Toshiko Mori Architect

Our project for the Museum of Jesus’ Baptism envisions a modest, contemplative sequence of structures – an expression rooted in humility, authenticity, and reverence for place. Conceived as an ode to the simple dwelling of John the Baptist, the museum is built from local clay and stone using traditional vaulted construction, connecting cultures and faiths across time. The design creates a timeless presence that belongs to its setting both physically and spiritually, offering a place where history, faith, and geography converge.

The museum unfolds as a series of pavilions and gardens that explore botany, geology, archaeology, and anthropology, revealing how nature, culture, and faith intertwine in this sacred landscape. Woven between the pavilions, the gardens invite wandering, reflection, and engagement with water and light as unifying elements. Through restraint and resonance, the project creates a peaceful, reverential experience that honors John the Baptist while celebrating the enduring, universal message of faith and renewal from Bethany Beyond the Jordan.