Doshi, Pearl;
Aletta, Francesco;
(2025)
Developing Design Recommendations for Meditation Centres Through a Mixed-Method Study.
Buildings
, 15
(22)
, Article 4182. 10.3390/buildings15224182.
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Abstract
Meditation is a practice used to cultivate focused attention, emotional stability, and self-awareness. Evidence of its psychological, physiological, and social benefits warrants greater accessibility and further research. This study evaluates meditation centre design by identifying recurring design practices, highlighting the importance of indoor environmental qualities (IEQs), and developing design recommendations for future use. A mixed-method, exploratory sequential design using a scoping case study review, expert interviews, and user surveys provides a holistic understanding of design practices, rationale behind decision-making, and user feedback. Quantitative and qualitative patterns were found across case studies, thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts, and user surveys were statistically analysed. The research concludes that effective meditation centre design integrates spatial, contextual, and community-driven practices while prioritising key IEQs to minimise sensory distractions and promote introspection. A hierarchy of IEQ importance was identified—(1) acoustic environment, (2) indoor air quality and thermal environment, (3) biophilic elements, and (4) lighting environment—alongside the influence of materials and colour. These findings were consolidated into comprehensive design recommendations addressing contextual, spatial, sensory, experiential, inclusive, and sustainable strategies. This study provides foundational recommendations and highlights future research opportunities, including direct engagement with meditation centres, longitudinal investigations, and psychophysiological studies.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Developing Design Recommendations for Meditation Centres Through a Mixed-Method Study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3390/buildings15224182 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224182 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Health and wellbeing; sustainability; acoustic environment; indoor air quality; thermal environment; biophilia; lighting; materials and colour |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10217539 |
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