The brief was open-ended for interpretation based on our personal experiences. However, it was clear that Pawan wanted to create a place that was not like a resort, but had ample opportunities for a contemporary and comfortable life style. The place was to be a centre that would help to bring in teachings from Indian philosophy and ancient texts into today's living patterns and needs.

2) What design philosophy did you employ when designing Shreyas?

Taking cues from the site as well as Pawan's idea of the place, I felt it was appropriate to create a place that would move away from the typical landscape of lawns, water features and ornamental plants. Shreyas has been designed as a contemporary landscape to calm and still the mind. It is a landscape where resources and energy are used optimally. Simplicity, minimal intervention and the Zen like contemplative spirit are rooted deeply at every stage of designing Shreyas. Landscape has been designed so that it has the power and ability to assist people in drawing inwards to still the mind. So the selection of materials, colours, fragrance, textures, redirecting the breeze, playing with water, juxtaposition of plants etc has been done to reconnect easily with nature. The elements of nature are same within and outside.

A lot of attention has been paid to heal the earth and revive the natural systems of the place. This has been done by recreating the old water channel that once moved through the site. This tool is used to reconstruct the entire landscape. Through conservation of soil, moisture, bringing back traditionally useful plants into mainstream landscape, making edible landscape a part of design, reviving herbs and medicinal plants for cooking or simple cure or combining plants in such a way that they help to nourish the soil. Also, the place promotes non-use of pesticide for propagation and maintenance of landscape. Special attempt has been made to bring back wildlife through selection of plants and aquatic landscape.

3) Tell us about the yoga/ meditation hall - materials used, design, angular roof and open airy ambience.

The open air ambience was created so as to be in touch with the natural elements - water, the sound of birds, the movement of breeze, the setting sun, the changing colour of sky etc.

4) Significant points about the tent houses?

The tents are low scale and unobtrusive; each has a contemplative garden at the rear, simple and private gardens around it - each with a subtle theme of colour, fragrance, and appeal.

5) Shreyas seems like a nice amalgamation of stone and wood, the new and old. Is this a deliberate confluence of contemporary and ancient?

Yes, much like the spirit of the client and the place, that is supposed to bring the innate wisdom from our traditional texts and culture into a contemporary life style.

6) There are very overt East meets West nuances all over the property - idols from Bali, statues and pictures of the Buddha, statues of Indian Gods all set against a backdrop of what looks like a upstate New York apartment. Comment.

Often, it has been misunderstood that seeking stillness and tranquillity of mind can only happen in austere conditions through deprivation. Shreyas is an attempt to exemplify that abundance in life and not indulgence, when redirected meaningfully can also serve to transform our inner self and create an intrinsically beautiful place for the – body, mind and soul.