Auditorium at Jain monastery
Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram,
designed by Serie Architects
Architecture studio Serie Architects designed Raj Sabhagruh, a complex dedicated to followers of Jainism, which is the centerpiece of Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Monastery, spread over 100 acres in Dharampur, Gujarat. The design uses hand-cut marble bricks that showcase the natural texture of the stone, diffusing light and creating changing effects depending on the angle of the sun. The 16,000-square-meter building serves as a space for discourse, study, relaxation and meditation. Its form and details draw on the traditions of India's Jain temples, integrating historical motifs with a modern approach to architecture.
The auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat - a bird's-eye view of the hilltop
Photo by Rory Gardiner © Serie Architects
tradition of Jain architecture
in a modern twist
The Raj Sabhgruh project was selected in 2012 in an international competition. Its concept is inspired by a mythical temple whose structure consists of gradually rising platforms where people, animals and demigods gather around the Tirthankara - the enlightened being occupying the highest point of the space. In the context of Jainism, the structure symbolizes the process of gaining knowledge through discourse and study, which gradually leads followers to enlightenment. This idea is present in all Jain temples, where repeated architectural elements form monumental shikars - slender, pyramidal forms that crown the holiest part of the temple, visually aiming towards the sky.
The auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat.
Photo by Rory Gardiner © Serie Architects
Handiwork and changing light effects
Raj Sabhagruh was designed as a space for followers of Jainism. The building's exterior load-bearing walls were clad with hand-carved 50mm-thick white makrana marble bricks. The bricks, sourced from discarded marble slabs, are small in size to fit the curved form of the walls and bring texture to the facade. The use of marble from waste supports the sustainable nature of Serie Architects' design, as well as reducing construction costs. More than 800,000 bricks were hand-laid over two years on the building's 36 block surfaces. The rough cuts of the marble reveal its crystalline structure, which diffuses light to create changing effects depending on the position of the sun. Small circular holes, resembling perforations, allow natural light to flow into the interior.
The auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat - a room designed for meditation
Photo by Rory Gardiner © Serie Architects
Our goal was to create a contemporary, memorable and timeless architecture that could stand for a young, developing monastery
- Christopher Lee and Kapil Gupta explain,
principal architects of Serie Architects
The auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat - a cross-section of the building
© Serie Architects
spatial layout and key structural elements
The design by Serie Architects is based on a central plan consisting of several rooms. On the first floor is an auditorium for discussion, on the second level is a museum for experiential education, and on the third level are lecture halls conducive to intensified learning. The top level is occupied by a meditation room dedicated to contemplation. The centerpiece of the establishment on the ground level is the auditorium, which can accommodate 5,000 people. It is a circular hall with a cylindrical body with a diameter of 54 meters, whose structure is based on four intersecting concrete arches, which allows for a column-free space.
Auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat - first floor plan
© Serie Architects
meditative, educational and spiritual spaces
The building also includes a 20-meter meditation hall that can accommodate 300 people. The facility also includes a museum dedicated to the life of Shrimad Rajchandra, an important figure in Jainism, and a library containing rare Jain texts and manuscripts. In addition, the building offers teaching spaces for classes related to spiritual science.
The auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat - the auditorium
Photo by Rory Gardiner © Serie Architects
public space around the building
In front of the building is a public square, the layout of which is based on concentric rings made of white marble. The composition of the space introduces a clear organization of the area, leading users through differentiated zones.
The auditorium at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Jain Monastery in Dharampur, Gujarat - the building's exterior load-bearing walls have been clad in hand-carved 50mm thick white marble makrana bricks
Photo by Rory Gardiner © Serie Architects
The adaptability of the facility to a changing mission
The architecture of the building was designed to integrate various functions while allowing it to adapt to the changing spiritual mission it serves. The building serves as a space that supports the development of the monastery's life, providing a place for both knowledge acquisition and spiritual experience.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Serie Architects.