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The Facilities
Our main building is located on a gentle secluded hill and looks out onto rolling, rural vistas to the south. The retreat is backed by mature woodlands which slope down to Rice Lake and offer several walking trails.
Completed in 2003, the building consists of three “pod” sections. The central section contains the living room, bedrooms, washrooms and mechanicals. All rooms have bamboo or slate floors, high ceilings and large windows. The washrooms have radiant heated floors. There is a second floor balcony and a third floor loft with high ceilings and expansive views.
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The western section, which sits atop a hill, is our studio/meeting/meditation hall. Its south facing floor to-ceiling windows give guests the feeling of sitting out in the meadow where they sometimes see deer, foxes or turkeys strolling by. Growing above the studio is a “green roof” which cools the building in summer and insulates in winter.
The dining room and kitchen are located in the eastern section of the building which looks out over a forested ravine. A small warm solarium off the dining room is ideal for those who enjoy quiet contemplation or reading: and outside, we have a rock circle fire-pit for bonfires.
There is an insulated cabin about 100 meters away from the building which can sleep three, thus bringing our maximum shared accommodation to 22.
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Construction and Design
The buildings were designed by Carolyn Moss of Moss Sund Design. Harmony Dawn is completely off the power grid and generates most of its power from wind and sun. Its features include many leading edge sustainable energy technologies and is regarded by some as one of the “greenest” buildings in Canada.There are 3 separate pods linked by green houses. The dining/kitchen and studio pods are 1 storey clear span structures with high mass interiors, extensive south glazing and 5’-0”hile serving as buffers between the various activities of the centre.
| Moss Sund Design is a small design and consulting firm specializing in ‘sustainable’ building projects. Well versed in the theory and practice of energy efficiency, green building and alternative approaches to construction; the firm strives to meet the needs of our clients with thoughtful, beautiful designs that work in harmony with their surroundings.
Carolyn Moss, principal of Moss Sund Design, received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carleton University in 1996. She has over 8 years of experience working on a diverse range of projects from small scale residential ($3,000.00 mailbox!), to a $14M institutional/recreational facility, to a $145M national park design competition.
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Carolyn Moss |
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