This entry is to inform you all of some strange news regarding our Academic Center project for the Manjushree Orphanage in Tawang, India. A Manhattan woman, Kazuko Hillyer, has been soliciting and accepting donations from unwitting individuals for our project without my knowledge or approval, using our informational materials and website, and is now forcibly taking control of the project. This is fraudulent, and a terrible shame.

In February of 2009, Hillyer pledged $45,000 towards Architecture for Tibet's planned Center, boasted to me about being connected to wealthy and prominent people, and claimed to be able to swiftly raise all the funds required for our project, and more. This was convincing but, sadly, it turned out to be fake. Her large pledge was the reason I took her to Tawang in March 2009 to see the orphanage, observe the construction site and meet the children. But she became frustrated about being seen as merely assisting AFT and instead hatched the idea of stealing the credit and the lead role. She began shamelessly accepting checks for AFT's project without my knowledge or consent. 

On October 23, 2010, Hillyer and I broke any "verbal agreement" she claims we had (we never have agreed to any partnership, though we did discuss a possible working relationship at this meeting, but only if we had a Letter of Agreement). Upon visiting Manjushree a second time - without me - later in October, Hillyer, instead of creating a credible partnership with AFT, insinuated herself with the head of the orphanage, Lama Thupten. She managed to persuade him to name her the sole fundrasier for the project, under the pretense that her funding sources would best enable it to happen. This was spurious information. Furthermore, Manjushree had plenty of other needs, and many other areas where Hillyer could have assisted, but she seized upon what AFT had already started. Lama asked Hillyer to consider a separate project at Manjushree, but she declined. She has also steadfastly refused to answer my pertinent questions on this matter.

After concerned supporters began contacting me about Hillyer's activities, I met with Dr. Robert Thurman and Nena Thurman, as Hillyer is on the board of Tibet House, but we could not resolve the impasse. I tried to engage Hillyer to see if she would agree to join what I named the “Save the Day” committee—with the aim of forgiving this business of accepting checks, and to move forward as a unified group—but she refused. A complaint was then filed with the authorities about Hillyer’s scheme to take over AFT and the case is still "open", with no further information as "disclosure would interfere with its law enforcement investigation."

Hillyer's duplicity is evident in a recent post by Jim Luce in the Huffington Post (huff.to/dI7Dxo). "The Dalai Lama asked a doctor in NYC to build a school for Tibetan orphans in India," Luce says, later referring to Hillyer as a physician. The Dalai Lama did not request that the academic building be built, nor is Hillyer a physician. Also in the interview, Hillyer claims to have been the originator of the plan to construct a school building for Manjushree, when in fact she absconded with the idea from AFT and is now presenting it as her own.

Lama Thupten will now manage the project. AFT's work must not be used, as we cannot take responsibility for the execution of the construction; nevertheless, we still have hope that these children will enjoy a safe new structure - a new school building, with a changed design - in the near future. AFT's project donors have been personally informed of this unfortunate circumstance.

I have eternal gratitude for all who have supported our project. I now look forward to returning to architectural practice, which will surely absorb most of my time, and so the next AFT project may take a few years to launch. But I look forward to initiating another worthy architectural mission in Tawang then, with lessons learned. .

Thank you for your kind attention. Feel free to contact me anytime at johnullman@architecturefortibet.org.

John Ullman

On Thursday evening at the residence of Krishen and Geeta Mehta, on Manhattan's Upper East Side, AFT co-hosted a great dinner reception and benefit.

Dr. Beezy Bentzen spoke in-depth and lucidly on the visionary "Sustainable Gardens of the Himalaya" project for the benefit of the young people of Jhamtse Gatsal Children's Community, a small orphanage and school in remote northeastern India, in the southern Himalaya. If Gatsal's cropland can be protected, allowing the full yield, it will become self-sustaining in terms of fruits and vegetables, and the children will not require regular doses of expensive vitamins to keep healthy.

