Located in Afghanistan, this proposal is for a UNESCO cultural and education centre which overlooks the Bamyan Valley and the monumental 4-5bc Buddhas of Bamyan, 2 of which were dynamited and destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
Our proposal is conceived as a monumental linear concrete form, entered via a long sunken ramp which descends down into a spiral entry void leading to the centre's entry lobby. The building is semi underground as it spans along the cliff edge and it is not until the visitor approaches the spiral that they start to get a sense of the building and the valley which it overlooks.
From the spiral they will catch glimpses of the vast cliff face and the monumental carved out Buddha niches beyond. These glimpses and framed, panoramic views continue as the visitor makes their way through the building's galleries, workshops, auditorium and resting areas.
Status: Competition