baeyul dewaling, Gross National Happiness Centre, Bhutan

Dominic spent November 2010 in Bhutan on invitation from The Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Lyonchen Jigme Y. Thinley. The assignment was to review the site and current masterplan for a new centre for Gross National Happiness (GNH) based in the Bumthang valley and then advise on how to develop the project.

The month's work resulted in a revised masterplan designed by susturb and Paul Murdoch Architects from LA and including housing, education facilities and a meditation hall at three key situations on the hillside, at the river's edge and in the forest respectively.

Bhutan is developing GNH as an alternative growth model to GDP. Happiness is the key measure of human welfare rather than increased economy (or increased spending as is the case when GDP is used as a growth measure).