BIG has revealed the new masterplan for Gelephu, a town near the Indian border in southern Bhutan, which will feature an international airport and a hydroelectric dam incorporating a temple. The 1,000-square-kilometer development will be named Mindfulness City and aims to become a model of growth and innovation rooted in Bhutanese landscape and culture. It seeks to preserve nature, enhance agriculture, and uphold a living tradition able to evolve.

Gelephu is characterized by its bridges, and this highly evocative and symbolic form, as well as architectural typology, influenced the project. These cultural landmarks traditionally function as both transportation infrastructure and civic facilities.

BIG’s master plan will be influenced by 35 rivers and streams, consisting of a series of “inhabitable bridges” with various functions – cultural, educational, recreational, and infrastructural – connecting different neighborhoods. The bridges will house a healthcare center, a market, a university, a Vajrayana spiritual center, and the terminal of the new international airport.

The project also incorporates a hydroelectric dam with a temple, the Sankosh Temple-Dam. It resembles a contemporary step-well, featuring typical staircases and viewpoints, blending religion and hydraulic functionality, as well as urban and social infrastructure. The buildings will be constructed using local materials such as wood, stone, and bamboo, situated alongside permeable paved streets.

“Sankosh Temple-Dam […] will be a manmade monument to the divine possibility of a sustainable human presence on earth. Turning engineering into art and turning the forces of nature into power,” said Bjarke Ingels.