News & Features
The project site is located south of the Kabul River within the limits of the City of Kabul. Its length is 3.5 km and width 1.75 km. The site is characterized by the extensive demolition that has resulted from several wars- all the way from the Soviet invasion to the Taliban regime. Yet, commercial and retail activity in this area is still alive and well. Also many collapsed structures have become temporary shelters, thereby violating fire and building codes and standards
The development was conceived after visiting Kabul in September 2004. The openess and love shown by the Afghan people was the most enlightening experience, and the 'City of Light' was truly a fitting name, as it was an expression of a new sun and a new day for Afghanistan.
A building envelope - imaginary plane - was developed creating varying heights based on land-use and zoning requirements. An engineering grid was laid out over the area of development based on infrastructure needs and ground conditions. The grid was then projected through the imaginary plane creating the massing for the entire urban development. This massing included retail, commercial, residential, and institutional buildings. The mixed-use facilities included hotels, office buildings, retail malls, outdoor markets, medical facilities, low-cost housing, cultural buildings such as the National Museum of Afghan Heritage, open air amphitheaters and movies theaters, public parks and pedestrian malls, fountains, new roadways, parking and public transit system. The development would be set up similarly to the new plan of Dubai where various land packages can be publicly bid with the national government providing the infrastructure services.
The design of the City of Light is based on "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.
Narrow Streets: Using
narrow streets, high density with tall building structures on
both sides provides shading for pedestrians and allows larger
building floors on top such as the wooden cantilevered rooms or
Mashrabias found in Cairo.
The City of Light Development represents new economic
opportunity for the people of Kabul, enhancing employment
through construction, (252,000 new construction jobs) and after
occupancy of the new buildings. The development will include the
first national museum of Afghan Heritage, national library and
cultural center, and a new engineering school to be located in
Necklace Park.
The purchase of land for development will also result in about 50% reduction of construction cost of low-income housing. In addition 10% of profit will be set aside for seed money to encourage refurbishment of nearby homes and businesses.
The project will be based on extensive use of concrete in all 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 bases of aesthetic design 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. The designs will be extrapolated from Afghan images providing positive support of local spirit and future in the most beautiful way using concrete as the new context.