Earlier this year, the Bamyan Provincial Hospital received the prestigious Gold Medal for Architecture in the category of Institutional Buildings from the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA). ARCASIA is a representative body of Asian National Architectural Institutes, which highlights architectural projects from the region.
“[The hospital] exemplifies architecture’s power to heal, empower, and endure.” – ARCASIA’s award citation
Built in the serene mountainous valleys of the Bamyan province, this hospital was designed to bring together state-of-the-art hospital infrastructure in an environmentally informed way. The rammed earth construction method draws inspiration from local materials and traditional Afghan techniques seen in surrounding homes, which makes the building more durable, better insulated, and able to blend in appropriately with its surroundings. The courtyards and spatial planning also provide a welcoming, healing environment.
The building is also highly energy-efficient, equipped with solar panels, to mitigate infrastructure limitations in the region and leverage Afghanistan’s ample sunlight, moderate temperatures, and little pollution.
Inaugurated in 2017, the Bamyan Provincial Hospital puts a particular emphasis on women’s and children’s health. The Government of Canada was one of the primary funders of the hospital, through AKFC’s MNCH program and Health Action Plan for Afghanistan.
The hospital was built to replace an aging building in a nearby location, where Afghan doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals struggled to meet patient needs due to inadequate facilities. In addition to an expanded range of outpatient services, the new building has 141 beds (up from 35 in the old facility – 15 of which were in tents). Operated by Aga Khan Health Services, the hospital anchors world class care for the approximately 500,000 Afghans living in the province.
The Bamyan Provincial Hospital’s award recognition reminds us that thoughtful design is transformative. In a region where healthcare access is limited, this hospital is delivering essential services in a way that honours the natural environment and reflects local identity, showing the power of the built environment in providing quality care and improving quality of life.
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