BAMIYAN CULTURAL CENTER
Location: Afghanistan
Design Director: Raya Ani
Company Name: RAW-NYC Architects
Category: Master Plan
Year: 2015
The Bamiyan Culture Centre was an international competition conducted by UNESCO. The project was inspired by the caves of Bamiyan cliffs where the front part of the cave was used by the family in the winter and while in the summer, the deeper zone of the cave was used. This idea was translated on the project vertically instead of horizontally.
The proposed layered courtyards help to regulate temperatures through the extreme seasonal changes. The lower layers will remain cooler in summer while the upper layers will be warmer in winter ensuring passive cooling & heating mechanisms and negating the use of additional cooling or heating systems. Solar panels are used in the lower terrain to generate energy as well as to implement water conservation strategies for self-sufficiency.
The main programmatic emphasis of the cultural center is the revival of the local crafts and techniques where people are trained in various skills such as traditional crafts & handwork methods. The center will also carry cultural programs & events such as film, dance, music & other shows to showcase the region's rich cultural heritage. In short, the center will be a mode of engaging people through the realm of history, culture and community and disseminating information to raise awareness on Afghanistan’s’ cultural heritage. This project will open new horizons through the generative power of architecture, and to help realize the dream of a more positive future for a land of infinite possibilities.
