The proposed RZNC (Rupa Zaver Naturopathy Center) site is located at Chaparda near Junagarh. A design brief outlining the thoughts behind the architectural plan and planning is provided below and is based on the aims and objectives synthesized after surveying existing successful professionally run models and through detailed discussions with the patrons for RZNC.
The proposed project aims to create a center for Naturopathy which offers treatments that blend together the virtues of serious curative naturopathy practices and procedures stressing fundamental need to relax and rejuvenate. It aims to offer a variety of packages for patrons to avail of sustained treatments as well as short stay and single day packages.
The role of ‘holistic’ healing incorporating aspects of ‘Ayurveda’ is also part of treatment at the center. It aims to cater to the needs of members as well as visitors from all over India and abroad and will focus on curative assistance for underprivileged local people.
This center aims to set higher benchmarks of treatment quality with well trained therapists, recognized physicians as well as visiting experts from all over the world, offering their time and expertise to this center on a regular basis.
The site is located at the confluence of a rivulet formed by the overflow of a check dam on the west and the Dharfad river to the north /north east which runs along the longer side of the site.
The program is divided into the following components
1: Main public arrival / reception/ administration/consultation zone
2: Treatment center and common facilities including dining and utilities block.
3: Residential units –
Type A: Independent cottage with two bedrooms, living/dining/pantry and an exclusive treatment room
Type B: Independent suite with one bedroom and a private court yard
Type C: Dormitory type shared residential facility for 6 persons per unit with common toilets/pantry/verandah and clothes drying court.
4: Yoga + meditation pavilion Is designed as the core focus area of the development set within a lotus pool and vast green open space easily accessible to all residents and visitors
5: Physicians housing 2 independent units with 2 bedrooms, living, kitchen, dining units.
6: Maintenance staff quarters include single room units with common toilets
7: Utilities room adjacent to maintenance staff quarters with generator room, underground water tank, electrical hub.
8: Ghats on river Dharfad Located north of the site along the river, the steps are designed as a congregation space for meditation, satsang, or relaxation. A small temporary pavilion is proposed to make it usable throughout the year.
Construction materials
• Use of building materials that are local having minimal embodied energy.
• Locally excavated basalt stone to be used in foundations and plinths and locally manufactured clay brick and minimum use of cement by adding processed bagged fly ash.
• Lime plaster and mortar to be used instead of cement for economy, thermal comfort and durability.
• Thermally insulated metal roofs for transition spaces that are light weight using recycled timber panels.
• Use of natural screens and heat barriers to reduce heat gain on the walls and roofs.
Landscape
• Use of low water consumptive vegetation, drought resistant shrubs and dedicated herbal garden for medicinal plants
• Organically grown produce to serve the needs of the RZNC on adjoining river edge site.
Fresh & waste water usage
• Roof top rain water harvesting to suffice drinking water needs of the facility
• Construction of a small traditional covered dug well to harness sub soil rain water in river and check dam.
• Diverting site water run off to river.
• Sewage treatment and reed bed planting.
• Dry and wet waste separation on site in individual areas. Wet waste to be composted on site for use in landscaping. Dry waste to be carted away for recycling.
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Passive cooling / insulation
• Passive cooling strategies to be used to ventilate internal spaces where possible to reduce thermal gain and create shaded zones.
• Roof top cooling using stored rain water from harvesting tanks, insulation and waterproofing using lime sand mortar and hollow terracotta insulating modules.
• Internal electrical lighting using low energy LED / CFL lamps and external lighting to be on solar back up as required using CFL lamps