BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Spiritual Design Process - Weekend Residential Workshop, 18-19 October 2008, NSW Southern Highlands

This weekend workshop at Gudhara Holistic Sanctuary will embrace design as a spiritual process. It will tap the essence of mystic cultures and meditation to unfold a deeper awareness of the design environment. From a foundation of self awareness you will learn how to harness the spirit of form and space when undertaking design. This will be learnt and applied practically through design exercises and group discussion. You will be introduced to Ayurvedic and Kabbalah traditions of manifestation used in ancient times to create works of art and architectural masterpieces. These will both empower and expand your own personal design process as well as increasing your integrity as a designer.

The concept of designer as medium will be explored both in terms of relationship to the client as well as the natural environment. This will provide the ability to objectively formulate the brief at the front end of the design while maintaining a sensitivity to client aspirations, cultural perspectives and other important aspects of the project which may not be immediately evident. Yoga (meaning union) will be used as a design tool to enhance the perception and feeling of the built environment. This technique will be developed and experienced through instruction and practical exercise during the course of the workshop.