studio ARCVS’s gravity-defying entry for UNESCO bamiyan cultural center
all images courtesy of studio ARCVS

 

 

 

in november 2014, UNESCO, along with the ministry of information and culture of afghanistan–and financial support from the republic of korea–announced an international design competition for the construction of the bamiyan cultural center. participating in the contest, was serbian studio ARCVS.

studio ARCVS's gravity-defying entry for UNESCO bamiyan cultural center
interior and exterior walkways 

 

 

 

the studio’s proposal balances on five critical counterpoints: function vs. atmosphere, institutional vs. spontaneity, indigenous vs. global, crude construction vs. architectural poetics. the cultural center’s form is a winding extrusion of concrete and glass. hundreds of windows placed along the circular façade work in unison to create a panoramic view extending to the distant buddha cliffs and bamiyan valley landscape. 

studio ARCVS's gravity-defying entry for UNESCO bamiyan cultural center
from the bamiyan valley

 

 

 

throughout, large expanses have been left open for the possibility of displays or other cultural exhibitions. visitors are also able to walk directly onto the roof of the structure. the team chose to do so based on the idea of exposure. both the observer and the motive for being their are equally exposed to the weather, a concept that roots itself in intensified experience. a semi-structured interior courtyard is created out of the ring-shaped building, leaving more space for flexible programming or temporary expansion. 

studio ARCVS bamiyan cultural center entry designboom
small viewing space 

studio ARCVS's gravity-defying entry for UNESCO bamiyan cultural center
exhibition hall 

studio ARCVS bamiyan cultural center entry designboom
from the roof to the cliffs 

studio ARCVS bamiyan cultural center entry designboom
interior courtyard 

studio ARCVS's gravity-defying entry for UNESCO bamiyan cultural center
sectional 1-1

studio ARCVS bamiyan cultural center entry designboom
floor plan

ARCVSdesignboom01
site plan

 

 

project info:

 

architects in charge: branislav redžić, dragan ivanović — studio ARCVS
team members: zoran milovanović, boris husanović, nikola samardžija, suzana tisovec, milica tasić, vesna milojević, zoran dorović
structural design: sreto kuzmanović
location: bamiyan, afghanistan
year: 2015
area: 2410 m2

 

 

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