The vision and dream to keep the houses of old structures intact, Rabindra Puri, with no engineering degree whatsoever, easily convinces anyone the importance of
keeping the concrete structures out of the valley.
His first experience was renovating the award-winning typically designed old Newari house that he renovated in the traditional fashion. This three-floor house was built around 150 years ago and was in ruins when he took over.
Puri says he has a great passion for Newari architecture. With the success of Namuna Ghar, he started restoring old houses and into new ones while keeping intact the traditional style. Having completed 30 projects, he embarks on an ambitious plan to turn the town of Panauti to a traditional architecture site.
He has already restored three houses and helped restore three other that belonged to local community.
Apart from depleted houses, Rabindra has built several school buildings in the rural villages as well. The famous Tony Hagen House is the latest piece of his work. Hagen, one of the first geologists to travel the length and breadth of Nepal has written books that introduced Nepal to the world. During his first visits in the 60s, the Swiss national found the first concrete house in the Valley which disappointed him and mentions it in his book ‘Nepal’.
Rabindra converted the same house into a traditional Newari residence and dedicated it to Hagen. The house is going to be inaugurated for public this week.
Rabindra Puri has a Bachelor’s degree in four different majors and Masters in Development Policy from Germany.
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