The builders from Brno will advise on the construction of a throne for Buddha in Little Tibet

Brno - The knowledge of Brno's builders will help people from the Indian region of Ladakh in constructing a throne for a giant statue of Buddha, the largest of its kind in so-called Little Tibet. The planned statue in the village of Mulbek is set to measure 33 meters, which brings various technical and static questions. The director of the local Buddhist school met with experts from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University (VUT) in Brno this week, informed the spokesperson for technology, Jitka Vanýsková.
    "The challenge is not so much the statue of Buddha itself, but rather its foundations, that is, the giant throne, which will also serve as a large meditation hall. And this is precisely where our friends in Tibet need help. The construction is to take place in mountainous terrain, which significantly complicates the situation,” said the author of the architectural design project, Jan Mayer.
    The Tibetans turned to VUT experts thanks to a seven-year collaboration with the organization Brontosaurů in the Himalayas. The organization has already built a school there, which is to transform into a campus for 350 children within six years. During the meeting in Brno, the technicians primarily explained what all needs to be done before constructing the Buddha.
    "For such an undertaking, perfect preparation is essential. First of all, the Tibetans must determine what lifespan it should have, whether a hundred or maybe a thousand years. Given the complicated substrate, geological surveys with deep probes and subsequent analysis of rock properties are also necessary," stated Ladislav Klusáček from the Institute of Concrete and Masonry Structures at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at VUT.
    According to the experiences of the Brontosaurů, the inhabitants of Mulbek are very skilled, practical, and able to work excellently with traditional materials. On the other hand, the final project is likely to be a compromise between the meticulousness of the Brno technicians and the Tibetan approach.
    The statue of the seated Buddha will be designed by a local artist. The statue, including the meditation hall, will become a new landmark of the village visible from all directions. It is expected to be completed in 2020. It will be followed by the construction of a meditation center with several buildings. The project is planned to extend until 2040.