Design competition entry, 2015

The Bamiyan Cultural Centre in Afghanistan is conceived to be an extension of the Bamiyan Valleys’ extraordinary landscape, rich historical & cultural heritage and heterogeneous art practices. For millennia this region has been home to people of wide-ranging ethic and religious backgrounds. The Centre aims to promote and augment this comprehensive spirit by means of its programs, placement, scale and character.

The building will be enclosed using the earth tones of the surrounding villages. The stabilized insulated rammed earth walls will provide a significant source of thermal mass and insulation to keep the indoor areas comfortable throughout the year. The roof mounted photovoltaic array will provide sufficient electricity for the lighting and for the geothermal heating system. Utilizing this efficient envelope and powerful solar system the Cultural Centre will approach zero net energy.