this misty 'botanica meditation center' by HAS brings serenity to the city

encouraging a ‘slow life’ in an urban context

HAS design and research completes this ethereal Botanica Meditation Center along the outskirts of the historic city of Hefei, a city in China which has recently seen rapid development and population growth. As the architects note, ‘This kind of development phenomenon not only occurs in Hefei but also in every Chinese metropolitan city, reflecting the need for Chinese people to adapt to and cooperate with the pace of work and life under the rapid development that has occurred in a short period of time.’

The atmosphere of the Botanica Meditation Center is informed by the clients incomparable love for plantlife. Keeping with the spirit of the client’s wishes, the botanical garden is open to the public and can provide community residents with meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, and other spiritual training courses to spread the aesthetic concept of a ‘slow life.’

images by Yu Bai

the ephemeral atmosphere created by a watering system

During the project’s early stages, the architects conducted in-depth research into the requirements of a traditional botanical garden, and discovered that they call for massive water tanks. The team explains: ‘Although they can be used as watering systems for botanical gardens, they are spatially separated into two systems: plants and equipment.’

Learning from the conventional systems, the team at HAS proposed a reversal. While a traditional equipment water tank is typically hidden beneath the ground, the Botanical Meditation Center celebrates the structure, expressing it in travertine as a multi-functional meditation space.

Next, an ‘extended’ underground system brings water to every corner of the botanical garden in the form of an ephemeral mist. This misty, extended watering system enhances the unique and poetic space with a dream-like atmosphere, reflecting the ritual sense of meditation, yoga, and Tai Chi.

the ecosystem of the has-designed botanica meditation center

The HAS-designed Botanica Meditation Center presents a ‘quiet and rich sense of the landscape hierarchy.’ Early in the mornings, the garden introduces a natural resting space for visitors and animals alike, including local insects, birds, and squirrels. In the afternoon, the mist will automatically activate to both water the plants and generate the cool, dream-like oasis from the bustling city.

The designers comment: ‘All these elements are added to simulate the scene of the morning mist surrounding the Emerald Lake around the site, and to provide a spiritually open place for meditation.

replicating naturally eroded travertine

The facade material of the small, meditative structure along with the landscape stone are all sourced from the local Hefei travertine. Hundreds of stones had been hand-beaten by local craftsmen to create their distinct irregular edges, suggesting that they had been naturally eroded by their misty context over time.

The team at HAS continues: ‘The Botanica Meditation Center, which can provide a large amount of water mist irrigation system, not only brings a cool micro-ecosystem to the environment, but its hidden form allows residents to have a dramatic and extraordinary experience in the morning, afternoon, and night.’

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the design extended the mist effect from Emerald Lake near the site | © HAS design and research

general layout plan | © HAS design and research

west elevation | © HAS design and research

isometric diagram with twelve stone units | © HAS design and research

concept diagram | © HAS design and research

project info:

project title: Botanica Meditation Center
architecture: HAS design and research 
location: Hefei, China
design team: Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Tapanee Laddahom, Muze Ouyang, Marina Rina Miller landscape consultant: Weili Yang 
lighting design: Jenna Tsailin Liu 
construction: Hefei Botuo Decoration Engineering Co.
client: Simple Casa
completion: 2022
photography: Yu Bai