UNESCO accepting entries for Bamiyan Cultural Centre in Afghanistan

Afghanistan continues to build toward reconciliation, restoring peace, and economic redevelopment after decades of political conflict and turmoil. To contribute to this process, UNESCO recently launched a single-stage open competition seeking the winning design of the Bamiyan Cultural Centre in the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan.

The Centre will serve as a space to promote cross-cultural understanding and heritage safe-guarding. Submissions are being accepted now until January 22, 2015, 11:59 P.M. GMT.

The Jury will choose one winner and four runners-up, followed by immediate implementation of the project. The Centre is scheduled to be complete within 24 months on a US$2.5 million budget.

More info below.

"UNESCO and the Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan, with the generous financial support of the Republic of Korea, are implementing a project to build the Bamiyan Cultural Centre. The Centre will be located near the boundary of the World Heritage property, the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley.

UNESCO and the Afghan Government have focused their efforts on stabilizing a united Afghanistan, which includes promoting cross-cultural awareness among ethnic groups as a way to advance reconciliation, peace-building and economic development in Afghanistan. This new architectural programme can challenge cultural barriers, reaffirm Afghanistan’s remarkable ancient history and enforce culture as a foundational component to Afghan national identity and peace-building. The Bamiyan Cultural Centre not only will function as a facility to unify, represent and study Afghan culture, but as a space to exchange ideas, congregate and establish a vibrant community for the future. Afghanistan has been seen as a place of conflict and strife, but this is far from the whole picture..."

Continue reading about the competition here.