Billow, An Open Air Yoga Studio
2020, In Collaboration with Conor Byrne“In a second house, the two wings of the property were connected by an open atrium, so that even in winter it was necessary to walk outside in order to pass between the living and sleeping areas. While it did confirm a frequent Western complaint regarding the mysteriously glacial aspect of Japanese houses, this lack of insulation was evidently far from accidental, being tied instead to a desire, Zen in origin, to remind the occupants of their connection to, and dependence on, nature, and the unity of all living things... through the very temperature of the air, a thin carpeting of moss and the careful placement of three volcanic rocks.” Alain De Botton, The Architecture of Happiness, pg.234
Billow is a sculptural shelter, stemming from a desire to connect the mindful practice of yoga with the elemental, experiential nature of the Vale de Moses Valley. Billow is formally self-assured and yet inherently of place. The principal element of Billow is the staircase, connecting the road below with shelter itself, and the plateau above. The plan is divided asymmetrically by the staircase. On the one side a sacred space of yoga practice on a soft cork floor overlooking the valley, and on the other an open unprogrammed space that lends itself to gathering at the ‘table’. These spaces are backed by a pale pink, billowed wall that bends the light and is the circumference of open arms. The naturally formed courtyard at the back of the building provides protected access to the showers, restrooms, kitchenette and storage rooms. Finally, the staircase continues up to a natural pool that overlooks the planted roof and the valley beyond.
Billow facilitates a range of sensory experiences by performing as a sculptural shelter rather than a building. There is no electricity and no glass, allowing inhabitants to have an unmediated experience of nature as they practice; the splash of rain, a gentle breeze, or warm direct sunlight. This open nature will allow Billow to age gracefully, inviting in nature; exposure to the elements, slowly revealing the concrete’s aggregate.
