Rebuilding Amaravati
- Rebuilding Amaravati
- Bhikkhu Vihara 2026-2027
- Sala Redevelopment Project 2021-2024
- Sala Update 2025
- Update November 2022
- Earlier updates
- Bojjh’anga Kuti 2020
- Rebuilding the Nuns’ Area – 2018-2022
- Phase 5c Amara and Nissoko
- Phase 6b Nuns’ Nursing Kuti
- Phase 6c Nuns Accommodation Buildings
- Summer/Autumn 2017 – The Next Phase of Planning
- From the Drawing Board into the Monastery – Aroga Kuti (2016)
- The Long-term Plan (2013)
Bhikkhu Vihara 2026-2027
From June 29th 2026, the old Bhikkhu Vihara building as well as the lay guests and long term residents wing will be demolished and a new set of five buildings will be erected on its ground.
Sala Redevelopment Project 2021-2024
Sala Update 2025
The Sala has been completed in December 2024 and is now fully operational and very appreciated by all the members of the community and the lay people.
Update November 2022
After an initial delay, we finally obtained planning permission for this project. The demolition of the previous began in October 2022 and has seen steady progress since. A photo album of the demolition is available here.
Earlier updates
A page with the last updates of the rebuilding of the Sala and the kitchen is available here.
The long term plan to rebuild Amaravati has reached an important phase, which is the redevelopment of the Sala and the buildings in the workyard area near the back entrance.
Following considerable input from the community to the design, the planning application was submitted to Dacorum Borough Council and we hope to have the planning decision around November 2021.
Under the proposal, the buildings marked red on this map will be demolished, and they include the Sala, the auxiliary maintenance and storage buildings in the workyard, the Bodhi House, and the Library.
The new Sala will have 3 eco-buildings joined together with the Sala in the centre, the kitchen on the east, and the monastic eating place on the west.
The new Sala has been designed to provide ease of access for families and elderly visitors. The main entrance will be step-free and there will be a dedicated Parent’s Room next to the lobby area. The toilets are also located within the building.
The other significant improvement is the new one-way road through the service yard which connects the front gate with the new back gate located just in front of the kitchen.
At the front gate, visitors will have an option to park their cars at the main car park as per normal. The new plan also gives visitors an option to bring their cars closer to the kitchen, for dana and passenger drop-off, before circling the car back to park at the main car park.
The other facilities in the service yard area and the workshop will be housed in the two new buildings along the one-way internal road.
As indicated on the drawing, the new Library will be relocated to the east end of the current Publications’ Building, which is being refurbished. The Toilets at the west end have already been refurbished, and now include a Disabled Toilet
All the buildings of the Sala Redevelopment project have been designed to blend in with the beautiful landscape at the monastery. The following computer graphic image shows the view of the new Sala behind the existing trees and hedgerow looking from St.Margaret lane.
The construction of the new Sala is expected to start in mid-2022 and the project will last for around 2 years.
During that period, the Sala will be relocated temporarily to the Retreat Centre. Whether visitors will be able to come to that part of the Monastery depends on COVID-prevention measures.
Currently members of the sangha are offering retreats online, and that is expected to continue.
The next update will be when we hear about the planning permission.
Bojjh’anga Kuti 2020
‘The Nuns’ Nursing Kuti, also known as Bojjh’anga* Kuti, is now under construction (see picture below). This will be a valuable resource for supporting elderly Sisters and siladhara or anagarikaas in need of special facilities during times of temporary sickness or long term illness or disability. As with other new buildings, it is being constructed according to passivhaus standards. Shortly, we hope to be able to provide information about how those who wish can contribute towards specific items that will be needed for the final fitting out.
*’Bojjh’anga’ is the name of the list of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment that the Buddha recommended to be chanted in times of sickness.’
Rebuilding the Nuns’ Area – 2018-2022
After the Aroga Kuti was finished in October 2017, the redevelopment moved on to the next phase which was the nuns’ area.
As with other new buildings under Amaravati Masterplan, the buildings are being designed and constructed according to the Passive House standards with well-insulated walls, air source heat pump, mechanical ventilation, airtight construction, and solar panel system. The choice reflects the EST and the Sangha community’s desire for long-term sustainability with low-energy usage buildings.
The design for the nuns’ buildings began in 2018 and split the construction into three phases. The redevelopment of all three phases consisting of 6 buildings took 4 years and was completed in 2022.
