The House of One People
The House of One People was born out of a rustic dairy
barn. Built at the turn of the century in the post and beam
tradition, the staid old barn provides the aesthetic and spiritual
base for the genesis of a contemporary architectural delight. It
contains a spectacular Main Hall, as well as the offices for the
Maezumi Institute and Zen Peacemakers staff. The center also includes three Conference Rooms, an
upper mezzanine, meeting rooms and sacred spaces.
The sacred main hall functions as
a gathering and welcoming hall, a performance area, or a communal
celebration space, this hall - some 2025 square feet, has a
45-foot ceiling at the peak. The east wall encloses a circular window
that broadcasts the light of the rising sun, and woodwork of the oldest
part of the barn, judged to be late 1700's, is of hand-hewn chestnut:
contiguous cross beams (8” x 8”) cut and shaped by hand, span the
fort-five foot expanse, speaking to the immensity of the trees they
were cut from.
Extending out from the rear of the building, the stone paved Courtyard
incorporates a geometric pattern. Built-in stone benches sculpt the
space, inviting users to meet, eat lunch, take a break and chat with
friends. Beautiful deciduous trees provide shade to the courtyard in
the summer, while allowing sunlight and warmth in winter.
The Ellen Burstyn Amphitheater

The principles of simplicity, beauty and longevity grace the landscape of a fitting, living tribute to a woman who has dedicated a lifetime to the joy-and, sometimes, the anguish-of creative expression. The Ellen Burstyn Amphitheater is located close to the heart of the campus. The Amphitheater will be made from terraces sculpted into the hillside and will be the main stage for cultural and artistic performances.
With an audience of 350 people, it is the ideal space for cultural and
artistic performances. Actors understand only too well the need for a
welcoming, versatile space. The Burstyn Amphitheater will not only be a
meeting place of cultures, minds and spirits, but also an intersection
for peacemaking and the arts.
The Ancestral Hall
Arriving onto the campus, the first thing that strikes the visitor is
the visual gateway formed by two buildings, the campus library and the
Ancestral Hall. Both buildings emulate Chinese lanterns. The Ancestral
Hall is a sacred space to honor and connect with the founders of:
the Maezumi Institute
the Zen Peacemakers
the House of One People
and with people whose ideas and compassionate
actions have influenced and inspired the vision of Peacemakers throughout time and space.
The Library
The Library, also designed in the image of a Chinese lantern, mirrors
the Ancestral Hall across the way. The library collection will include
writings by contemporary authors and teachers as well as works
distilling the knowledge and wisdom of the major religions and
cosmologies. The library offers myriad opportunities for the personal
enrichment and spiritual guidance of visitors, students, staff,
teachers and friends of the Maezumi Institute.
The Wellness Center
The Wellness Center offers space and inspiration for the healing of body, mind and spirit. The centers integrated components are constructed with beautiful natural materials. Housed in and around these buildings are the yoga center and contemplation space, a cedar sauna and open-air hot tub, showers, massage rooms and other spaces for body and energy work, movement and physical care.
The Yurt Village
Yurts have been used as nomadic shelters in Central Asia for centuries. The Pacific yurt used in our Yurt Village is a modern adaptation. Circular in design, it combines a beautiful wood frame and durable fabric. The interior of each yurt is bathed in natural light admitted through the central dome skylight.
Fifteen yurts provide four-season accommodations for visitors, students and guests. Built with breathable skins, they are fourteen feet in diameter, tucked amid deciduous forest to balance shade, warmth and comfort. Set on the crest of a ridge, the yurts offer remarkable views of gurgling Spaulding Brook in the ravine below from their observation decks.
The Children’s Area
Every well-balanced life needs a place to play after the work is
done. Our campus has a special space for children of all ages. Whether
you enjoy team sports, hanging around on the jungle gym, or just seeing
if those new sneakers really do make you run faster and jump higher,
The Children's Area gives everyone the room and the materials to play
as they choose. The playground is made from natural materials by local
craftsmen. The area includes space for live animals, sports of all
kinds, a jungle gym, climbing trees, and a meeting place for
kid-friendly workshops in creativity and fun.
