Exterior Visualizer for Prayer Wheel Area - Dzokden Kalapa

Exterior Visualizer for Prayer Wheel Area – Dzokden Kalapa

General Information

Job Type:

Volunteer

Required language:

English

Team:

Kalapa Center Development Team

Contract type:

Volunteer

Location:

Remote

EAP Level:

Increasing

Description

Dzokden Kalapa is seeking a dedicated and creative volunteer with a passion for outdoor design and architecture to independently create a “rough draft” of three concepts for Dzokden Kalapa’s prayer wheel area. These concepts will help bring to life Rinpoche’s vision for this important area for guests. The drafts will be presented to Rinpoche, the Dzokden Kalapa Team and Board for feedback regarding possible adjustments and/or final approval.

Responsibilities

The Prayer Wheel area has several parts that need to be incorporated into a unified design of the space. The main idea behind the ongoing renovation work underway at Dzokden Kalapa is to bring to life Rinpoche’s vision of making the external/interior areas more closely resemble a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center rather than a traditional Austrian home. Examples of appropriate materials can be provided. The area includes:

Ceiling. Here, Rinpoche suggested three options
- A simpler option would be to paint it the color of the sky (light blue or sky blue or perhaps more artsy looking teal)
- the second to add clouds that resemble a Tibetan Thangka
- third, more elaborate option at the designer’s creative discretion would be to use even more Thangka inspired art (e.g., from the entrance by the car park, to have a garuda fly diagonally towards the street, etc.).
A Pillar. The paint work for the pillar needs to fit together with the ceiling design. Rinpoche suggested a dragon flying up the pole. The colors, including the color of the pole (e.g., traditional burgundy), should blend with the other design work.
Overhead Lighting. Lighting is needed to illuminate the space/artistic design.
The Floor. The Floor. Some options for the floor are provided below. Choose 2-3 options for the visual concepts:
1 – fake grass, which is cheap, casual, and easy to install — and a personal suggestion by Rinpoché.
2 – Terracotta floor tiles, examples below
3 – Terrace Board made for outdoor — Softwood Decking (in German, “Terrassendiele”), examples below
4 – Creative Epoxy Resin Flooring for outdoor

Skills & Qualifications

Artist
Architecture

Ability to work independently and collaborate with other staff members and volunteers to fully support the project.
Good organizational and time management skills; diligence.
A basic understanding of Tibetan Buddhist architectural and decorative elements. This includes knowledge of prayer wheel placement, traditional colors, symbolic motifs, and the overall atmosphere of a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center.
Ability to create rough sketches or diagrams that illustrate design concepts.
Understanding of basic architecture and design principles, such as balance, proportion, and harmony to translate Rinpoche's vision into tangible design concepts.
Flexibility and openness to incorporating feedback and revisions; openness to changing requirements.
Technical: Ability to use basic computer programs for rough drafting (e.g., Canva, Google drawings, Powerpoint); ability to use Dzokden’s productivity tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Drive, Docs) and Slack.

Why This Role Is Important

This role directly supports Rinpoché’s vision to transform the magnificent Dzokden Kalapa into a true Tibetan Buddhist retreat center. Your work helps Dzokden Kalapa to continue to inspire transformative experiences that cultivate deep inner realization through a strong compassionate and devoted heart. The virtue generated through your Dharma service is dedicated to the accumulation of merit which is essential for the path to enlightenment. You have the opportunity to practice the path through a mundane, samsaric role and see how it is possible to transform ordinary work into extraordinary opportunities. This will help you learn to walk the real tantric path.