Bamiyan Budhism Center 2014

Concept: Bamiyan Cultural Center – the YB

Carving into the cliff, ancient monks created an great message : why we are here? and their masterpieces are an evidences of man who achieves a high spiritual transcendent and expressing themselves an extraordinary experiences by hands.

At the early of the third millennium,the YB, once again, is revealling a power of Bamiyan people’s hands. Here, hands are conceived as a crystallization of all natural local powers.

Considering a situation of economical status, the YB cultural center will be built up with maximizing of local resources in-situ; so stones, soil earth and traditional construction skills are a best materials and solutions.

At the first level on site, the design carves on the stone surface of plateau a straight long and narrow walkway which gently slopes down to the cliff by the north-south direction.

Visitors find a main hall after passing a gap between two stone walls at the south . End of walkway at the north opens a medium platform which is formed by viewing field of two great Buddha sculptures. Here places an unique performance hall opening toward a valley and cliff. Connecting a performance hall and lower level is a natural amphitheatre where people fully enjoy a spectacular landscape of the Bamiyan valley .

Along the north-south direction walkway arranges a necessary functions of cultural center.

The east wing places an office, classrooms and research area. The west wing houses a conference room, cafeteria and exhibitions.

Whole YB center build by series of standard special blocks -the bell form. Blocks are constructed by stone foundation and earth wall in a form of dome with skylight. Dome and wall are built by mud brick or rammed earth, which are now very common in the Bamiyan.

Hence, local materials’characters created and typical constructions and formed a size of block a 4mx8m in plan with 8m height, and smaller size 3mx6m in plan with 6m height.

Blocks are combined together with appropriate functions and create a special spaces of self-discovering and relationship with the cliffscape and Bamiyan valley.

Visitor and people will deeply experience an unique sense of site question: WHY BE?