Modern Architecture in NEPAL

PRETEXT

Nepal has preserved an expansive variety of architectural styles, all linked by similarity of constructional pattern and materials; intergrated into a homogeneous complex by their underlying purpose.

Architecture flourished in the Malla period, in a competitive environment with different rulers trying to outdo each other. While varients of the pagoda style are predominant, there are few in the borrowed sikhara style. Buildings were mostly temples, palaces and building of public use. Residences were based on courtyard planning.

There was an extensive use of Bricks; Sun burnt and kiln on wooden posts and beams, inticrately carved wooden windows and doors. Symmetry was a preference; axial and radial.

 

During the Rana Period, for the first time, the 19^th Century western monumentalism was brought to Nepal. Building, mostly palaces were built in the Neo-classical style that borrowed elements from the Greek and Roman Architecture. Kishor Narsingh Rana and Kumar Narsingh Rana were the two main Engineers of the time.

Modern Architecture in Nepal starts from about the time the Sarashwati Sadan ( 2000 B.S.) was built, which is a milestone in the history of Modern Architecture in Nepal. It was designed by Bed Prasad Lohani; the first to introduce concrete structure in Nepal.

Ranjana Hall ( 2009 B.S.) is another example. He played with variety of elements in his buildings like; RCC, RBC, dome etc. His buildings are simple, functional and structurally stable.

Other individuals who have played significant role in the development of Modern architecture in Nepal are; Prabhinga Man Singh Pradhan, Shankar Nath Rimal, Robert Weize, Shiva Raj Panta, Ganga Dhar Bhatta, Bhubaneswor Lal Shrestha.

Robert Weize initiated the development with the masterplan of of Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur and some of its earlier buildings.

Narayanhiti Palace, designed by a team of Stain, Polk and Chatterjee from an Indian firm based in Calcutta, was constructed, S. N. Rimal was the Site Engineer.

Sarboccha Adalat (The supreme Court), Science Block of Trichanda College, Rani Pokhari designed under Bhavan Vibhag and the Department of Archaeology by Indian Coorperation Mission are other contemporay buildings.

Prabhinja Man Singh designed Amrit Science Campus; structure by S. N. Rimal.

Vrikuti Mandap ( 2015 B. S.) by Shiva Raj Panta

RNAC Building by Bhubaneshwor Lal Shrestha

Post Office Building, Sundhara by Indian Cooperation Mission

NEPALI CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTS

Shankar Nath Rimal

Eldest son of Devendra Nath Rimal And Sita Devi, was born on 1^st March 1935 in Tangal, Kathmandu

Schooling: pre primary – Nandiratri School, Naxal

                  Secondary – Durbar High School ( SLC in 1950) along with brothers; Gauri            

                                       Nath and Durga Nath

Shankar Nath joined Engineering despite the family’s wish for him to be a doctor.

He received Colombo Plan for Electrical Engineering and later shifted to Civil Engineering. He graduated from Calcutta University in 1957.

Started professional work as assistant Engineer in the public works department.

In 1959, left for Germany on a year long training in Dtckechooff and Widman K. G.

In 1961 Started his own firm” Shankar Nath Rimal Engineers and Architects P. Limited.”

Spent his life on creative domain which led him to the threshold of perfectionist.

He spared time for creative works in the form of sculpture and painting in water colour, oil etc. The paintings are rather abstract and fresh with bold use of colours. His sketches contain minute details. He has also expressed his emotions in some of his miniature sculptures. He has displyed his skills in other specilized fields such as Project Writing, Structural Details, Working Drawing and Landscape Design.

He also reshaped our national Flag to proportion

HIS PHILOSOPHY

Spiritual Quality in designs

Heterogenity over homogenity

Redefine Nepali Architectural Space

Use of Modern Technology

Faithful use of elements

Emphasis on purity of form

Cost Effective

HIS VIEWS

§  One must be fully engaged in his work to be successful

§  Originality comes from philosophy, which is also essesntial to achieve sustainability

§  Architecture is an applied art; point where art and science meets to form a different new

§  Planning, Aesthetic and Structure should be given equal importance; without Planning it cannot be functional; without Aesthetic it cannot be satisfactory and without structure it will fail.

§  Better locally available materials with local workmanship while use of modern material should be in a simplified way.

HIS WORKS

Include Gateways, Hotels, Industries, Public Buildings, Institutions, Museums, Library, Auditoriums, Temples and  numerous Residences.

