The concept is inspired by the mountainous nature of this part of Afghanistan. The project aims to establish a strong relationship between the imminent context, the surrounding landscape, and its cultural heritage. The building partially nestles into the slope at the top of the mountain.

On one hand, it organically reshapes the landscape at the summit of its mountain while also taking advantage of the ground mass to increase the energy efficiency of the building as well as the comfort of open and interior spaces through light and temperature control. On the other hand, the building makes itself visible from the valley and the mountain chain in front of it through a bold cut that cross the entire building, also allowing the visitors to experience a privileged view of the valley from inside the building.

The main opening on the slope side of the area talks to the cave of the destroyed Buddha and recalls, in a contemporary way, the emptiness left by the reckless act, a symbol itself and a j’accuse towards violence winning on dialogue, towards ignorance winning on culture.