I first had the opportunity to meet one of the architects with Bjarke Ingels Group several years ago when I made opening remarks at an exhibition at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. Kai Uwe Bergmann, one of the Partners with the architectural firm which goes by the name BIG was in town to discuss the BIG graphic book called “Yes is More”. Already famous in Europe, the Danish based architectural firm was on the cusp of making major inroads in the North American market. Their innovative, ground breaking and environmental projects now span the globe. What is equally as amazing as their designs is their ability to get such designs built. Who else could design a recycling facility in Copenhagen with a ski slope on top of it and see it come to fruition? That building known as Copenhill is a modern wonder and just one of the fabulous pieces of their imagination that has come to life.
It is not surprising that BIG was selected to design an ambitious project in the Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan. Located high in the Himalayas, the land of the thunder dragon is known for its emphasis on Gross National Happiness. Many have likened it to a real Shangri-la. The BIG project Gelephu Mindfulness City is an expansive project which covers 386 square miles. It reflects the His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk’s vision of creating an economic hub consistent with Bhutanese culture and the spiritual nature of his country, all within the world’s first carbon-negative country.
Per a BIG press release, the master plan includes an international airport, railway connections, a hydroelectric dam and public spaces. All will incorporate Bhutanese design elements based on the nine domains of Gross National Happiness. Hence an emphasis on psychological wellbeing, health, education, living standards, time-use, ecological diversity & resilience, good governance, cultural diversity & resilience & community vitality shall be the bedrocks in each element of design. The widely acclaimed project recently won the Holcim Foundation Award for Sustainable Construction and certainly will win others.
Gelephu Mindfulness City is more than a monumental architectural achievement. It indeed is a compass to be used in whatever field or endeavor in which one is engaged. There is no limit as to what one can accomplish when they allow their imagination, creativity, enthusiasm, and hard work guide them. Dream big, think big and soar!
More info about BIG architects can be found at: https://big.dk/
(Photo courtesy of Brick Visual)
