The Retreat Centre design team have spent many hours debating and distilling the merits of various options for the Retreat Centre complex, and preparing plans for our resource consent application. See below for a couple of images taken from these plans.
This image shows the current plans for the complete Retreat Centre complex, which will accommodate 200 people at full capacity. This plan allows for:
- A Main Hall, which we envisage as the main practice and lecture space, which could potentially be divided up into smaller spaces when required. We see this space as being primarily quiet and reflective.
- A Dining Hall, with ample outside social spaces suitable for variety of weather conditions! We see this as the main social hub of the complex. Adjacent to the dining hall will be the kitchen (of course) and garden spaces. We envisage all the spaces around the Retreat Centre complex as being productive (eg fruit trees, garden beds, etc), but especially so around the kitchen.
- An Entrance Area possibly encompassing an office/reception space, small meeting room(s), library and treatment rooms. We would really like to create a "wow" factor with some artwork/sculpture/plantings as people move from the drop off area into the Entrance Area. This area has yet to be planned in detail.
- Accommodations Blocks x 4, sleeping 180 people (at a maximum capacity of 200 people we are guessing approximately 20 people will want to camp). We are planning the Accommodation Blocks to have a variety of different sizes, from singles through to six person bunkrooms.
- A Central Courtyard - a key focal point for the complex, including a large pond (for both aesthetic and fire safety reasons!) and abundant plantings. A covered outdoor space in the centre of the courtyard is also a possibility.
- A Camping Area adjacent to the Accommodation Blocks, with shower and toilet facilities close at hand. The area we have chosen for camping is a particularly nice spot, and may even include a fire pit for those who fancy a bonfire every now and again :-)
- A Caretakers House - once we're up and running a Caretaker/Retreat Centre Manager will be needed.
Note that the carpark and driveway layout will likely be altered significantly to blend more into the landscape.
Many other ideas and considerations were discussed as part of the initial design process which produced these plans. A special thank you to Steve Campbell, Isabel Marques, Simon Sangmeister, Jill Corson and Stephan Meijer who all contributed their time and effort towards this process.
- A Main Hall, which we envisage as the main practice and lecture space, which could potentially be divided up into smaller spaces when required. We see this space as being primarily quiet and reflective.
- A Dining Hall, with ample outside social spaces suitable for variety of weather conditions! We see this as the main social hub of the complex. Adjacent to the dining hall will be the kitchen (of course) and garden spaces. We envisage all the spaces around the Retreat Centre complex as being productive (eg fruit trees, garden beds, etc), but especially so around the kitchen.
- An Entrance Area possibly encompassing an office/reception space, small meeting room(s), library and treatment rooms. We would really like to create a "wow" factor with some artwork/sculpture/plantings as people move from the drop off area into the Entrance Area. This area has yet to be planned in detail.
- Accommodations Blocks x 4, sleeping 180 people (at a maximum capacity of 200 people we are guessing approximately 20 people will want to camp). We are planning the Accommodation Blocks to have a variety of different sizes, from singles through to six person bunkrooms.
- A Central Courtyard - a key focal point for the complex, including a large pond (for both aesthetic and fire safety reasons!) and abundant plantings. A covered outdoor space in the centre of the courtyard is also a possibility.
- A Camping Area adjacent to the Accommodation Blocks, with shower and toilet facilities close at hand. The area we have chosen for camping is a particularly nice spot, and may even include a fire pit for those who fancy a bonfire every now and again :-)
- A Caretakers House - once we're up and running a Caretaker/Retreat Centre Manager will be needed.
Note that the carpark and driveway layout will likely be altered significantly to blend more into the landscape.
Many other ideas and considerations were discussed as part of the initial design process which produced these plans. A special thank you to Steve Campbell, Isabel Marques, Simon Sangmeister, Jill Corson and Stephan Meijer who all contributed their time and effort towards this process.
This second image shows the Stage One plans for the Retreat Centre, which is essentially what we can afford to build now with the funds we have available! These Stage One plans would put all the essential infrastructure in place (roading, power, internet, wastewater system, etc) and provide accommodation for approximately 50 people. As funds allow the larger structures (Main Hall and Dining Hall) will be built, along with further accommodation blocks. Note that at Stage One it is envisaged that one of the accommodation blocks will be left mostly empty, initially functioning as the Main (practice) hall, and then being converted to an accommodation block later.
|
The Aotearoa Retreat Centre Project sits under the umbrella of Ren Xue Australasia, & has links throughout the global Ren Xue community. If you would like to be involved, please get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-)
|