In addition, the project will act as a positive agricultural demonstration for the approximately 150 villages of the Lumla District. Jhamtse Gatsal will not only become self-sustaining in its own food supply, but will demonstrate the agricultural practices that can make the entire region self-sufficient in food, including the use of organic fertilizers, terracing, inter-cropping, greenhouse gardening, and harvesting of rainwater.

For information about visiting Tawang and supporting our efforts, please contact John Ullman at 347.302.3112 or johnullman@architecturefortibet.org. We can certainly set up a meeting for an in-depth conversation, or we can set up a conference call with the Lama at Jhamtse Gatsal via Skype. Your participation—sharing your insights, becoming a part of the family and even visiting Tawang—may lead to great positive change, and will bring new, unexpected happiness to your life.

We are extremely grateful to Krishen and Geeta for graciously opening their home for this event. I met Krishen and Geeta through a young Tibet student of Geeta's, Tenzin Nyandak, and I would like to thank him for connecting us. He's a very resourceful young man who takes advantage of the opportunities out there—the program he was involved with in Tokyo with Geeta, for example. So he's moving and improving—becoming more and more educated—and therefore by extension really doing something for the future of Tibetans. Thank you Tenzin, for all your support.

ARCHITECTURE FOR TIBET PRESENTS
THE POWER OF COMPASSION: 

FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE HIGH HIMALAYAS

Co-hosted by Asia Initiatives (asiainitiatives.org)

Come join our Circle of Friends at Krishen and Geeta Mehta's beautiful Upper East Side apartment to enjoy tasty Tibetan and Indian food--and to help raise funds for a sustainable gardens project for the Jhamtse Gatsal Children's Community in Lumla, India, just across the border from Bhutan and Tibet.

WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 6:30pm to 8pm

WHERE: The home of Krishen and Geeta Mehta in the Savoy Building, 200 East 61st Street (between Second and Third Avenues), apartment 25AB

WHAT: A fundraiser and discussion, with a Tibetan and Indian buffet-style dinner and presentation of a new, heartfelt agricultural project we are supporting. The goal is to make Jhamtse Gatsal self-sustaining in fruits and vegetables, which will work wonders for the health of its children.

TICKETS ONLINE: brownpapertickets.com/event/140291

For additional information please contact John Ullman at 347.302.3112 or johnullman@architecturefortibet.org

MORE INFORMATION

THE SUSTAINABLE GARDENS OF JHAMTSE GATSAL

Jhamtse Gatsal Children's Community, a small orphanage and school in remote northeastern India, in the southern Himalaya, needs $6,000 to enclose its tillable land. If this cropland can be protected, allowing the full yield, Jhamtse Gatsal will become self-sustaining in terms of fruits and vegetables, and the children will not require regular doses of expensive vitamins to keep healthy.

In addition, the project will act as a positive agricultural demonstration for the approximately 150 villages of the Lumla District. Jhamtse Gatsal will not only become self-sustaining in its own food supply, but will demonstrate the agricultural practices that can make the entire region self-sufficient in food, including the use of organic fertilizers, terracing, inter-cropping, greenhouse gardening, and harvesting of rain water.

VIDEO: A Journey of Hope

Greeting everyone,

My name is Sangey Norbu. I am 13 years old. I live at the Manjushree School. I would like to share the story about my village with you all.

The name of my village is Gongkhar. It has more than 21 houses. There are many plum trees at Gongkhar. It takes 3 hours to reach my village from the road side at Kipti Village, where we can take the taxi vehicles to Tawang town.

The people of my village sometimes work in construction of roads and bridges. They buy vegetable seeds – cabbage, cauliflower, chilly and cucumber -- from other villages and grow them on their land, nearby. They buy rice from Khardung Village, where some of the land is flat.

Gongkhar is a beautiful place between the 2 rivers. There is the hot springs near to Gongkor. Our villagers used to go there to take baths; if you take a bath there, your skin will become very clear and bright, and you will lose all pains in your body.

My mother brought me to Tawang to stay at Manjushree after my father died when I was 11 from some illness due to smoking. Here I love my brothers and sisters. My mother comes to visit once a month. She works hard as a helper at a school near Gongkhar for my younger brother and sister to have some things.

