In an international design competition for the Bamiyan Cultural Centre in Afghanistan, AXIA’s proposal received an honourable mention. Drawing inspiration from the caravans that once navigated the Silk Road carrying precious and exotic treasures, our design is conceived of as an assembly of vessels dedicated to cultural exchange, knowledge, and creativity. In celebration of Afghanistan’s rich and diverse contributions to world heritage, this proposal crosses political, social, and cultural boundaries. In response to the site’s cascading topography, earthen structures appear as a hilltop settlement, bound together in a mutually responsive arrangement that considers local climate, scale, and materiality. Courtyards emerge in the in-between spaces, while terraces take advantage of the stunning expanse of the valley and the topography of the Hindu Kush. The drama of this edge condition and the expansive view of the regions beyond — layered with history, agriculture and geology — provide the major organizational principle, drawing the initial building massing to the edges of the escarpment.

The overall building programme is divided into six structures, devoted to exhibition, research, education, performance and the administration of these units. The spaces between these buildings reflect their internal functions and broaden the experiences within. An auxiliary structure at the northeastern tip of the site offers a visual terminus to the cascading terraces. This small mosque reflects the sustained spiritual use of the site and pays homage to the distinct history of this locale.

While presented as independent programmes, the design recognizes that visitors may bear intertwined or overlapping identities; a casual explorer or history enthusiast may simultaneously be a researcher or student, for example. Thus, our organization of buildings results in a circulation strategy that allows for the autonomy of distinct experiences, as well as the collective identity of the whole. To maintain coherence and functionality, our design thoroughly considers several “circuits” of movement through the centre and choreographs diverse engagements within. One such circuit takes the visitor on a journey through fragments of Bamiyan’s layered past and artistic future. This promenade creates a dialogue with the outdoors — through light-filled cloisters focused around a central courtyard dedicated to the display of art, for instance. At the southwest portion of the site, which connects to the whole through colonnaded and light-filled interior walkways, two buildings house activities devoted to present-day artisanal activities and ecosystems of craft, research and education. In the future, the site is designed to accommodate a variety of activities, from the cultural to the agricultural, beyond what is housed within the physical structures.