Zen Center

1975 Catskill Mountains, NY
Zen Buddhist Meditation Center on Lake
Principal: Michael Wisniewski


This second year school project so embodies my vision of architecture that I could not resist including it.  It is elemental and pure, stands free of and grows out of the site. It is tightly composed and loose at the same time. And refers to tradition while creating its own time and place.

The severe wall is the threshold between profane and sacred worlds.  The thick wall contains roshi and guest apartments, mechanical and service.  A grid of tree columns serves as an ambulatory for walking meditation and the monk cells are perched in cells on top.  A series of parallel walls organize rooms (dining, meditation, kitchen, shrine) outdoor courtyards and then disappear into the landscape.