The Context

Located in the central city of Kabul, the building is being shaped by two major forces. First, the Cultural and Historic force. This is due to the sites location at the historic street of Chendawol which ends up to the historic site of Bagh-e-Qazi. Furthermore, since the site is located in the old city of Kabul the whole fabric and surroundings (if not the buildings) are considered historic. Thus the site is highly under the influence of traditional Kabuli Architecture.

Second, the Commercial force, comes from the sites direct linkage with two of the major commercial areas of Kabul city; Mandawi and Maiwand road. Along with these two major commercial zones, Chendawol Street itself, in which the site is located in, is also one of the well-known commercial streets of the old city.

These contextual forces shape the building to be a Commercial Center formed in harmony with the historic and cultural identity of its surroundings.

The Plans

The building is permitted to be four stories above the ground level along with two stories for underground parking by Kabul municipality. With the buildings function to be commercial, three of its stories are design for shops and the upper forth level to be used by offices or workshops that provide for the lower stories.

The floor plans are laid out in grid system where the main circulation is achieved through two major hallways perpendicular to each other. The major hallways act as collectors or distributers and all other minor pathways are perpendicular to one these two hallways. At the intersection of the aforementioned hallways is the main node or square of the building from which every horizontal and vertical circulation can be accomplished.

Finally, since all the skylights are placed above the hallways and the main square, the entire building is well lighted and well ventilated through these hallways and the main square.

The Sections

All three shopping stories of the building are connected through three linear stairways at the main square of the building. These staircases not only connect the three shopping levels but also bring light from skylights down to the first floor and cools down the building through stack ventilation. Furthermore the stair equalize the shopping value of all three levels.

The Façade

The overall form of the building follows the idea of creating a contemporary façade that is in complete harmony with its immediate historic context. This façade is formed through the creation of a folding brick surface, in the western side of the building, which folds the same as the folding zigzag roof at the top. This zigzag roof along with the folding brick façade resemble the surrounding mountains that are covered with informal settlements. As the folding surface turns north it is pushed by portions of the building, thus it follows its folding pattern interrupted by white surfaces that pushes and tears it apart.

Light enters the building through small openings that are scattered throughout this folding surface and resemble the small openings of historic Kabuli fortresses (Qala) and follows the grid layout that is used in the floor plans as well.

Finally, the main opening of the building is a large arched doorway that cuts through the folding brick surface. Where the resemblance of this arched doorway to traditional Kabuli entrances integrates it with the historic context, its sharp contrast with the cutting edges of the folding façade defines its position perfectly. Through integration of these elements a contemporary façade is created which is in complete harmony with not only its immediate surrounding but also with the larger historic context as a whole.