Manjushree is developing due to many new sponsors and John Bro.

PHOTOS

At Tezpur, 13 hours away from Tawang -- which reminds me of an old western town from a John Ford movie -- Mr. Shameim Ji, a newly befriended structural engineer, and I met with Ankit, an ambitious and dutiful 24-year-old businessman who works for his father’s company, Purbanchal Steel. He will be supplying materials for our Academic Center, and we'll be getting steel and cement, wood, nails, screws, tools, etc., all at a deep discount. Purbanchal's contribution to our efforts is very much appreciated!

Against all odds AFT has survived, despite not having any overhead to date.

The earth work and the creation of our new “semi-temporary” school building, suitable for classes to carry on during the 3 to 4 years of scheduled construction, will be accomplished this construction season.

Please see these PHOTOS for a glimpse of the 3 day “family” effort to cut and level earth and move heavy materials.

I hope you will visit the Orphanage and experience Tawang first hand. I know its a longshot for many of you any time soon, but I will be back in New York City in early September and hope you will be available to exchange ideas about supporting these children in some way over tea and cookies. Big hearted individuals who have joined me at Tawang in the past have brought their expertise and compassion with them, benefitting these children and this remote Himalayan community. And so you are all welcome to join me.

My contact is johnullman@architecturefortibet.org

Have a look at this recent DNA India Article, which ran in the print version, Sunday edition, by Uttara Choudhury

Below is an excerpt:

Ullman has been like a dog with a bone in sticking to the Tawang project. Despite the north-east being wracked by insurgency he travels to Tawang often. The drive to Tawang is breathtaking but backbreaking over the rugged terrain and the dirt tracks which pass for roads.

“The 13-hour drive from Guwahati to Tawang can be tough if you miss the helicopter to Tawang. I have done it — taken a bus to Tezpur and then hitched a ride with a group of lamas in a Tata Sumo to Tawang,” says Ullman.

Architect Daniel Libeskind who is batting for the project says;
“Tawang is a part of the world which has been in the news a lot with conflicts and clashes in the region. What gets lost is a small girl carrying a backpack that probably weighs more than she does, going to a school which has virtually no amenities. Education is her only door to escaping poverty. That is why architecture — and building a school — is so important.”

DNA INDIA - READ ARTICLE

I was delighted to host so many exceptional individuals at AFT's great benefit on May 25th! I extend to each and every one of you a Tashi Delek thank you from the entire Manjushree Family for being present at Light of Compassion at the Rubin Museum of Art, which was our first major fundraising event. 

We raised a moderate but critical amount of donations and the net proceeds of our efforts to date totals $27,000. With this sum, combined with the First Church of Berlin, Massachusetts' $24,500 donation, we will be able to start construction. I had estimated $100,000 for construction of this ambitious project to break ground, and so we will struggle -- but will carry on for the sake of these children, who will need a suitable learning environment.

We are very much guided by faith, but Lama Thupten and I feel that it is not a blind faith, but an educated faith, as we will work to the best of our abilities to further the fundraising and to develop this Academic Center.

I am earnestly requesting that you kindly consider helping fund our heartfelt project. With relatively little funding -- only $320,000 in construction costs over the course of 4 years -- we can make a big difference for these precious children, who are Tawang’s future.

At our recent event, I was so fortunate to have the support of the Shelly and Donald Rubin Foundation, which generously donated the beautiful museum space for this special gathering of well-wishers and supporters.

I will take this opportunity to thank Belev Duggal, for the gift of printed materials. Duggal Visual Solution is truly the finest imaging company in New York City, so I was very happy to have received a favorable response to my request for a donation.

To Kate Allen, and her Allen Architectural Metals, I extend a big thank you for the support. Kate Allen has been a constant beacon of hope, as she has sponsored our efforts from our first humble fundraiser. Please see allenmetals.com for more on the exquisite wrought iron she and her company provides. Their portfolio includes the massive, cast iron windows of the Low Library at Columbia University, and many more impressive works around the city.

