THE MINDFULNESS CITY

Located in the town of Gelephu in Southern Bhutan, the masterplan titled 'Mindfulness City' by BIG, Arup, and Cistri is informed by Bhutanese Culture, the principles of Gross National Happiness index, and the country's strong spiritual heritage.

PROJECT: Gelephu Mindfulness City, Gelephu, The Kingdom of Bhutan; ARCHITECTS: Bjarke Ingels Group: BIG

In the 116th National Day address, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk presented his ambitious vision for a new economic hub in Bhutan, the world’s first carbon-negative country. The future Gelephu Special Administration Region, located on the India-Bhutan border, will leverage its location and connectivity to South- and Southeast Asia to lay the foundation for the country’s future growth and create economic opportunities for its citizens through investments in green technology, education, and infrastructure. The project to be designed by BIG’s Landscape and Urban Design Team, includes a new international airport, railway connections, a hydroelectric dam and public spaces. The design language will take its cue from local building typologies, based on the nine domains of GNH; Psychological Wellbeing, Health, Education, Living Standards, TimeUse, Ecological Diversity and Resilience, Good Governance, Cultural Diversity and Resilience, and Community Vitality.