After 5 years we set about renovating the Western Sanctuary, the very first one we built back in 2014 – in fact even before we built this little timber house of ours near Kutná Hora 🙂
Renovating the dark retreat sanctuary from the outside
Altogether the renovation took us 14 days and brought some big improvements.
Above all, we replaced the cladding on the west side of the cabin, as that side took the most punishment from wind and rain.
Every year wasps or hornets would build a nest under the cabin roof, so we sealed the vents under the roof with perforated tape. That way ventilation should carry on as before, but insects can no longer get in.
We have also ordered a new insulated front door, which should arrive during May.
The sanctuary has also had a fresh lick of paint 🙂
The interior space for a dark retreat
As this is a timber building made of vertical beams, it is braced with eco OSB board on the inside.
Because some participants travelled round and round along the interior walls in the dark, we lined the whole interior with new tongue-and-groove boards.
The bed has a new slatted base, and we have ordered a new natural futon mattress.
The partition wall between the bathroom and the living space had become home to quite a few ants. Since we don’t use any sprays, wood stains or the like, ants settled into the partition over the winter. They loved the polystyrene and had a maze of little tunnels in there. Interestingly, they didn’t like the wadding at all – only the polystyrene.
So we took the polystyrene out, let the ants crawl out outside, and only then took it to the recycling centre.
We wish the next participants in the Western Sanctuary a pleasant dark retreat 🙂
You will find more photos in the photo gallery.
