Bamiyan Cultural Centre

Bamiyan, Afghanistan

International Competition

The building is located in the Bamiyan Valley, in central Afghanistan, close to the archaeological remains that form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project is set in a rugged rural landscape framed by mountains and deeply marked by the monumental Buddha statues that stood on its cliffs until their destruction in 2001.

The building connects the two levels of the site through a sequence of interior and exterior spaces. Entrances at both levels organise the programme into two distinct areas: education and research spaces on the lower floor, and an exhibition hall on the upper floor, with generous ceiling heights and open spaces.

A central courtyard introduces a green oasis at the heart of the building and articulates its different levels. Rather than establishing rigid visual separations, the spaces remain interconnected through the courtyard, circulation routes and a series of internal voids and atriums.

In response to the cultural and social context of Bamiyan, the project makes extensive use of locally sourced materials and traditional construction techniques. This reduces the energy required for production and transportation, while supporting the local economy and strengthening the relationship between the building and its context.