AUSTIN PROTO-URBAN MONASTERY

AUSTIN, TEXAS

The Proto-urban monastery was created to be an urban center of prayer in the busy city of Austin, Texas. The sunken water garden, located below the entry, was designed to provide a space of solitude and reflection away from the street. Monumental sacred spaces were designed throughout with carved interior apertures for light.

One major element of this design was the balance between the areas for worship, private monk residences, and community outreach. By providing the monks with a program and space to create their unique salsa recipes, they are able to create, grow, sell and connect back to the community of Austin, Texas through the first floor distribution center and the rooftop salsa greenhouse gardens.