to use the sound of water to help people focus. The site challenges included a 14-foot grade change and a lack of sunlight due to an adjacent 12-story building.  

 

In response, I conceived a two-story building with an underground parking area and a series of tranquil spaces illuminated by skylights. The front of the building features a public plaza with a waterfall, which draws people into the facility. Once inside, visitors encounter the main mediation area, which has a number of personal meditation pods. An interior garden contains the source of water and acts as a connection between the active social space and the private individual spaces. Throughout the center, the sound of water helps people forget about their stressful lives and meditate.