``…, citizens must participate in the design of buildings, thereby leading to a triangular relationship between the citizen, the architect and the builder. This means that the task of the architect is not to express his own ideas in the building but those of the local, the people and the culture. ``
Hassan Fathy
We don’t live on a planet with infinite resources. Most of today’s architecture is cold and pretentious, with no consideration for the people who will use it, and made with technologies most of us do not understand, destroying a good deal of earth’s resources. Instead of being kind, is a source of alienation. We should analyze traditional and modern building methods just the same before adopting or discarding any of them, but also we should stop thinking that always modern is better than traditional. There is a saying, that ignoring the traditional ways is the best way we can get to realize why we should not ignore it.
One of the problems of this type of implementation is that people come from outside with a project, the project is then built and remains empty, because the locals don’t consider it their own. With that in mind, we think the first step should be investigating within the local community the existing skills that can be used in the building process, and their needs, interests and expectations from the this project. Setting up training courses when needed should be one of the main interests, as the community can participate this way in the creation of the cultural centre. This way, the community will get involved since the beginning, making the project their own and involving themselves with ideas and skills right from the beginning. The people from the area could contribute with the tiles for the floors, woodwork for door, windows and furniture, textiles, construction work and all other activities and ideas that are necessary for completing the project. This way, new jobs are created and the project will be made with the locals and for the community. The first stage can be the construction of the workshops, where will be created the necessary things for the project. This way, in the end, the construction will be more than just another building and will be transformed into a vital center for the community.
For this project, we choose to use an adobe reinforced system named Sirewall – stabilized insulated rammed earth. We choose this system because it is innovative, bringing together the aesthetic and feel of the adobe with some of the benefits of modern building technologies. It is made from healthy, durable, safe and low emitting materials, using local materials and labor; it creates an excellent indoor air quality, stabilizes interior temperature and humidity and has acoustical attenuation. It is an energy efficient system, with high thermal mass an R value; it is fire and seismic safe and maintenance free (it doesn’t need an extra layer of coating); it has a very good hydrophobic performance, it is energy and environmental appropriate and economically viable.
To be considered:
Only the main paths are traced, as the persons who will inhabit the site, in their day by day, will decide which are the most comfortable connections between points of interest.
We propose a pathway all along the west side of the site, thus enjoying the Bamiyan Valley view. A special observation point is to be created above the performance hall. The space can be used for all kind of activities, like outside cinema, performances and exhibitions, while having a beautiful view of the Bamiyan Valley.
The water will be filtered and after use it will be sent to a treatment plant and then used for irrigation.
All the slopes will be stabilized and reinforced when needed, and then planted with berries, vegetables and fruit trees, for further stabilization and also for the use of the community. We are considering an area for terraced vegetable garden, which will use treated recycled water from the water treatment plant. The harvest can be used by the people who take care of it and the surplus can be sold in the market, generating extra income, in addition to creating a green area.
After an investigation of the local conditions, and the way the chosen building system works in those conditions, floor heating will be considered if needed.
The patterns are an example; local traditional patterns should be used in the final design.
The exhibition space for the permanent collection is intentionally left empty for now, as the furniture and accommodation should be made accordingly with the existing objects that will compose the permanent exhibition.
Status: Competition Entry
