FAITH PARK – Albania – an Olympics of a competition in the architectural world, the ambition to market religious tolerance in a country where the Prime Minister claims no Jews were handed over to occupying Germans in WW2 and where Christianity and Islam happily
co-habitate. Now according to the BIG idea of the winner many world religions (pavilions) can isolate themselves at the end of their own dead- end street (a plan diagram suggesting a high security gated-community). No matter – the winner Bjake Ingels is a star, his rhetorical tsunami presentation woke the judges who only shortlisted early morning or late afternoon presenters. The previous day a diminutive 100 year old Inca lady had blessed the site, her colourful delegation of Incas began the days proceedings, perhaps distracting the judges from the first presented project by star architect David Adjaye. Also eclipsed by the midday snooze were the excellent RCR Arquitectes, the born again Amsterdam hippies GG-loop, BOLLES+WILSON and MDRDV (never mind – a few days later Winny, the other global tsunami presenter, won a follow-up competition for an Albanian Basketball Stadium with a giant Death Star sphere).

BOLLES+WILSON’s take on the didactic and immersive cultural destination placed an Abrahamic Platform high up on the mountain site, with twinned prayer rooms (Islam+ Orthodox Christianity) taking their cue from the Albanian Plisi hat. Further up in an ex-quarry was a common Abrahamic origin, the Hebrew Tabernacle (100x 50 cubits, as God instructed Moses). Arrival facilities lower down the mountain include a Wellness Hotel, Plant and Tree conservatory, Conference and a Hall of Remberence for victims under Communism in Albania. Visitors are ferried up in a Cosmic Egg Funicular and wander down past 15 Theme Gardens each offering contemplative spaces inspired by world religions and their botanical symbolism. Further off in the forested mountainside are 25 wellness cabins and a Grand Hammam Hotel.

To the BOLLES+WILSON presentation
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