Celebrating Diversity: Baha’i House of Worship Revealed in Papua New Guinea

Designed by architects Saeed Granfar and Henry Lape, the new national Baha’i House of Worship with a gorgeous latticed dome is finally unveiled. In a mission of creating a welcoming “universal theme”, the design considered the culturally and religiously diverse nature of the country which has 700 distinct cultural groups. Accommodating a capacity of 350 seats, the Baha’i House of Worship is considered one of the two main national Baha’i houses of worship worldwide.
The project focuses on bringing the community together and celebrating diversity. According to Confucius Ikoirere, the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (PNG), ‘It stands as a universal place of worship open to all the inhabitants of a locality, irrespective of their religion, background, ethnicity, or gender.’
Located in Port Moresby and elevated on a hill, the Baha’i House of Worship appears as a new landmark to the city and overlooks picturesque views of the Waigani valley.
The secret behind the lattice dome ceiling is that it is inspired by the traditional art of weaving which the locals are familiar with. The multiple openings allow for cross-ventilation and provide a unique quality of light.
‘One subtle image which time and again stood out to us was that of the art of weaving,’ clarified the locally based architects, Henry Lape and Saeed Granfar.
‘In traditional village life, which remains alive and vibrant in Papua New Guinea today, and in urban households alike, woven surfaces and objects are found in abundance. It is an image which resonates closely with ‘home’ for many of us, a functional and inherently beautiful art form which we interact with daily.’
See more: 
Baha’i Temple in Chile Wins Innovation in Architecture Award by RAIC
Bahá’í Temple of South America | Hariri Pontarini Architects

All Images Courtesy of Bahá’í International Community

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