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Maezumi Institute: Overview: Facilities

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.


177 Ripley Road | Montague, MA 01351 | Phone: (413) 367-2080 | 2007 Zen Peacemakers