“Sahid Gate”, first of his works:– memorial arc Nepal Smarak Dwar  - 1958

Narayanhiti Royal Palace - Engineer Incharge of construction (1961-1972), in which Mangal Sadan, Nanigung and Darbar Parisar are his own creation.

Hotel Soaltee, Kalimati – 1962, along with G. D. Bhatta

Royal Nepal Academy, Kamaladi - 1964

Hotel Everest International, New Baneshwor - 1969

Tikapur Town Planning (Pop. 25000) - 1973

 – space contigeous with the surrounding

                            Dynamic; Interwoven house blocks and green zones

Janakpur Cigarette Factory - 1964

Yagna Shala Building, Pashupati Nath Temple Complex

Taragaon Cultural Tourism Centre

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, Singha Darbar - 1969

Amrit Science Campus, Chhinalata Guthi, Nepal Art Council, Rastra Bank, Bhairahawa

NIDC Arcade, Mercantile Corporation show room, Hetaunda Flour Mill, Tikapur Hospital

Staff Housing for Bansbari Shoe Factory, Clock Tower at Janakpur, Temple at Devaghat

Lumbini Development Trust; Library, Museum and Auditorium Building, Reuki Training Centre, Pokhara, Bishnu Mandir, Singapore, Pashupati Nath Temple, Patan, Medicare Hospital, Balkhu, Nepal Temple, USA

Residences

-          Pangre Ghar (Mr. Khagda Bahadur Singh), Pulchowk

-          Khutte Ghar ( Mrs. Angur Baba Joshi)

-          Shanti Sadan (Her Late Highness Shanti Singh)

-          Shova Sadan (Her Royal Highness Shova Singh)

Ganga Dhar Bhatta (Halabe)

THE MAN

First Nepali Architect ( B. Arch Degree, from India)

Upon Completion of bachelor degree ( 1961), he joined Bhawan Vibhag (the Department of Building) as an assistant Engineer. At the time there was no position for architects.

Upatyaka Nirman Samiti was established to work out on development plans.

Instrumental in promoting Architecture in its modern form in Nepal

He drew the first Kathmandu Valley Map based on the photographs taken from Plane

Later dropped architectural practice and completely engaged himself in Poultry farming

HIS PHILOSOPHY

Architecture and Society should go hand in hand

The ingredients of a good building; Honesty, Sincerety, Seriousness and Hard work.

Form should satisfy function

Building should respond to its surrounding

HIS WORKS

Hotel Soaltee, along with S.N. Rimal

City Hall, Exhibition Road

Features: Dynamic Building form, Abstract Gateway, Segregated Vehicular and  Pedestrian approach, Wide open-riser Stairway leading to ther first  floor, Large Windows, Complementing Landscape

Master Plan and pavilion design of Dasarath Stadium

Police Club Building, Exhibition Road

Rastrya Panchayat Building:

Comissioned through Design Competition. Consisted of five buildings; The Assembly Hall, Secretatiat Building, Library Building, Multipurpose Hall and Restaurant. The 90 ft. dia Assembly hall was never built. Jeewan Kunj, Green Houses, Godavari Botanical Garden

Carl Pruscha

THE MAN

Austrian Architect

Assigned to prepare the master plan of Kathmandu Valley ( 60s), influenced architectural trend in Nepal.

The communal institutions were the visible pivotal points forming centres of the compact towns and villages.

Translated the prevailing rules to incorporate them into more modern and technical context.

Architecture as the appropriate response he helped recover the lost methodology to unite techniques and Discipline in construction

The environment; existing forms and functions, was  the basis on which he produced contextual yet new and refined spaces. He assimilated the spirit of the place and the rules presiding over spatial transformation.

Made aware the bond between Architecture and Urban Planning

The building activity is a victory gained over the danger of dissolution and in support of the cosmic order with which the work is and must be in harmony.

Made great attempts in merging his buildings into the surrounding, physically

While he intentionally avoided any features suggestive of Nepali architecture, yet managed to design buildings in harmony with the place.

HIS PHILOSOPHY

Architecture is a response to a higher need – man’s need for shelter and his need to satisfy definite spiritual impulses along with physical shape

Great respect for climate and adaptation of building to the landscape

Adopted simplicity in construction and used technology within the grasp of the local workmanship.

A timeless architectural vocabulary, one that cannot be dated by stylish feature.

HIS WORKS

Centre for Economic Development and Administration (CEDA) building at Tribhuvan University (T.U.), Kirtipur

Taragoan Resort, Bauddha