City of Light Development
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This article or section contains information about expected future buildings or structures. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the building approaches completion. |
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The Kabul - City of Light Development is an urban reconstruction plan first conceived in 2004 by urban planner and architect Hisham N. Ashkouri to revitalize Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The plan proposes to redevelop the Old City section, an area just South of the Kabul River. This area, approximately 3.5km long and 1.75 km wide, still hosts residences, commercial and retail activity, despite the fact that it has been largely reduced to rubble after years of occupation and civil war, and many of the collapsed structures have become temporary shelters constructed of whatever is available and without building codes and standards. The plan centers on the revitalization of Jade Meywand Avenue[1], one of the main avenues of commerce in the city and part of the historic Silk Route, between the Shah Do Shamshera Mosque and the Id Gah Mosque. The intent is to reestablish infrastructure and basic services to the area, and to establish proper retail, business and residential areas, while also preserving and restoring structures of historic and religious value. Also incorporated into this project is the new Afghan National Museum.
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[edit] Design
The design of the City of Light is based on an "Arid Region Design Technique" that has proven itself over the past decades on small scale buildings in cities such as Istanbul, Baghdad, Isfahan, and Kabul. The project will rely on extensive use of concrete, in high-rise and national structures including all-exterior solar screen work. in addition, the design will use brick, glass and other local or recycled materials that are abundant in Afghanistan. The design will employ higher architectural density and ventilated facades, to cut cooling energy costs in summer and winter. This development represents also a quantum leap in life cycle costing, maintenance and long term environmental responsibility.
The purchase of land for development will also result in about a 50% reduction of the construction cost for low-income housing. In addition, 10% of the development's profit will be set aside for seed money to encourage refurbishment of nearby homes and businesses, encouraging further investment and catalyzing more improvements.
The bases of the aesthetic designs to be used are rooted in the rich history of Afghan jewelry and rug designs. The buildings assembled in this project are most adaptable to various design themes, especially with the exterior glass skin being set within an outside screen of colored concrete in the shape of women's jewelry and rug patterns, extrapolated from culturally significant Afghan images. Green space in the plan is also incorporated in the shape of Necklace Park, a greenway running through the development.
[edit] Progress
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Afghan Ambassador to the United States Said Tayeb Jawad for greater development of this plan, and the concept has been presented to Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. [2]
