Níall McLaughlin Architects has been selected to design a new museum at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, traditionally identified as where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. The decision followed a six-month international design competition organized by Malcolm Reading Consultants and overseen by a panel of architects and heritage experts. The museum, part of the Baptism Development Zone within a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the east bank of the Jordan River, is planned to open in 2030 to coincide with the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s baptism.
The winning design treats the building and site as a sequence of spatial experiences, with an east–west journey from a dry, arid garden reflecting the surrounding wilderness, descending into the earth and crossing a water-filled separation evoking the Jordan River, then continuing into a planted garden of growth and light, symbolizing renewal. The low, terrain-embedded building uses locally sourced stone and rammed earth, drawing from Jordanian vernacular traditions to reduce its carbon footprint and link visually to the desert setting.
A stepped landscape rises from the museum’s roof, offering vantage points over the Jordan Valley and pilgrimage routes. A public square forms a central organizing space with east and west entrances. The project emphasizes social responsibility and local engagement, utilizing regional labor and craftsmanship to support local economies and knowledge while minimizing environmental impact. Landscape architects introduced walled gardens with native, scented plantings. Inside, exhibition design uses light, material, and sound changes to lead visitors through themes of wilderness, water, and witness.
Níall McLaughlin, Director, Níall McLaughlin Architects, said: “The museum is organized as an east–west journey. Visitors first enter through a dry, arid garden that reflects the surrounding wilderness, then descend into the earth and cross a water-filled separation that evokes the Jordan River itself. The path continues into a planted garden of growth and light, symbolizing renewal. This movement from dryness to water and light is meant to echo the spiritual themes of baptism and reflection.”
The design will be refined in collaboration with UNESCO, community representatives, and international stakeholders. When complete, the museum is expected to become a major cultural landmark, deepening understanding of the baptism story and inviting reflection from visitors of all backgrounds.
Image Courtesy: Parametric Architecture
