TY - ART T1 - The Bamiyan Cultural Centre Design Competition Y1 - 2015 A1 - Girish Dariyav Karnawat A1 - Darshan Sariya A1 - Puneet Mehrotra A1 - Anjali Jain PB - GDK Designs N1 -

The project is being treated as another archaeological site - discovered; one that is incidentally found.

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A foot print that was always there - it belongs to the region.

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The project is also seen as a place that gives a sense of belonging to the local people by engaging them from the beginning into the process of building, and taking their services and expertise. The project is seen beyond being a mere museum, a place for tourists. Tourists/ visitors are not the main focus. The focus is on the life of the local people. This place is for the people first.

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This institution can be imagined as a place which engages with the daily life of the people of Bamiyan. It is a place that could also turn into a shelter for the local people during undesirable situations/times or, it could accommodate a school or a hospital during times of need or, offer an extension to the local market.

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The struggle is towards balancing the survival of history/ culture versus day to day life. A project of this nature is almost a luxury, unless it engages the people of Bamiyan in building it, running it and maintaining it. It was very important that the expression of the building is not intimidating, but at the same time be modern and contemporary. The required formal aspects in terms of scales, proportion, construction techniques, materiality have to be appropriate and would play a very important role in contributing towards this expression.

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Materials and techniques of the construction for the building have been chosen keeping the above ideas and concerns in mind. Essentially, the most natural instinct was to use mud bricks, rammed earth, compressed earth blocks, stone/wood for construction. Simultaneously, the caves and niches in the Buddha cliff suggest that the soil in the region is semi rocky and malleable. Thus, the spaces can be carved and excavated. The dug out earth can then be used to construct the structure above ground with rammed earth and compressed earth blocks.

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The climate and ecology of the region have been important concerns and have informed the development of the design ideas. Similarly, the traditional architecture of the region and its character has also been a constant reference.

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The west face of the court is defined by the exhibition galleries. These are long spaces carved into the earth and ending on the west edge of the site; framing the Buddha cliffs beyond. The galleries are covered with vaults constructed with Nubian technique using mud bricks. The artifacts within are preserved in niches. Streaks of light brought in through punctures in the vault; create the resemblance of an archaeological setting.

ID - AZ-CF-171535 ER -