Defining Houses The Kathmandu Valley Style

KATHMANDU: It is no co-incidence that “Kathmandu Valley Style”, has hit the book stores at a time when reinforced concrete buildings have visibly engulfed Kathmandu, once known as the city of temples. It is not surprising anymore to come across abandoned medieval ruins or even to find Newari architecture using nails or adhesive, things that the genuine tradition shuns. [break]

According to Professor Ar. Dan Heera Kansakar´s research tome, “The current state of wooden architecture and challenging issues in Nepal”, new developments in wooden architecture in present-day Kathmandu have slowed down considerably. The research shows that due to uncontrolled urbanization and rapid deforestation the government has been forced to adopt an anti-deforestation policy that has made wood hard to come by and expensive.

Even though Nepal government encourages use of traditional wooden façades for structures built within historically protected zones and heritage sites, and provides free timber and local brick, there is no provision of subsidies for the general public if they want to build with wooden elements.

To facilitate wood architecture, the government and the non-governmental sector (Public-Private Partnership) are manufacturing wooden elements like doors, windows, cornices and decorative idols.

Under present conditions, recent imaginative and adaptive use of Nepali architecture and decorative styles in new buildings and private homes in the Valley is a lesser known story. The book, which has pictures of over forty historic and new buildings, many never photographed or published before, is a welcome endeavor.

“Thanks to the creation of new wealth”, Pashupati SJB Rana said launching the book at Baber Mahal Revisited on Tuesday, “a minuscule of patrons have started experimenting with Nepali style houses more and more ... to the effect that I myself ended having one for me.”

“I was so fascinated that I had my whole dining room lined with Nepali brick, only to have one of my relatives comment, ´Everything else is fine. I guess, the room just needs a little bit of plastering´”, Rana said sending the audiences overflowing into the courtyard into general laughter.

If the visible number of expatriates present in the event was anything to go by, it seemed they were investing more interest in the subject. Explaining this Lisa Choegyal, board member of Nepal Heritage Society and co-author of the book along with Gautam SJB Rana explained, “With this program, we want to draw the attention of rich people who can buy the book.

However, underneath, we want to share and spread the magnificence of Nepali architecture to as many people as possible.”

The book also features outstanding work by New Zealander photographer Craig Patton, who was missing from the function. The book is priced at 4,000 rupees.

bhushita@myrepublica.com

(All photos courtesy: Mikel Dunham)