Soren and Gillian, thanks for being on my board and helping as far as possible, and congratulations on the birth of your beautiful twins, Rowan and Willow!

Ashish Verma of the Lowell Hotel, who has blessed this project with his generous assistance, kind support and his special encouraging enthusiasm: Thank you so much, from all of us here at Tawang.

Thanks to Children's Hope: a remarkable group of woman who have done so much hard work to serve needy children in various parts of India. And now my precious children of the High Himalayas of Northeast India will benefit because of their generosity too. Thanks you so much Lavina, Nami and Children's Hope!

Thank you IZZE for the delicious sparkling juice!

Dr. Thomas Schutte, president of Pratt Institute, my alma mater, made the opening remarks, which was such a great honor.

The evening’s program included musical performances by the Milarepa Children’s Chorus and by Yungchen Lhamo, “Goddess of voice.” (pictured above) Speakers included Tibet House’s eloquent Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura Hillyer; and renowned Buddhist scholar Dr. Robert Thurman, who regaled the audience with tales of the controversial sixth Dalai Lama, the “playboy” Dalai Lama, who hailed from Tawang.

Longsang Nyandak, a representative of the current Dalai Lama, also took the microphone to send a message of support from His Holiness himself.

I feel privileged to have received this magnificent opportunity to benefit others and make use of my knowledge of construction and architecture, which I have studied and practiced for many years.

I must be truly blessed, as someone of humble beginnings, to have garnered this show of support from such prominent individuals and talent.

We also had a successful Silent Auction thanks to:

Aman Resorts;

http://www.amanresorts.com/amannewdelhi/home.aspx

the Peninsula Hotel;

http://www.peninsula.com/Peninsula_Hotels/en/default.aspx

the Lowell Hotel;

http://www.lowellhotel.com/

Raffles Resorts;

http://www.raffles.com/en_ra/Mainnavigation/home

Heather Berman, a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette, who offered ball room dance lessons;

http://www.heatherberman.com/hbproductions/

Mathieu Ricard, who donated one of his breathtaking photographs;

http://www.matthieuricard.org/en/index.php

Peggy Brown, who kindly donated “White Pegasus,” a photographic print by Hamid Sardar-Afkhami;

http://www.hamidsardar.com/

Satya Jewelry;

http://www.satyajewelry.com/catalog/index.php

Precious Metal Cid;

http://preciousmetalcid.com/

The Post House;

http://theposthouse.com/

Vikas Khanna, who donated signed cookbooks, which were very hot items;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikas_Khanna

Noelle Newell;

http://www.fairfieldcountylook.com/design_Newell.php

Steuben Glass;

http://steuben.com/

Golden Bridge Yoga;

http://www.goldenbridgeyoga.com/

Pure Yoga;

http://www.pureyoga.com/en/newyork/

Jivamukti Yoga School;

http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/

Jill Satterfield Meditation and Yoga.

http://www.vajrayoga.com/vajrayogastudio.htm

tsampa restaurant

http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/tsampa/

Thanks to the bidders who helped raise funds as a result of your participation.

Thank you so much:

TIBET HOUSE US:

http://www.tibethouse.us/

TIBET HOUSE JAPAN:

http://www.tibethouse.jp/

OFFICE OF TIBET:

http://www.tibetoffice.org/en/

We are garnering more and more support for this worthy project here in New York, expanding our Circle of Friends. Please contact us at info@architecturefortibet.org to learn about ways to be involved.

Tashi Delek ! Thank you all !

IN THE NEWS:

LASSI WITH LAVINA

http://bit.ly/bXkqCB

http://www.southasiamail.com/news.php?id=70106

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Beyond the ordinary construction requirements of the planned Academic Center at Manjushree Orphanage and Free School, there are two technical aspects I would like to highlight: Earthquake Resistant Design and the use of a Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pump System for Radiant Heating. (Please see ENTRY 14 for more on AFT’s approach to Earthquake Resistant Design.)

