Bamiyan Cultural Center 2

1. Approach
Conceived as the new ‘Jewel’ of Bamiyan, the building emerges out of the northwest corner of the site glowing like the long lost glowing eyes of the giant Buddha in the new era. The eyes of the giant Buddhas in their glory days were made of red stone which made them glow in the sunset making the valley very tranquil.

2. Formation
The building of Bamiyan Cultural center is organized along a stepped plaza opening towards the valley and the Buddha cliffs. The entry sequence begins from the entrance gate. A long ramp takes one down to the central plaza. All the spaces are loosely organized along this plaza with the major public and administrative functions to the south-west and the classrooms to the north-east. The tea house occupies the south-east end of the plaza making it a place of gathering for rest. The big glass “jewel” forms the central piece of the plaza looking out to the valley. The circulation of the building moves around the plaza at different levels giving a constant view outwards to the Buddha cliffs. All the spaces on the lower level are occupied by public activities and are more open. The upper level is a more private and quiet realm housing the administration and research in a very compact organization.

3. Materiality
Most of the buildings are embedded into the landscape and is made of materials which resemble the local landscape. This makes the building disappear into the surroundings and gives a reminder of the dwellings of the past. All walls consist of rammed earth construction utilizing the excavated mud from the site thus making it very sustainable. The openings on the exterior walls are minimized to help maintain the interior microclimate. The raw finish of the building helps it to blend with the surrounding landscape. The performance hall which is conceived as the “jewel” is the only element constructed completely out of modern materials making it stand out in the landscape.

4. Ecology
All the indoor spaces are naturally ventilated and illuminated to save running costs. The classrooms, library, and the research facilities open more towards the south to take advantage of the solar heating in the winter months. The roof of the buildings are at the same level as the surrounding landscape making it great outdoor space during the summer months. The landscape to the north is designed as farm land making it more useful and to get the locals involved in its upkeep.