Bamiyan Cultural Center - AA Design Studio

Bamiyan Cultural Centre

Competition Code: BCC003614

Objective:

The primary objective of the design is to create a cultural-environmental schema that facilitates a seamless connection and integration among the people, the building, the garden, and the valley, while allowing each element to play its unique role within the project. To achieve this, a garden is designed to enhance the positive visual impact on the cultural landscape of Bamiyan Valley. Overall, the design aims to fulfill the specific functional requirements of the project by utilizing locally available solutions and resources:

To respect and promote cultural and native values on an international stage.
To honor the ecology and environment of Bamiyan Valley.
To incorporate native construction materials and technologies while employing local labor.
To shape the design in accordance with urban planning and functional requirements, using local methods and adapting to the regional climate.

To model native cultural figures to inspire motivation and hope among Afghan children, women, and men through the creation of a City Garden.

Concept Idea:

The concept is inspired by the Gardens of Babur, locally known as Bagh-e Babur, and aims to create a linear diagram that runs from the southwest to the northeast, reminiscent of the ancient Silk Road, parallel to the Buddha cliffs. This axis, integrated with a water path, delineates the relationship between the interior and exterior of the project.

The design incorporates a courtyard layout to organize the main building and connect it to the surrounding site. To minimize excavation, the roofed amphitheater is positioned on the existing slope of the site's topography. Consequently, the ceiling of the amphitheater plays a crucial role in the movement dynamics of the project, linking the site to the main building while also functioning as an open-air amphitheater.

Another key aspect of the design is to seamlessly integrate the main building with the site. The negative spaces in the Buddha cliffs inspired the positive and negative spaces within the project, which serve specific objectives:

To harmonize the landscape with the building.
To create dramatic spaces and outdoor venues that organize both the interior and exterior simultaneously.
To ensure natural light and ventilation for the interior.
To shape the overall structure of the project.

These structures are designed to be physically adaptable to earth tensions and cast varying shadows on the exterior floor and interior elements throughout the day. At night, the contrast between the heavy cob walls and the woven timber panels reverses this effect. The timber panels enhance the building's structural quality while facilitating natural ventilation during the day and providing an open extension for outdoor events.

Structural Idea - Construction Materials & Technology :

The design incorporates cob walls that provide thermal mass, helping to reduce temperature fluctuations (heat exchange) for a low-energy building. This structure rests on a brick foundation and features a timber grid core on a dramatic scale that supports the building's loads. The approach combines sustainable architecture with rigorous engineering.

The construction materials are carefully selected to align with both the local climate and economic conditions. To address electricity supply, a designated area of the site is allocated for solar panels, and a row of local trees is planted along the main axis of the project to mitigate wind effects.

In summary, the design represents a fusion of sustainable architecture and local precision engineering, tailored to the region’s climate and economic realities.