My first visit to the Orphanage was in March 2007. At that time the winding mountain road that takes you directly from Tezpur, a small city in the Indian state of Assam, to Tawang, home to the Orphanage, was shut down at Sele Pass, where the road crosses the southernmost Himalayan range at 14,000 feet. The drive, which typically took two days, took three; blizzard-like conditions kept Gopal, one of the teachers at the Orphanage, the Tata Sumo driver, a former monk, and me held up at a hotel in Dirang, a quite Tibetan town perched at 6,000 feet in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It was here that I first experienced the damp, clammy and cold characteristics of this high Himalayan region. We used 3 heavy blankets that night; the cold room was the same as the temperature outside, minus the winds. The need for heated rooms dawned on me this way !

Except for a single home that I learned of that is heated by underground hot springs, there is presently no knowledge or means of warming building spaces at Tawang. But AFT's new academic center is designed with a geothermal heating system for radiant flooring. This “green” technology will be the first of its kind in the region. AFT is working in collaboration with Solar India Solutions to implement this hi-tech yet practical building feature, which will add great value to the life for the local children. We are afforded a large area of flat land -- a soccer field. This will enable us to implement our ground source tubes smoothly and nicely. We will then fill in the many lineal feet of required trenches, and the land will then return back to a soccer field. We’re fortunate to have such a parcel adjacent to the planned Center, as Tawang Valley is mostly made up of steep sloping terrains.

The building will also feature passive solar sun-spaces, for a supplemental heat source, while also flooding the building with natural light. The unusually cloudy weather at Tawang unfortunately thwarts the use of solar panels (photo voltaic cells) for any significant power generation. During the summer, these spaces serve as open-air class rooms; during the rainy season, places to be able to enjoy fresh air, and the great vistas of the southernmost Himalayan range, which rises right there at the opposite side of the valley.

Here in New York, through the cold winter in my heated apartment, I imagined my dear brothers and sisters in Tawang, halfway around the globe, desperately cold, three to a bed for warmth.

Your comments and questions are very welcome, and may be sent to me at johnullman@architecturefortibet.org. I would like to include one or two in a future Best Questions Blog Entry.

Have a look at this recent Blog Article by Lavina Melwani.

Below is an excerpt:

Q: Structures for the poor are usually badly designed. As an architect, how do you think good design enhances the daily life of these students?

A: The planned spaces of the new academic center are the fruit of a dialog with the teachers and Lama Thupten, the founder of Manjushree Orphanage and Free School. I asked them “is this a place you want to be?” Then I listened; truly listened. Architects start the planning process with someone’s wishes and needs in mind.

In the case of the new center one of the needs is for the children to have larger classrooms; the wish, then, is for these spaces to be warm in the winter, cool in the summer, have an abundance of natural light, to catch the breeze, and of course, to be a place that the children and teachers want to spend their time all day long, and all throughout the seasons. Therefore, it is very important also for the building spaces to be flexible, to serve two, or three programmatic uses: a class room is also sometimes a room for tutoring, and sometimes a room for hobbies for example. So I imagine these children in their “world.”

The requisite needs for providing an educational environment must of course be met, but these spaces must also bring about a sense of dignity and hope. And so the architect must see the merit of offering his unabashed creativity and compassion towards others before himself – and before his practical knowledge of construction -for the building to be architecture.

(Library Room pictured above).

READ MORE

Despite the major blizzard that descended on Brooklyn Wednesday, a special reception to raise awareness about the Manjushree Orphanage Project went on at Tillie's as scheduled, and a special, intimate gathering -- of the very curious only-- enjoyed an engaging interchange about the region, the children AFT serves and the new Academic Center itself.

Through March 13, there will be an exhibition at Tillie's of my photographs of Tawang, Northeast India, home to Manjushree; it's a visual diary, documenting my personal journey.

We also had our raffle ticket drawing: the winners received certificates for dinner for two at Chez Oskar, Olea, Maggie Brown, Rice, Madiba, Anima, Grazilla’s and Poppa’s Place, some of the most outstanding Fort Greene restaurants. Heartfelt gratitude for their generous and admirable support.

