The Office of Temples and Sites was established at the Bahá'í World Centre. The purpose of the office was to coordinate initial preparations for the temple builds with the respective National Spiritual Assemblies.
• Firstly a committee is formed in each country, entrusted with identifying, together with institutions and agencies at all levels of the community, means to promote widespread participation and to channel the enthusiasm engendered among the friends following the announcement of the projects.
• Another practical step in these national and local projects has been the selection of a suitable piece of land, one which is modest in size, strategically located, and easily accessible. Then a construction office for the project is established to assist with the management of technical, financial, and legal issues.
• The next step is to call for the preparation of a design for the Temple edifice. This begins with the selection of potential architects and the formulation of an architectural brief defining the requirements for the structure which will ultimately result in a contract for the final design. Architects are presented with the singular challenge of designing Temples "as perfect as is possible in the world of being" that harmonize naturally with the local culture and the daily lives of those who will gather to pray and meditate therein. The task calls for creativity and skill to combine beauty, grace, and dignity with modesty, functionality, and economy and consideration for local customs and practices. [The Universal House of Justice message dated 1 August, 2014]

The design for the national Bahá'í House of Worship of Papua New Guinea (PNG) was unveiled.
• Originally from New Zealand, Rodney Hancock—one of two individuals who brought the Bahá'í Faith to PNG in the 1950s—was asked to unveil the temple design before the audience of over 300 visitors.
• The architectural team—composed of indigenous architect from PNG Henry Lape and Saeed Granfar—also addressed the audience. They explained that the "search for a universal theme" for the temple was "a profound challenge in a country with more than 700 distinct cultural groups.
• The central edifice of the House of Worship will have a seating capacity of 350. [BWNS1246, EMTV.com 3 April, 2018]
• Concept photo's.
• From the website of the department of External Affairs for the Bahá'ís of Papua New Guinea.

Progress Report on the construction of the national Bahá'í House of Worship for Papua New Guinea the first Mashriqul-Adhkár to be designated as a national Temple.
• The House of Worship will be situated on a hilltop in the country's sprawling capital city, Port Moresby. It will be located on the same property as the Bahá'í community's national offices and will include gardens and other meditative spaces. The central edifice will have nine gabled-roof entrances made of timber.
• After receiving formal approval to commence construction from National Capital District's building board in August, the excavation work began. At the time of the report, the Temple's foundation was being laid and it was expected to be complete by December. Work on the steel superstructure was scheduled to begin in January.
• Slideshow. Mashriqul-Adhkar

The design, created by Wolff Architects in Cape Town, South Africa, was inspired by traditional artworks, structures and natural features of the DRC, as well as by the Bahá'í sacred teachings, particularly by the spiritual concept that God's bounty is unceasingly flowing over all people. The patterns that will adorn the outside of the dome of the central edifice will express this idea in a style reminiscent of the artwork of various Congolese peoples.

Commenting on the design, the architects stated: "We were inspired by an image of 19th century Congolese architecture which showed the most beautiful structures that appear to have finely woven bamboo facades with a parabolic roof made of palm leaves. These houses were located amongst giant baobab trees. ... The undulating roof of the temple makes reference to this history." [BWNS1438; BWNS1649]

A section drawing showing the temple's interior (top) and an elevation drawing of the temple's exterior (bottom).

Some team members of the firm Wolff Architects Nokubekezela Mchunu, Alexandra Böhmer, Bayo Windapo, Takalani Mbadi, Paul Munting, Temba Jauch, Matthew Eberhard, and Alex Coetzee.

The groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future national Mashriqul-Adhkar was held at the temple site near Kinshasa. The event, which coincided with the celebration of the Birth of Báb, was broadcast on national television and was host to government officials, representatives of religious communities and traditional chiefs. [BWNS1460]
• Photos of the event. [BWNS]
• The design of the national Bahá'í House of Worship of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[BWNS1438]

The Bahá'í World News Service released a progress report on the construction of the Mashriqul-Adhkar in Port Moresby.

After the laying of the foundations which was completed last December, work progressed on an intricate steel structure for the central edifice that traces the unique weaving pattern of the exterior. An innovative design for the steel dome, devised by Werkstudio, an engineering firm based in Germany and Poland, will provide the required strength with an economical use of material.

The structural system will interfaces with the nine entrance canopies that provide lateral strength to the temple. This system, parts of which are nearing completion, will eventually support a steel dome mesh that will at its apex reach a height of approximately 16 meters above floor level.

Designs were being finalized for wood panels that will adorn the entrances of the temple, using local timber. Planning is also under way for gardens that will surround the central edifice.

• Photos.
• Video.
• Facebook page.

The Bahá'í World News Service provided an update on the construction of the National Temple in Kinshasa. [BWNS1493]
• The reinforced concrete slab that will form the floor of the central edifice has been finished and the moisture barrier has been laid.
• Work on additional buildings on the site was steadily advancing.
• Earthworks were being prepared for the grounds outside the central area.
• A visitors' center was being built near the entrance to the site.
• Elsewhere on the site, several existing buildings were being renovated. One building was being used as a construction office. In the future, these buildings will be used as educational facilities and as offices for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A report on the progress of the construction of the National Mashriqul-Adhkar was provided.
• The concrete structural elements that make up the lower portion of the edifice and will support the steel superstructure of the dome and surrounding canopies was being completed. Work on the upper gallery was progressing.
• The two ring beams that support the dome had been completed.
• More than 90% of the concrete for the building had been poured.
• Work on the grounds and on the auxiliary structures was continuing. The walls and the roof of the visitor's centre had been completed.
• The secretary of the country's Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly, Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, reported that, "At the same time, we are seeing an intensification of action inspired by what the temple represents. Everything is increasing, from devotional gatherings, educational efforts, and other initiatives taken by families and youth, such as cleaning rivers and water sources, to formal activities in the areas of food security and agriculture, education, health and empowerment of women." He attributed the increasing pace of activity to a growing appreciation of the relationship between worship of God and service to humanity that is being cultivated through conversations about the national House of Worship. [BWNS1521]

The progress on the construction work can be see in the gallery of pictures on the BWNS website. [BWNS1617]

Hear the Temple Dedication by the choir on Soundcloud (7 tracks)]

The program featured a screening of A Remarkable Response: The Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a film (English, French) released for the occasion about the journey of the Bahá'ís of the country over the past seven decades.

The temple has now opened its doors to the public, embracing people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Specifics

Location:Kinshasa
Groundbreaking ceremony18 October 2020
Construction Period:
Site Dedication:
Architect:Heinrich Wolff
Architectural firm: Wolff Architects of South Africa
Seating: 250
Dimensions:30 meter high dome
Cost:
Dependencies:
References: [BWNS1652; BWNS1651; BWNS1650; BWNS1649; BWNS1438; BWNS1579; Dynamo]

They called for the establishment of a local Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Kanchanpur, Nepal, and in Mwinilunga, Zambia. A national House of Worship is to be raised up in Toronto, Canada, in the vicinity of the long-established National Bahá'í Centre. [BWNS 1669]

Other related stories: BWNS1733; BWNS1732; BWNS1713; BWNS1524; BWNS1688

See as well In Conversation: Stories from temple dedication in Papua New Guinea.