The Caldera: Consciousness and Cosmos

Project Duration: Spring 2019 - Spring 2020

Project Description: A few months ago, the fires cleared away Mayacamas Ranch, returning a globally celebrated retreat center back to simply an idea for one. Amidst the devastation came a phoenix rising, giving us a unique opportunity to reimagine what is possible. Together, we have undertaken the privilege of discovering the path of rebirth. Beginning with listening and healing the land, we are mapping the energy of the land through time and space. We are using the ornament design process to simultaneously discover, map, and curate the strategy, positioning, and visioning for the future of the caldera as a whole. Ornatista is a design lead in the co-creation of the master plan.

The Seed Germ

Upon arrival at the site, David Levy, the steward of the land, suggested we start our first meeting with a meditation. In the meditation, a 12-pointed white star emerged as the geometry of both the specific point we were sitting in and part of the overall strategy map of the land herself.

The Landscape

The fire has cleared the path for lush green vibrant energy. The design process begins with listening and observing where she is in her healing.

The Geometry of Efflorescence

As I walk the land and bring my experience back to the sketchbook, the landscape begins to merge with the seed germ and effloresce across the page.

The Six Gates

After a few long day hikes of exploring the site, David asked how I would design a trail system. I immediately felt that I wanted to pass through a series of thematically ornamented gates that served as thresholds or milestones on my journey. I also felt that the outer journey and the inner work are mirrors of each other and as the landscape revealed herself to you, you became part of the revelation. The drawing above is a gestural expression of the path you take through the caldera. You enter through the red gate of earth, and continue to travel through to the orange gate of water, the yellow gate of fire, the green gate of wind, the blue gate of space, and finally you reach the highest point of the land the purple gate of consciousness at the hilltop.

The programming and building typologies match the different elemental experiences. The world class hospitality experience, spa, and play areas occupy the earth and water regions, beautiful mind/body retreat and training facilities occupy the fire and wind regions, deep retreat cabins for couple and solo experiences nestle into the regions of space, and finally the corporate and group retreats crown the experience at the hilltop. The whole caldera is an open air temple to the sacred process of transformation.