LIRI Lumbini – Kenzo Tange
In 1956, King Mahendra of Nepal initiated the development of Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. A decade later, UN Secretary-General U Thant elevated the project to an international cause. In 1978, Japanese architect Kenzo Tange was commissioned to create the Lumbini Master Plan, envisioning a serene, meditative landscape integrating pilgrimage, research, and reflection. His design included a central axis leading from a monastic zone to the Maya Devi Temple, framing the sacred site with a symbolic spatial order.
As part of this vision, the Lumbini International Research Institute was conceived. In response to Nepal’s request, the Japanese organization Reiyukai committed to funding and building the institute. Construction began in 1978, and by 1995, the facility was completed and entrusted to the Lumbini Development Trust. The institute supports the study and preservation of Buddhist heritage, embodying both Reiyukai’s ideals and Tange’s synthesis of modern architecture with spiritual and cultural meaning.
