Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Landscaping work advances as ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre completed
A new milestone has been reached with the completion of the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre as landscaping surrounding the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continues to advance.
A new milestone has been reached with the completion of the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre as landscaping surrounding the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continues to advance.
BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — With the completion of the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre, a new milestone has been reached in the development of the project to construct the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
When the Shrine has been completed, visitors arriving to express their love and devotion will find in this Centre a place to prepare spiritually for their visit to the final resting place of the exemplar of the Bahá’í Faith’s spirit and teachings.
Beyond the Visitors’ Centre, work continues to advance on the landscaping surrounding the central edifice of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Grass has now been added to nearly all of the east and west berms, with many trees having already been planted on both sides.
The landscaping surrounding the Shrine and Visitors’ Centre has been designed to unfold gradually, inviting a sense of discovery and quiet contemplation.
The images that follow offer glimpses of recent developments, capturing both the completed spaces of the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre and the advancing work on the landscape that will embrace the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Left: Grass has been planted on nearly all of the east and west berms. Right: A tree being planted on the west berm.
The paths leading towards the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre have been carefully considered in the site’s design. Upon entering the site, visitors will initially take a path, seen in the image extending from the bottom left, toward the centre courtyard where they will catch their first glimpse of the Shrine across the landscaped berm to the west.
The courtyard is adorned with annual and seasonal flowers adjacent to the Visitors’ Centre with a few signature trees alongside larger ones that have been placed throughout that location.
As visitors proceed towards the building’s entrance, they will walk down a pathway where trees planted on both sides will—as they mature—create a vista.
Beyond the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre the crane can be seen as work continues on the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Seasonal flowers and annual plants adorn the garden beds surrounding the Visitors’ Centre.
Additional view of the gardens surrounding the Visitors’ Centre.
The foyer of the Visitors’ Centre includes traditional tilework reminiscent of Persian carpets.
Left to right: A rug adorns a wall of the foyer; from the vaulted ceiling hangs a decorative light fixture; close-up of flooring tilework.
Left: Volunteers serving at the Bahá’í World Centre cleaning windows of the main hall of Visitors’ Centre. Right: The main hall offers various seating arrangements and tables where people can prepare for their visit to the Shrine.
Another view of the main hall.
View of stained glass that allows light to shine through the foyer and the inside of the main hall.
To the left is a view of one of the rooms of the Visitors’ Centre that has been prepared for the public; to the right the ‘Akká Visitors Centre can be seen from the entryway of the building that will welcome public visitors.
Left: Beyond these trees lies the Riḍván Garden, a Holy Place pilgrims visit during their nine-day pilgrimage. Right: Across the ‘Akká Visitors Centre, various foliage can be found.
Aerial view of the site of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from the south-west.
