6.4 SWASWARA AYURVEDA CENTER, GOKARNA, KARNATAKA.- DESIGN BASED

LOCATION-

Om Beach, Donibhail, Gokarna, Karnataka 581326.

ABOUT-

On a forested hillside offering views of the Laccadive Sea, this tranquil resort is an 11-minute walk from Om Beach and 14 km from Gokarna Road train station.

SITE-

• The ayurveda center is located on approximately 29 acres of land. Entering from the north, the land slopes down to the beach on the southern side. The upper stretch is relatively gently sloping with scrub vegetation.

• The middle stretch has a patch of dense vegetation, and the lower stretch has a strip of paddy fields and coconut groves, which open out into the pristine Om beach.

• The southern boundary of site is a stretch of Arabian Sea. The highest location at the site is approximately 30 meters (100 feet) above sea level.

ACCOMODATION-

• Within this spiritually enlightened and sensitive environment nestle 24 villas inspired by the homesteads, tradition and craft of the Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka.

• All of these villas are the accommodation for the users you come here to learn yoga and ayurveda. These villas are designs in three zones, A B and C.

• The villas are made of laterite store which are locally harvested.

• Each villa has a lake or pond and field facing balconies with interactive verandahs,

• The roof of each villa image of bamboo thatch and has a open to sky toilets and washrooms.

• On opening the front door of each of these villas, a visitor gets perhaps the most memorable of the several surprises that SwaSwara has to offer.

• Inward looking and arranged around an inner courtyard, each of these villas has separate bedroom space, dressing areas, a luxurious bathroom which can neither said to be inside nor outside and study spaces and dining spaces on the ground floor.

• A balcony can double as a yoga and meditation space at the personal level, offering a panoramic view of the sea and hills around on the upper floor.

MATERIAL-

The entire structure is built in laterite stone. The entrance to the resort features a majestic laterite catenary vault.The laterite stonework takes on a range of forms and shapes as part of the design. The top layers are soft laterite with small boulders, but below depths of 3 meters (10 feet), hard laterite rock formations prevail.

In addition to cut, rectangular formats, random shapes of laterite were used at SwaSwara.The stone was used for both flat and curved walls at SwaSwara. The compound wall and retaining walls rising and falling with the ground levels, jalis shading glare, cutting off vision yet allowing ventilation, arches of various shapes and sizes, even twisted arches, vaults and chajjas all can be seen of laterite. Signage, lamp masts, pavements, pathways and water stand posts further celebrate versatile uses of laterite stone.

• Lateriate can also be found along pathways that wind throughout the resort.

• In terms of other crafted aesthetics, there is a brick masonry dome that was completed with handmade blue ceramic tile cladding - assuming the position of “sanctum sanctorum.”

• Terracotta tile flooring, red-oxide crafted columns, seats, niches and flowing terracotta murals bring texture variations. Cane furniture, crafted wooden columns, handrails, trellis works and other accessories complete the design scheme.

TOPOGRAPHY-

In treating the landscape too, attention to detail has been given priority. The buildings rise and fall with the contours of the land, minimizing disturbance of the natural terrain.

ROOFING AND WALLING-

In addition to using local stone materials, roofing in most spaces is of timber and renewable local thatch, tied at joints with copper bolts and copper wires. A combination of timber and tile is used where chances of catching fire is higher. In places where a clean interior ceiling is needed, such as in bedrooms, baths and kitchens, there is a thin shell of RCC (reinforced cement concrete) or filler slab.

INFERENCE (Things needs to be included in design and which needs to be avoided)INCLUSIVE THINGS-

1. Environmental psychology-

Spaces are designed keeping in mind what effect it will have on human mind. Water body or pond is present on the site at regular intervals as sound of water calms the mind and cools the breeze around it.

2. Building material-

The laterite stone used in different makes the building sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.

3. Sustainability-

The use use of different techniques like biogas, rainwater harvesting, level difference and different passive strategies to make space feel more comfortable to the users.

4. Multifunctionality-

The space can be used for various different activities. This makes the space more flexible and adjust according to users requirements. THis can also help to accomodate more activities which help the users to relax and feel comfortable.

5. Location-

This is small village alongside the beach. The site is connected to the main highway. The site is surrounded with varied existing trees and has lot of waterbody which cools down the place in summers.

THINGS NEED TO BE AVOIDED-

1. Security-

Since the proposal has for rehab center the more strategic secure environment needs to be provided to the users. The planning of each space needs to be done keeping the users in mind and providing them with most secured environment.

2. Location-

Due it closeness to beach are the height , offsets and use of building had restrictions.

3. Location of toilets- https://www.fabgetaways.com/in/deal/india/swaswara-wellness-retreat-gokarna https://www.bgoperator.ru/price.shtml?flt=100410839865&tid=26&code=102610086372&action=shw#/~h tf/-1/03.10.2021/0030919850.0030919850/1/-/- https://www.google.com/maps/place/CGH+Earth+-+SwaSwara/@14.5213524,74.3199605,310m/ data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!3m7!1s0x3bbe82225c72c8cf:0xab3923d3b1448489!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d14.5218528!4d74.3210579 https://www.stoneworld.com/articles/85298-laterite-forms-a-nature-friendly-environment https://www.indovacations.net/english/Swaswara-gokarna-karnataka.htm http://www.soulmantrajourneys.com/soukya-holistic-health-ayurveda-treatment-center.php#prettyPhoto[gallery1]/25/

Toilets are places at same position in each villa leading to two different IC . These toilets can be kept adjacent so that ducting could have been combined.