The Immersion Process
The immersion process starts with a deepening relationship to the place of your build and your role within it. Together we explore your connection and ongoing commitment to the place and its surroundings. This process feels simultaneously ancient, and yet very modern. An alchemy of sorts. Prior to beginning the design we uncover the story of place and through this starting point prepare a brief and strategy that opens to the potential of both the place and those that occupy it. It makes for a profound co-creation that is enriching and ultimately celebratory. There is no fuller brief for the architectural blueprint. The work starts before design begins.
The Power of Reverence & Unexpected Alignments
When I take you through your immersion process, the presence of your land and its influences become very real. A greater realisation emerges of how everything in nature and time is in communication. This can lead to personal breakthroughs as well as design and ecological ones. The exciting thing, quite apart from a new reverence for the power of place, nature, and community - is the potential you will experience towards transformational change within yourself.
“The emergence and exploration of the blueprint of the potential of our place has been an intense and exciting experience. Until Charissa shared it with us, it was difficult to fully grasp the concept and potential of what was happening. Our blueprint is the divine expression of our potential as a couple, family and of the land and dwelling we wish to create. We never could have imagined it ourselves but it just feels right. Each aspect within the blueprint holds a resonance and story that evokes and awakes aspects of ourselves and this place that should it come to pass will reflect our wildest dreams.”
Tukanga - The Immersion Process Life Cycle
Tukanga. The Immersion Process Life Cycle that mimics nature. To guide us through this process we take the time to understand the ‘Story of Place’, prepare ‘Regenerative fundamentals’, a ‘living brief’, and uncover, draw and write the ‘blueprint’ of the land meeting the people; and how through these coming together; the potential of people and place can be realised. The process seeks to collaborate at all times, to ensure open communication and trust as we work towards agreed guiding principles, values and goals – both specific and intangible. We purposefully move anti-clockwise through the life cycle to re-shift our conditioned patterning. As we move through the life cycle we take the time to observe, reflect and consider right relationships and practice in our process. The entire process not only effects the land it is on and the people who will occupy it, but the process, decisions and actions that ripple out of the greater community and ecosystem, creating a co-evolving reciprocity of positive impact.
Only when you experience the immersion process can you see how 'Reverence Architecture' can be a catalyst for healing nature and people.
With the challenges we face with climate change and biodiversity loss this can make a simple but profound difference. I use the immersion process to create healthy, resilient buildings that have an on-going evolution with their surrounds. Reverence Architecture brings a new dimension to the work. The Immersion process ensures the design is in synch with purpose and place - and aligned to caring for our planet.
"Every project has the potential to be healing and regenerative. The immersion process integral to the Reverence Architecture approach is what makes the experience for everyone involved in the project so deeply joyful, transformative and life-changing."
Charissa Snijders, Architect