12/07/2013
The Bahai Shrine, the terraced gardens of the Shrine of the Bab:
In 1987, gardening and construction works on the Carmel slopes had began with a purpose of beautifying and adorning the surroundings of the shrine of the Bab. The eighteen monumental terraced gardens connect the foot of the mountain with its crest, nine above and nine below the shrine.
The gardens were designed by the architect Fariburz Sahba, who won international acclaim for his design of the Bahai House of Worship in India, also known as the "Lotus Temple".The gardens were designed as hanging gardens throughout the slopes of the Carmel to create an appropriate setting and access paths to the shrine, one of the most sacred places for Bahai's. The architect explains: "The shrine of the Bab is envisaged as precious gem, for which the terraces provide the setting, like a golden ring for a precious diamond. The terraces are designed as nine concentric circles appearing to emanate from the shrine of the Bab. All their lines and curves direct the eyes and feeling towards that central edifice. The geometry of parallel surfaces and lines have been employed to create the most agreeable and comforting setting for the spectator along the entire landscape".
The combination of natural elements of light and water form a major role in designing the gardens, in addition to other ornaments that enrich the landscape.
The gardens stretch uphill for a length of one kilometer reaching a height of 225 meters, and their landscape envelops the mountain reaching a width of 400 meters. Special attention was paid to conservation of the environment when planning the gardens and a highly advanced irrigation system was installed to help conserve water.
