Museum of Jesus’ Baptism at Bethany

About

Níall McLaughlin Architects has been named the winner of the competition for the Museum of Jesus’ Baptism in Bethany, Jordan. The location is on the east bank of the Jordan River, adjacent to the spot where John the Baptist is said to have immersed Jesus of Nazareth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Six other firms vied for the commission: Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, Heneghan Peng Architects, Studio Anne Holtrop, AAU Anastas, Toshiko Mori Architect, and Trahan Architects. The scheme presents the museum as an east-west journey anchored by an allegorical sequence – starting in an arid garden where visitors will descend to encounter a rift filled with water symbolizing the river, and ending in a fruitful paradise garden. The eastern entrance and western exit face each other across a square, while a stepped landscape leads to a rooftop offering views of the Jordan Valley and the pilgrimage route to the Baptism Site. The design pays close attention to Jordan’s vernacular architecture, using local stone and rammed-earth techniques. This not only helps the building blend with its surroundings, but also minimizes its carbon footprint and harnesses regional resources including labor, altogether reinforcing the project’s social and environmental commitment.