Re-housing the Cave Dwellers of Bamiyan (Afghanistan)
The Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), Architecture and Planning Division hosts this competition to provide sustainable housing and infrastructure for the war-displaced families of Bamiyan, who occupy the caves at the historically known cliffs of Bamiyan where the remains of the Statues of the famous Buddha are located. The sandstone cliffs of Bamiyan are most famous for the giant 6th-century Buddha statues carved out of the rock, which was destroyed in 2001. Historically, these caves on the side of the cliff were dug out by monks and used for meditation and retreat.
Since the 1990s, about 150 native families sought refuge in these caves for safety and protection. There is ample evidence that these historic sites are transforming significantly to accommodate the growing family’s meek living space needs. There is a growing fear that the cliffs at the important UNESCO World Heritage site will become structurally unstable and will be lost altogether due to misuse.
The Purpose of the Competition:
The design challenge will propose a viable and affordable housing solution for the low-income displaced families of cave dwellers at Bamiyan City. The Competition proposal must adhere to two interrelated critical components, the development of a sustainable small and manageable community with its related infrastructure and an alternative affordable housing solution.
The Competition invites architecture, urban planning, and engineering students from selected institutions in Afghanistan and abroad to apply their collaborative efforts and innovative talents in developing achievable housing solutions aiming to integrate the current cave dwellers population
Registration:
Registration should be done electronically through http://afghanengineers.org/competition/
Deadlines and Schedule
Team Registration Period: July 15, 2022 to September 30, 2022
Deadline to Register Team: September 30th, 2022
Competition Submission Deadline: December 15, 2022