The Vihara

The Vihara will deliver new monks accommodation at the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, replacing post-war timber huts with five residential blocks set within a tree-lined landscape near Hemel Hempstead. Commissioned by Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and designed by Mole Architects, the scheme provides modern, sustainable living spaces linked by a covered walkway.

A piled raft foundation addresses clay soils, mature trees and level changes, ensuring stability while protecting root zones and respecting the natural topography. Above ground, prefabricated timber panels and glulam beams create a lightweight, low-carbon structure that enables efficient construction and high thermal performance. Integrated drainage, including deep borehole soakaways and a new foul diversion network, supports a robust, sustainable solution for the monastery’s long-term needs.