Tenzin, my good friend, braved the heavy snow to make it over to my neighborhood. Thank you so much Tenzin!

I am very thankful to Pat and Amos of Tillie's for donating their wonderful space and kindly hosting our guests for tea and very special chocolate cookies!

EXHIBITION IMAGES

Beyond basic construction requirements of the two story Academic Center for Manjushree Orphanage, there are two technical aspects I would like to highlight: the use of a Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pump System for Radiant Heating, which will be greatly valued at this icy Himalayan local; and Earthquake Resistant Building standards, designed in consultation with Evan Akselrad, a sharp professional engineer and registered architect who has generously volunteered his services. I will return to the Geothermal System in a later entry.

Throughout the planning of the Academic Center, the terror of the Great Assam Earthquake of August 15, 1950, which caused enormous devastation at Tawang-- shattering stone walled buildings with slate roofs and causing a high death toll -- never left my mind. I know that these vernacular buildings, still constructed today, would be exceptionally dangerous if a high magnitude earthquake were to strike. (The slate roofs have been switched to a corrugated sheet metal type as they are available today.) And although the rocky clay-based soil type, typical of the region, offers the building footings firm support, the traditional stone walls are not rigid enough to withstand the jerking forces characteristic of a large trembler.

To meet this threat, Architecture for Tibet is introducing a number of structural methods for our earthquake resistant reinforced concrete system, which is unknown to the local population. The system for AFT’s Academic Center for Manjushree Orphanage is comprised of shear-walls with strap footings and integral beams, a two-way slab system, top and bottom reinforced beams and broad footing foundations. Moreover, the two-way flat slab system, eliminating beams throughout, introduces a cost saving technique, also new to the people of Tawang.

The Academic Center's seismic design is not focused exclusively on the structure; contrary to what may be supposed, the damage and cracking within such a structure would still be considerable after a high impact earthquake, and structural repairs would surely be necessary; the Center is thus designed to resist collapse and ensure these children’s safety if another1950 level earthquake were to strike. It is the nonstructural systems and components – masonry walls, interior partitions, lighting fixtures, windows--we are especially mindful of when designing for earthquake resistance, as these nonstructural components cause the majority of injury and death. Thus, a whole building approach is requisite to achieve a responsible seismic resistant  building design.

Rather than erecting unreinforced outer walls of stone or brick, typical of the region, the building will use cavity walls composed of two 4” concrete walls set with a 12” grid of #3 reinforcing bars; and for a second example--of very many--the mechanical systems in the building, such as plumbing and electrical conduits for wiring, will be set in trenches and hung from ceilings, so they may flex and rattle, thus lessening the risk of injury and costly damages.

Lobsang Yeshi, a totally committed local engineer, and I will supervise the workers throughout construction and ensure quality control.

Your comments and questions are very welcome, and may be sent to me at johnullman@architecturefortibet.org. I would like to include one or two of them in a future Best Questions Blog Entry.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Manjushree Orphanage on November 12^th, at the end of his week long visit to Tawang. His Holiness came to bless the children, teachers and well-wishers, and to see the good work Lama Thupten Phuntsok, founder and director, and his devoted staff are accomplishing first hand. His Holiness, a patron to the Orphanage and Free School, last visited in 2003.

His Holiness was also reportedly delighted to learn of Architecture for Tibet’s Academic Center Project via the presentation material that I emailed to Lama Thupten.

MORE PHOTOS

VIDEO OF 2003 VISIT

Here in Brooklyn, colorful autumnal leaves swirl around the streets and brownstone and red brick buildings. Some new architectural renderings were just emailed from Jomyut, my good Thai friend/ gifted 3D visualizer, and I would like to share these drawings of the Academic Center with you via this Blog Entry.

The existing schoolhouse at Manjushree Orphanage and Free School, built in 1998, is unsuited to present-day needs. The structure is falling apart and not large enough to accommodate the number of children Manjushree currently serves. Subsequently, classes are held outdoors and in makeshift rooms.

