Commercial | Upper Ojai Valley, CA
Set within the Ojai Foundation’s 36-acre educational retreat in the Upper Ojai Valley, the Council House and Meditation Center was conceived as an architectural expression of presence, connection, and the practice of Council.
Inspired by the geometric order of sacred Islamic architecture, the building is organized around a 12-point rosette system. This geometry shapes both the exterior and interior, creating a subtle rhythm that draws people toward a shared center. The architecture does not merely contain the Foundation’s work—it actively supports its purpose.
Council, the practice of listening and speaking from the heart, is the Foundation’s central offering. Within the Council House, spatial relationships, materials, light, and geometry reinforce the equality and interconnectedness essential to that experience. Locally sourced mesquite flooring radiates outward from the center point, making the concept of gathering visible and tactile.
Environmental responsibility was integral to the project. Designed according to LEED principles, the building incorporates locally sourced materials and a living roof planted with fire-resistant succulents and sedges. These choices reduce the building’s impact while allowing it to exist in a more reciprocal relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Natural materials and restrained detailing create an atmosphere of warmth and calm. Light moves across the geometry throughout the day, while the connection between interior and landscape encourages reflection, openness, and a heightened awareness of place.
The completed Council House demonstrates how mission-driven architecture and interior design can communicate meaning at every level. Its form, materials, environmental strategies, and spatial experience are inseparable from the Foundation’s commitment to deepening relationships with oneself, with others, and with the natural world.
Explore the complete Ojai Foundation Council House and Meditation Center. Tower Design creates purpose-driven interiors for wellness retreats, meditation centers, cultural institutions, boutique hospitality properties, and organizations seeking a deeper alignment between environment and mission. Explore Tower Design or contact our studio to discuss your project.
