Proposed New Residence for Srila Gurudev

Introduction:

Artwork painted by Sushila Devi Dasi

Our Spiritual Master, or teacher, His Divine Grace Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, has requested a larger room for receiving guests and giving Darshan. The house where He currently resides during visits to Santa Cruz is not large enough to accomodate everyone who approaches Him for guidance and blessings. His old house will still accomodate Sannyasis, members of the renounced order of life, but His new house, located in the heart of the property, will have a large, open reception room, new private quarters, and several bedrooms to accomodate his closest associates.

Floor plan of Srila Govinda Maharaj's residence

Elevations of Srila Govinda Maharaj's residence

Topographic map

The footprints of all proposed and existing buildings are marked with bold lines on this topographic survey of the property. Guesthouse 2, where the toolshed is now, is filled in as a solid. This is the site of Srila Govinda Mahraj's residence.

First floor plan

Several bedrooms stem off from a wide, open hallway that lets in plenty of light and air in the summer, but blocks the chill of wintery wind and rain. The bedrooms vary in size to accomodate the needs of different individuals, but each has a private bathroom and built-in closet.

Second floor plan

As you can see in the painting at the top of this page, the second floor is approached by a path from the main road connecting the lower and upper parking lots. A nice garden is a peacful buffer between the road and the reception room which takes up most of the second floor.

North and South elevations

The first floor is entered from the West, and the second floor from the East. Since the guesthouses are built into a natural slope both floors are entered directly from ground level.