meditative 'gapahuk' structure created for the human birdhouse workshop in lithuania

during summer of 2016, three architects were invited to present and build their take of a meditation shelter for the occasion of ‘the human birdhouse workshop’ in lithuania. the organizers invited architects marco casagrande, vilen kunnapu and hans-petter bjørnådal. hans-petter bjørnådal of bjørnådal arkitektstudio built ‘gapahuk’, a norwegian archetypical design for meditation shelters.

the human birdhouse workshop
all images © lidija kaleiniokovaite / lina philbivciute 

bjørnådal arkitektstudio’s ‘gapahuk’ draws cues from a type of shelter which is used to provide protection from the rain and wind. they would produce warmth from a fireplace, and face the landscape to connect with nature. the structures were used for individual meditation or simply to take rest while hiking. in addition to the meditative structures, the workshop’s location – on the property of vytautas v. landsbergis, local project mediator and famous lithuanian children book author and director – 
is a mystical site in itself. set next to a swamp, there are myths and fairytales of hidden passages used by lithuanian witches in the past and by partisans during war.

hans-petter bjørnådal was one of three architects invited to present different meditation shelters during the human
birdhouse workshop in lithuania

as well as the the three shelters being constructed, other spaces were introduced. an area for the garden was cleaned of stumps, roots and shrubs, and new grass was seeded
, new pathways around and inside the meditation garden were added, an amphitheater, fire pits, lights and ornamental features for the surrounding landscape. in the end, the shelters gave an opportunity to receive a deeper spiritual experience while being among nature. the initiative explored a new genre in architecture – constructive shamanism – where architects, together with builders and spiritual practitioners would try to reveal human-nature connection in a sacred and respectful way and experience.

the idea of the workshop was to present a new genre in architecture – constructive shamanism

 swamps are frequently used in lithuanian fairytales, this fact added a sense of mystery to the whole project

the shelters are used for individual meditation or simply to take rest while hiking

pathways were shaped in the naturally round waves around and inside the meditation garden

architects, builders and spiritual practitioners worked together to reveal a human-nature connection

gapahuk, a norwegian archetypical design for meditation shelter

 two fireplaces were added in front of the shelters for individual meditations

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