Taktse Retreat

Project Location: Gangtok District, Sikkim

Project Architect: Ar. Lhendup W. Bhutia

Status: Completed

Sacred Spaces / Interior + Exterior / Taktse Retreat

Whether in a prayer hall, at the centre of human activities or in the midst of nature, architecture can help create a world within the world. To achieve something like this, we designed a retreat for a higher purpose. A privilege to design a home meant for silence, contemplation and more, Takste Retreat was commissioned to us by Gonzang Rinpoche for his holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche, high seer of Nyingmapa Buddhism in Sikkim.

Dodrupchen Rinpoche’s home at the busy area of Deorali, Gangtok has always been a forum of sorts for pilgrims seeking his blessings and philosophies. To separate his interactive sessions from his moment of introspection and silence, we designed a retreat for his holiness at the quiet outskirts, Panthang. A double storeyed structure, noiseless and away from the haste of the city life, the space has been divided into three bedrooms –two bedrooms for his caretakers and one spacious master bedroom overlooking the Kanchenjunga peaks for his holiness. The wooden panelling in the master bedroom makes it a warm looking space, and the electrical floor heating system keeps the room warm in a cold area like Panthang.

The structure is one with less footprint, where the longer end faces the mountains. This unusual characteristic makes it perfect for ample sunlight that dances its way at the back of the building, keeping the place dry and comfortable. Big wide windows have been designed to let in a view of the panoramic mountain.

The layout at the ground floor has been organised to fit in a living room, kitchen, dining and a caretaker’s bedroom along with a common toilet. The kitchen below is of open type that flows into the living room and the dining room. Traditionally designed yet equipped for modern and comfortable living, makes the space a perfect place for a sacred escape.