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Memorial Gardens Crafted With Concrete and Glass Offering Healing Spaces for Community Reflection

Author:
Nasrin Qasim
Memorial Gardens Crafted With Concrete and Glass Offering Healing Spaces for Community Reflection

Project in-detail

Crafted from durable concrete and transparent glass, the memorial integrates landscaped gardens to foster community reflection while honoring the profound losses experienced throughout decades of conflict.
5 key facts about this project
01
Memorial gardens utilize native flora to symbolize resilience and renewal.
02
Digital displays in exhibition spaces enhance visitor interaction and education.
03
The use of concrete and glass maximizes natural light while maintaining structural integrity.
04
Carefully organized zones facilitate both individual reflection and communal engagement.
05
Designed with an emphasis on community involvement in the narrative of loss and healing.

The Afghan War Memorial is an architectural project located in Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan district. It seeks to commemorate the significant loss of life suffered by the Afghan population since 1978, with an estimated two million victims acknowledged in its design. The memorial is intended to facilitate reflection on the past while promoting healing and hope for the future. It combines thoughtful spatial dynamics with an emphasis on materiality, inviting visitors to engage deeply with its multifaceted purpose.

Unique Characteristics of Design Approach

This project sets itself apart by integrating transparency and openness with traditional memorial concepts. Unlike many memorials that focus solely on mourning, the Afghan War Memorial artfully combines elements of memory, education, and inspiration. Its use of materials such as concrete, glass, steel, wood, and stone is intentional. Concrete provides structural integrity, while glass enhances visibility and connection with the surroundings. Steel elements strengthen the contemporary attributes of the design, and wood is used to introduce warmth, contrasting with the more austere qualities of the other materials.

Another unique aspect is the landscaped gardens surrounding the memorial, which serve both artistic and functional purposes. These gardens create an environment conducive to contemplation and dialogue, utilizing native flora to symbolize resilience and renewal. This garden design illustrates an understanding of the importance of nature in the healing process and establishes a relationship between the memorial and its geographic context.

Functional Spaces and User Engagement

The Afghan War Memorial is designed with a range of functional spaces that serve different purposes, addressing both individual reflection and community engagement. Areas dedicated to exhibitions present historical narratives, contextualizing the significance of the memorial. These exhibit spaces utilize digital displays to enhance visitor experience and increase interaction, particularly with younger generations. The layout is organized to encourage movement across various zones, including quiet spaces for personal reflection and communal areas for discussions and education.

The memorial's architectural design includes a carefully considered spatial arrangement that balances openness with defined areas for contemplation. This thoughtful layout invites the public to engage with the memorial, fostering a sense of community ownership and collective remembrance. The combination of both internal and external spaces reinforces the memorial’s multi-dimensional character, ensuring it serves both as a place of mourning and a site for learning and dialogue.

For a comprehensive understanding of the architectural details, materials, and design concepts, readers are encouraged to explore the project presentation, which includes architectural plans, sections, and other important architectural ideas. Engaging with these resources will provide further insights into the thought process behind this significant architectural endeavor.

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The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge invites architects and designers to create iconic public sculptures for one of two sites in Saudi Arabia: Abu Hadriyah Road or the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar. Proposals should reflect Saudi identity, culture, and future aspirations.

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The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge is an international architecture and design competition inviting creatives to shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s public spaces. With a total prize fund of €50,000, the competition calls for sculptural proposals that merge cultural symbolism with innovative design, offering participants a chance to see their concepts brought to life in a rapidly transforming national context.

Organised by Buildner in partnership with the Mujassam Watan Initiative, the challenge focuses on two prominent locations: Abu Hadriyah Road, a major highway and gateway into the Eastern Province, and the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar, a pedestrian-focused waterfront district. Designers must select one site and develop a sculpture that engages with its surroundings—whether addressing the fast-paced dynamism of a transit corridor or creating moments of interaction along a coastal promenade.

Proposals should be bold, site-specific, and rooted in narrative—drawing on themes such as heritage, national identity, transformation, and dialogue. Environmental responsiveness, material durability, and feasibility are strongly encouraged, as winning projects may be selected for actual construction.

Each submission must include four A2 landscape presentation boards, a cover image, and a written project description. The competition is open to professionals and students alike, working individually or in teams of up to four people. No professional license is required.

Registration is open until July 24, 2025, with final submissions due by August 27, 2025. Winners will be announced on October 1, 2025.

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 24 July 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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