Osho Commune | Pune

The Osho Commune nestled in the beautiful, green city of Pune is the base from whence Bhagwan Rajneesh (who in his later years called himself 'Osho'), propagated his philosophical teachings upon his return to India. The community, consisting of people from all over the world lives in a closely protected environment. Osho himself was accessible only to a favoured few and fiercely protected by loyal devotees. The city of Pune was a perfect choice for the Ashram owing to its perfect climate which lasts almost throughout the year , its greenery and the tolerant attitude of its inhabitants added to which its proximity to Bombay was very convenient for the large number of foreign members of the commune. The project brief, handed over to the architect was as enigmatic as Osho himself.

After having submitted five to six alternatives, all of which were rejected by Osho, Hafeez Contractor was sent a big, thick book with a photograph, the size of a postage stamp, on the cover, with the instructions," Osho has asked you to see this photograph, think, and then design our buildings ". Accompanying this was a small slip of paper on which was written :Black, Black and Black. The photograph was of a barn shot at sunset. It was very dark and there was just a little bit of a blue halo around the building. This was all that was given to Hafeez Contractor to guide him in interpreting the requirements of the design. Structurally each pyramid was conceived as a shell element resting on peripheral beams in turn resting on RC columns. The basic plan measured 16.75m x 16.75m and the pyramids were at an angle of 53.4 degrees, with the horizontal. There are six rectangular openings and one that is triangular. Stiffener RC beams are provided near the edges of openings, and the ridge lines of the pyramids are stiffened with MS channels. On the architects suggestion , a dirty municipal nullah on the site has been converted into a lively water body with landscaping all around, providing a beautiful setting to the mystical pyramids.