Phase 5c Amara and Nissoko
The construction began in April 2019 with the two new buildings: a senior nuns’ dwelling (Amara Kuti) and a multi-purpose community building (Nissoko) which includes a meeting space, bowl washing area, offices and a library. The construction of Amara Kuti and Nissoko were completed in March 2020. After completion, the sisters renamed Nissoko to Samaggi building.
Phase 6b Nuns’ Nursing Kuti
The construction of the nuns’ nursing kuti, also known as Bojjh’anga* kuti started in June 2020 and was completed in July 2021. The kuti has three bedrooms and provides a valuable resource for supporting elderly sīladhārās who need special facilities for their care – either in old age, or in times of sickness or recovery from an injury or operation. The design reflects the EST’s and Sangha’s interest in providing for the needs of the elders in the community.
*Bojjh’anga is the name of the list of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment that the Buddha recommended to be chanted in times of sickness.
Phase 6c Nuns Accommodation Buildings
In 2020, the architect from EcoArc began the consultation with the nuns’ community to design the three buildings that will replace the main accommodations for the sisters and provide the supporting utility functions such as the laundry room and the sewing room. All three buildings were designed as 1.75 storey to limit the effect of the building footprint on the landscape.
The main accommodation buildings have 12 bedrooms, the smaller building for senior sīladhārās has 6 bedrooms. Both buildings are joined to the utility building with the covered walkway.
The construction started in May 2021 and completed in December 2022 in time for the nuns’ community to move in for the Winter Retreat.
Summer/Autumn 2017 – The Next Phase of Planning
The Aroga Kuti was finished in time for the 2017 Winter Retreat which meant that the final fixtures and fittings were in place before Luang Por Sumedho came in April 2017 to lead the Open Retreat and attend the International Elders’ Meeting. He stayed in Aroga Kuti for a month and was pleased with what the community has provided.
You can view a growing selection of pictures of the Aroga Kuti Construction work here.
Also during the winter, the new carpark which many of us will be benefitting from already, was built. It is for visitors’, guests’, retreatants’ and residents’ cars. By 2018, the soil will have settled in the spaces around the car park so the shrubs that were cut down in order to build it can be replaced.
Next Step – Amaravati Long Term Plan (ALTP) Phase 5
Phase 5, as it is called, is a bigger phase and includes the service yard by the back gate, part of which is pictured here:
Section of the current Amaravati service yard – a weak wall and an uneven base, a poor incinerator, and a heat hungry, concrete-roofed shower block. Similarly, an inadequate garage in background.
In addition, there are plans for a meeting room and library for the nuns to replace the current temporary building, below, known as Nissoko. It is in poor condition and is not large enough to provide a gathering place for the nuns’ community:
Also, included in Phase 5 is the rebuilding of the Stupa (which is not straight) and the creation of a path around it, to allow for safe circumambulation by candlelight on the three main lunar festival nights of the year, in February, May and July.
All of this will depend on funds being available. Donors have generously come forward to offer significant contributions to the Nissoko building and the path around the stupa, so the EST is able to make tentative steps towards the practical building stage.
From the Drawing Board into the Monastery – Aroga Kuti (2016)
On January 3 2016 there was a groundbreaking ceremony for Aroga Kuti, the first of the buildings to be constructed under the aegis of the long-term plan.
Detailed information about the building’s development and intended use are available by following the link or clicking on the image. There was also a long article published in Looking Ahead in the Autumn of 2015
Building works are due to start on January 11, 2016 and last until October. The inside will then be fully fitted out in time for Luang Por Sumedho’s scheduled visit to Amaravati in May 2017.
Following this, there will be a pause to review the process so far. The next areas due to be considered are the nuns’ area and service yard behind the sālā.
The Long-term Plan (2013)
Internal planning and consultation by a dedicated team of people made up of Sangha members, lay residents and experts from outside the monastery started as early as 2011.
The results of that consultation was a long-term plan to redevelop the site. This was made public in spring 2013.
Conceived as a systematic approach to replacing the inefficient original wooden buildings built in 1939 with more sustainable and environmentally friendly structures, it is seen as a long-term project to be implemented in phases over several decades, dependent on funds becoming available.
On Saturday 27th July 2013 the monastery hosted an Open Day for the local community. Among other things, people had the opportunity to view a scale model of the proposed building-plans and display boards explaining the project, shown below. A selection of these boards, along with the model, has been placed on semi-permanent display at the monastery, in the lobby entrance to the Sala.
