Stefano Boeri Architetti designs prayer center at Nepal's Ramagrama Stupa

Stefano Boeri Architetti has unveiled a masterplan for the Ramagrama Stupa, a Buddhist prayer and meditation center in Nepal's Parasi district, 50 km east of Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The archaeological site houses relics of the Buddha. The project was presented in late December 2023 at a ceremony attended by Nepal's Prime Minister, Buddhist monks, and government officials. The design centers on the Bodhi Tree and the intact Buddha Stupa, with a 600-meter-diameter open-air 'Prato della Pace' (Peace Lawn) symbolizing a mandala. Surrounding it is the 'Biodiversity Ring Garden,' a sloping meadow with 80,000 plants of 70 native Terai species, interspersed with spaces for cultural activities and meditation. Shading for pedestrian paths was carefully studied for year-round comfort. The project emphasizes sustainability, using local materials to echo regional architectural traditions and minimize environmental impact. Boeri called it 'an extraordinary challenge' to create a meaningful center for prayer, meditation, and peace in one of Buddhism's holiest sites, and predicted it would become one of Nepal's most significant cultural heritage projects.