MONASTIC DESIGN

Monastery Revisited

Welcome to my first Blog. I have been planning this for all of 2018, but here I am at the start of 2019 and determined to keep it going.

My name is Namrata Datt,I am a home stylist,creative head and curator for Maison15.

Few days back I met a person in a friends house, who spoke about living in a monastery on one of her fathers diplomatic postings.I was intrigued and completely fascinated.

The romantic in me had all sorts of visions! The art, the history, the architecture and stories surrounding it got my mind racing. 

Even though it sounds very romantic,it speaks of limitations,of heavy walls,smaller windows,arches and hallways with low lighting.    

So my first post is on monastery design inspiration. 

Here are some fabulous images of restored monasteries and some inspired by art of living in them. 

And yes if I had a choice of traveling to such places or creating a space with these design sensibilities,I would jump for it! As a matter of fact I did spend one night in a beautiful Monastery in Cuenca in Spain last October.

What does it mean? 

What does design of monastic living mean?

I am a work in progress....and this is how I see it.

There is so much history,but the walls are largely bare and unfinished.Raw in their beauty!

The colours are muted,sand,earthy and tone on tone. Merging with their environment.

There is restraint in furniture pieces.Less is more.

Nothing is overpowering.Spaces merge into each other seamlessly.

Large table for dining to enhance better conversations.

Inspired by nature,products are sourced locally for mind, body and soul of the structure.Sustainability and connecting to nature is of utmost priority.

Here are some of my favourite pictures to be inspired this week.

This beautiful room with exposed stonewall, wooden beams and inviting soft cottons, speak of simplicity.Over looking the mountains,in one of the oldest monasteries in Spain.

Though we imagine monastic design to be rustic, the essence is in simplicity and textures. The above picture is of a monastery that was transformed into Six Gallery-a plant filled creative hub that includes exhibition space, bistro and a florist in Milan. The brick work in dark grey make a fabulous backdrop to cane chairs.

The dramatic arches above juxtaposed with contemporary forms in this dining room bring history and contemporary design come together brilliantly. Designed by Agence Jouin Manku this former French monastery complex was restored into modern art hotel-restaurant.

Jaffa Apartment

The kitchen of a Jaffa apartment in the above is not in an actual monastery, but the sensibilities of this apartment are. Designed by Architect Pitsou Kedem

Contemporary fireplace, modern amenities make an interesting contrast to walls inspired by history. Architecture and design by Francesc Rife' Studio

And this last picture is about modern comforts in a historical space.For a luxury traveller, a good bath is the epitome of comfort.

Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did researching on it. Please do leave your comments.

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