16,000 square feet of thoughtfully planned rooms - an academic complex - will replace the existing 2,400-square-foot schoolhouse, more than six times the amount of academic space. This will enable Manjushree to sustain a greatly valued nursery-to-grade 5 school program, and to slowly expand to include grade levels 6 to 12 in order to benefit many more disadvantaged village children.

The intention of creating a large Academic Center -the main building of the complex- is to support a combined preschool and young person’s learning environment. The vision is that the new facilities will become a lively hub of daily activities—discussions, hobbies and study—for the children, from dawn till night.

The building is divided into two main parts:

01 / The Preschool Environment:

The Preschool Environment—comprising the Children's Room, Sun Space 01 and the Family Room—fills out the entire west side of the south facing structure. This "zone of childhood" will be greatly valued, as there is presently no space in which the youngest children can stay active and be properly cared for. Linking these three large rooms will allow the children to experience a sense of openness and freedom conducive to the early-learning curriculum being developed at the school.

(click on images to enlarge)

The Children's Room, a nurturing and stimulating nursery and kindergarten environment, will be equipped to facilitate a diverse early-learning curriculum. The furniture will be scaled down to relate to the size of young children, and educational toys and books will be arranged and displayed to spark curiosity and imagination. The intent is for the youngest children to naturally invent new ways to play and interact in “their” community.

The adjacent Sun Space 01—which will serve as an open-air teaching room and semi-outdoor play space—is directly connected to the Children’s Room via wide stairs. The Sun Space is also connected to the Family Room below via even wider, theater--like concrete stairs.

The Family Room is designed taking into account the needs of the youngest children, but it is also a place for all age groups to gather and mix. The idea is to create a place where children are encouraged to discuss what they are learning with each other and with adults. This is a multi-purpose room, a flexible space where teaching and play areas can be set up spontaneously.

02 / Young Person’s Environment:

The Library Room, the adjacent News Zone and Sun Space 02, the Lecture Room and Sun Space 03 provide a wide range of spaces for concentration and discussion. This part of the structure -the entire east side of the building - creates a definitive Young Person’s Environment.

The large Library Room is a place where the older children will have the silence they will need to study. With its variety of existing and newly acquired books, a library will be a whole new concept for these children, many of whom come from nomad families, and have never experienced a such a place.

The Lecture Room, equipped with high technical standards, can be easily adapted to suit different activities such as talks by visiting doctors or educators, or movie screenings on Sundays. The room, however, will mainly be used for classes.

The News Zone, a cyber café-like space directly linked to the Library, will function as a channel of communication to the world. Computers will make it possible to watch and listen to news via the Internet, and additionally a generous supply of newspapers and magazines will be available at this area. This place—which makes clever use of the Stair Hall—will offer a lively atmosphere conducive to discussion.

Sun Space 02 will also function as a library space, offering a quiet, relaxed, cozy and warm environment for reading. This space will be especially valued during the long winter months.

Sun Space 03 will serve as a large open air teaching room or a pleasant environment for socializing. Separated from the noisy, livelier Sun Space 01 that is designated for the youngest children, this sunny room will offer a refuge for the older children, the staff and guests.

In addition, the Teacher’s Environment includes a Lounge, which also serves as a Tutoring Room, and the Main Office, as shown in the plans.

The Computer and Language Room, also within the Center, will not only accommodate a computer training program, it will provide a study-intensive environment. The room will be furnished with a broad selection of media in electronic form, which will satisfy the educational need for computer literacy as well as competency in English, key for opportunity in the world; the Tibetan language, to keep the culture alive; and, of course, Hindi, as the local Mon-Tibetan people are proudly a part of India.

I want to add that although I am using design as a vehicle to provide a greatly needed school building, I do not have any delusions about “socially minded” architecture versus so called “elitist design.” I believe rather that architecture should inspire. And a humanitarian building alone does not hold such promise. Architectural ideas, however, can—and ought to--shape places of wonder and humanity and make for a meaningful contribution towards positive human experience and development.

