The Museum of Jesus’ Baptism at Bethany, Jordan , Juwafat al-Kafrayn/ Jordanien

Press release by Malcolm Reading Consultants, London

Design team shortlist announced for new museum to honor Jesus Christ’s baptism at Bethany, Jordan

The seven international design teams shortlisted for a new site-specific museum to honor Jesus Christ’s baptism at Bethany, Jordan, were announced today [14 August 2025].

Due to open in 2030 to mark the bimillennial of Christ’s baptism, the new museum is expected to be a globally significant spiritual and cultural landmark. The project is endorsed by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is led by the Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site (the Foundation). London-based Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) is managing the competition.

The forthcoming museum benefits from a site adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site — Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas), located on the east bank of the Jordan River, which has been a Christian pilgrimage destination for centuries.

The invited design teams shortlisted for the Museum of Jesus’ Baptism at Bethany, Jordan International Design Competition will respond to a brief that focuses on creating an exemplary story-led museum and garden in a sacred place surrounded by a preserved wilderness — a setting dedicated to the history and significance of baptism in the Christian faith.

Christ’s baptism was one of the few Gospel events witnessed by the Holy Trinity. As described in the New Testament, Jesus came to Bethany Beyond the Jordan to be baptized by John; as he emerged from the water God’s voice was heard; and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. The moment marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the origin of the sacrament of baptism, practiced subsequently across diverse Christian traditions.

The new museum will be Christian-centered, but welcoming and inclusive to all, situated as it is in a landscape where multiple traditions have coexisted across millennia. It will enrich and extend the visitor experience at the Baptism Site, offering space for reflection and learning and, depending on the individual, preparing visitors for a profound spiritual connection. As a literal and figurative gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museum will guide visitors on a journey towards the pilgrimage path leading to the river. Based on current trends and anticipated growth the museum is expected to welcome 400-450,000 visitors annually. The project is generously funded in part by donors from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The shortlist of teams chosen for the competition’s second stage by the Foundation’s Board, and advised by MRC, includes celebrated and emerging international architects (by team lead and in alphabetical order):

• AAU Anastas (Palestine / France / Jordan)
• heneghan peng architects (Ireland)
• Níall McLaughlin Architects (UK)
• Studio Anne Holtrop (Bahrain / Netherlands)
• Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO (Mexico)
• Toshiko Mori Architect (US)
• Trahan Architects (US)

Dr Tharwat Al Masalha, Chair of the Jordan Foundation's Board, said:

‘This project is one of the most significant cultural commissions in Jordan’s recent history. It reflects a national ambition to enrich the experience of visiting the Baptism Site for pilgrims, scholars, visitors and tourists alike.

‘The museum will honor the site’s spiritual value and importance, while also expressing Jordan’s enduring history as part of the Holy Land and its commitment to peace and plurality.

‘Confirming the shortlist brings us closer to creating a museum at one of the most sacred and spiritually resonant sites in the region.

‘We congratulate the finalist teams and look forward to seeing their design concepts in the Fall.’

The competition is being managed by Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC), specialists in international architectural competitions. MRC recently ran the high-profile international competitions for the Queen Elizabeth II National Memorial Masterplan (London, UK) and the expansion at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, US).

Malcolm Reading, Competition Director, Malcolm Reading Consultants, said:

‘We approached an international longlist of accomplished firms with experience in cultural projects, who are known for their placemaking skills. The seven finalist teams impressed with their understanding of the site’s spiritual resonance, and sensitivity to the surrounding ancient wilderness.

‘As we move to the design phase, teams have been given a brief for a story-led, faith-resonant museum and encouraged to express the museum’s narrative arc through spatial rhythm and form.’

The museum will be the anchor project within the wider masterplan for the Baptism Development Zone (BDZ) that will feature a range of visitor experiences for pilgrims, researchers and visitors from around the world. The museum has a working construction budget of circa $30 million, with funding secured. The competition’s winning design will be reviewed in coordination with UNESCO and in accordance with its Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment.

Offering a diverse range of natural wonders and historical sites, Jordan attracts visitors who respond to the rich culture and hospitality of the Jordanian people as well as the nation’s unique heritage sites, seven of which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities estimates that 85 per cent of visitors to Jordan come to experience its history and culture and to visit heritage sites such as Petra, Mount Nebo, and Wadi Rum. The Baptism Site is already one of the most visited sites in Jordan and it is expected that the Museum of Baptism will become an additional attraction, increasing visitor numbers.
The shortlisted teams’ concept designs will be revealed in Fall 2025 and the winning team announced towards the end of the year.

For further information and future updates please visit the competition website at competitions.malcolmreading.com/bethany