The Peacemaker Farmhouse
Once a national hotbed of political thought and radical ideas, the
original Peacemaker Farmhouse Ñ the former home of folks like Marshall
Bloom, Sam Lovejoy and Harvey Wasserman Ñ continues to host
visionaries from all walks of life and all corners of the globe.
Wholly renovated and refurbished, the Farmhouse will be home to
interns, visitors and staff members, ensuring a rich exchange of ideas
and cultures for years to come.
The Greenhouse
An annex to the original Farmhouse, the hotbed situated in the Greenhouse is the earth itself: an internal soil bed stocked with rich organic loam. Complementing the Peacemaker philosophy of permaculture, the herbs, flowers and vegetables grown in the central bed support the self-sufficiency of the campus kitchens. Seedlings and transplants for external gardens are grown in the planting areas around the perimeter of the internal space.
The Teacher-in-Residence Cottage
Our teachers-in-residence program would not be complete without a charming
stand-alone cottage for our guests to enjoy their extended stay. The
cottage is a cozy, secluded efficiency apartment nestled among the trees
and gardens. The deck is a perfect place to observe the natural beauty
of the surrounding campus.
The Main Plaza

The Main Plaza is the gateway to the campus.
Pathways through gardens guide and welcome visitors immediately upon
their arrival. The center of the plaza is landscaped with flowers,
trees and stonework, and showcasing a unique sculpture made
specifically for us by an accomplished artist. Beyond the sculpture,
the main plaza opens up to reveal three uniquely designed meeting
circles where participants can gather in the shade of native trees.
The Plaza Meeting Circles
Three Plaza Meeting Circles grace the outdoor areas surrounding
the House of One People. These circles can be used for programs and meetings.
From the Main Plaza, two or three steps descend to a spacious main
circle, cast in red brick, where participants can meet in large or
small groups. This sunken central meeting circle is landscaped with
flowers and shrubs, dappled with the intermittent shade of nearby
maples.
Two satellite circles grace the main plaza space. One is tucked into a
wooded area at the north end of the barn. Another meeting circle is
sculpted into the hillside just below the main hall.
The Permaculture
The entire campus strives toward local sustainability through
collaborative agricultural programs and internships. There are fourteen
varieties of fruits, eleven kinds of berries, an organic vegetable
garden, and gourmet and medicinal herbs. Based on the principles of
Permaculture, the gardens and orchards are the centerpieces for the
Maezumi Institute's Sustainable Landscape initiatives.
Ellen's Pond
A draw for great blue herons and miscellaneous odd ducks, Ellen's pond
is a natural haven for introspection, contemplation, and communion with
nature. The shore offers a unique meeting space for groups.
The Upper Field Lotus Pond
The Lotus Pond anchors the northern reach of the campus, drawing visitors to its quiet shore to pause, reflect, and renew in the solitude of lapping water. The banks are planted with native flowering trees, shrubs and aquatic vegetation that draw wildlife and waterfowl as well as the occasional human pilgrim.
The Moss Garden
Adjacent to the Main Hall Courtyard and located below the library, the Moss Garden is an enchanted and secluded natural space complete with mountain laurels, mosses and whispering ferns. This garden is accessed through narrow and opposing passageways. Once inside, stepping stones lead down a path alongside a trickle of water coming from the pond upstream. Native mosses and ferns carpet the earth. This space is the most secluded garden on campus, conducive to the contemplative silence that allows us to be with ourselves.
The Children’s Area
Every well-balanced life needs a place to play after the work is
done. Our campus has a special space for children of all ages. Whether
you enjoy team sports, hanging around on the jungle gym, or just seeing
if those new sneakers really do make you run faster and jump higher,
The Children's Area gives everyone the room and the materials to play
as they choose. The playground is made from natural materials by local
craftsmen. The area includes space for live animals, sports of all
kinds, a jungle gym, climbing trees, and a meeting place for
kid-friendly workshops in creativity and fun.