Special thanks to Jomyut for his skillful touch and donated time!

jomyut_studio@yahoo.com

Stay tuned for updates about Architecture for Tibet’s Gala Ball benefiting the Children of Manjushree Orphanage. For them, I remain determined to see this project through to its end.

CLICK HERE TO SEE COMPUTER RENDERINGS / AND ZOOM IN

At Pravda, in SoHo, on Monday evening, AFT hosted a great impromptu benefit.

Dr. Robert Thurman spoke on the subject of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama, who was from Tawang, Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura Hillyer, of Tibet House US, spoke of her recent experience visiting Manjushree Orphanage and her great vision to make Tawang tuberculosis-free, and I had a great discussion with the attendees about AFT's project and mission to provide aid via architecture to children in need of school buildings in Northeast India, an area that is out of bounds to other nonprofits. Nina and Daniel Libeskind unfortunately could not join the evening's soiree, though Daniel graciously provided a supportive statement (please see below).

Thank you all for following AFT's Academic Center Project as we move forward to our goal! I'm honored. And I honor the greatness in you for your concern for these Monpa, or Mon-Tibetan, children, who are in great need of your support.

Daniel Libeskind's thoughtful statement of support:

"I am very sorry not to be here tonight at this impromptu benefit. I had an unfortunate encounter with an oral surgeon this morning -- he emerged victorious and I emerged unable to speak. Nevertheless, I've asked John Ullman to read this short text in support of the children of Manjushree Orphanage and Free School.

This is a part of the world which has been in the news a great deal, as of late, with conflicts of politics. What gets lost is a small girl carrying books which probably weigh more than she does, going to school which has virtually no educational amenities. Education, after all, is the one and only key to leave the room of poverty behind. That is why architecture -- and the building of an orphanage and a school is so important.

The picture on the invitation gives a small indication of what can be built for a relatively modest budget. It provides children with a new view of life out its windows; a new horizon of ambition and a stable and safe world to grow. That is why I am here in spirit -- if not in person -- and that is why I hope you will contribute tonight.

Nina and I wish John and his organization all the best.

Daniel Libeskind"

Once again, a big Tashi Delek thank you to Tenzin, Wafa for their kind assistance.

-- SEE BENEFIT SLIDESHOW

The highlight of AFT's recent fundraiser was a performance by the very gifted Vienna Teng. (Check her out: viennateng.com). I first discovered Vienna' music from listening to Pandora: I started giving thumbs up to her songs, then, when the station was heavy with her music, I Googled her. The Wikipedia page noted that she recently moved from California to Brooklyn. So I thought: Oh, I can approach her about playing at a fundraiser, and she graciously agreed to play this intimate event--truly a privileged honor. Please see MORE PHOTOS

Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play.

--Heraclitus

While being shown Tawang through the perspectives of Tsering Toptyal and the sprightly Sangey Norbu, two of the Manjushree Orphanage children, I am close to my true self. Children artfully see, with selflessness and joy, the world we over analyze.

Back in March 2007, when I first came to Manjushree, I had an epiphany: if I care about these children so dearly, would I care for them less when they're grown or elders? I resolved to learn to habituate a view of all people as "my family"; this realization led to becoming familiar with meditation techniques involving the experience of "eqalizing oneself for others" and "exchanging oneself for others" as recommended by the great Nalanda scholar Shantideva in his masterful "Entering the Path of Enlightenment."

Architecture's first conceptual stirrings emerge from the art of seeing reality clearly--- that is, with a certain naivete, and free from rational analysis.

And what would a building be like if its design did not emerge with a deep sense of respect and compassion for its users?

The architect must see the merit of offering his unabashed creativity and compassion towards others before himself--and before his practical knowledge of construction--for the building to be architecture.

Much thanks to Dikey Dolma and Lhamo Dolma, the talented chefs I am afforded during my stay at Manjushree--especilly for the very tasty palak (spinach) paneer!

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