The Ashram

Gadisar Lake is a man-made water resource in a hot dry area of

Jaisalmer. Around this lake, situated are a couple of temples and ghats
which transform the area into a pleasant and holy ambience. The rest of
the area is barren land with trees scattered around on a gradual slope.
The cool breeze emanating from the lake, as well as the surrounding
trees, are the only means that protect the land from harsh wind and
scorching sun rays, especially during summer. This is where my client
yogi’s shelter site is located.

While designing the shelter upon this site, my main concern was to
overcome this harsh climate. For this, the orientation of various spaces
of the shelter was decided on the basis of providing adequate light, and
ventilation, tree shade and aesthetic view, all of which render maximum
utility of each space. Incorporating the above features and placing each
space corresponding to the contour result in level difference inside the
shelter. And then, these were connected using steps and plinth. The
shelter is placed and designed in such a way to protect the south-west
beam and hot wind while contemplating a horizontal and vertical
circulation between the spaces. Considering the concept of ‘shelter’,
some spaces were clubbed together to reduce the walking stretch and
this also allows the adjacent space to utilise the provisions assigned to
the other ones. The entrance and subsequent pathway of the shelter is
positioned from south-east to the north-west so as to connect with the
given approach considering the lake view and the sun path.
For understanding the dimensions of the furniture and building elements while accommodating
inside each space and to allow free movement in it. This was further taken with a deep study to
analyse the user activities and design accordingly.

After analysing the site considering the hot climate and other major affecting factors such as
Gadisar lake and trees, a case study of Roopsi House in Jaisalmer was made based on the
climate. Along with it the relation of scales with the design including the human figures were
also verified in different segments. Then the user’s priority in daily life in the shelter was studied
with pause points, tables, collages and sketches. Contemplating the site and user analysis the
spaces were placed on the site and connected to understand the proximity between them