Building & Architecture

PSC Exam Preparation

Engineering Service, Civil Group, Building &
Architecture Sub-group
(2nd Paper)

Chapter 4:

“Architecture“
(20 marks)

By : Ar. Yek Raj Adhikari

Course Contains:
Chapter 4- Architecture (20 marks)
1. History of Architecture
2. Contemporary world Architecture
3. Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
4. Traditional Architecture of Nepal
5. Architecture of Kathmandu Valley
6. Principles of Architecture Design
7. Factors to be Considered while designing buildings
8. Standards to be followed while designing buildings in Nepal
9. Contemporary world architects and their works
10. Architectural landmarks in Nepal
11. Conservation of historic buildings
12. Ethics of architects in professional practices
+ Vernacular Architecture ? Architecture
Building & Architecture
Purpose of the Chapter 4: at the end of this
chapter, the examinee will familiar with

• Understanding of Architecture as an art and

science of space design
• Different between building and architecture
• Historical development of architecture
• Traditional, vernacular and contemporary
architecture (global/ national/ local contexts)
• Architectural conservation
• Architecture professional ethics

Architecture
Chapter 4: Reference materials
• The Tiered Temple of Kathmandu Valley, by Prof. S.R. Tiwari
• Traditional Architecture of Kathmandu Valley- by Wolf Gang
Korn
• Contemporary Nepalese Architecture, Architecture of Foreign
Architects in Nepal Space article- by Ar. Biresh Shah & Ar.
Dipak Panta
• Building Design Guideline (draft), DUDBC
• NNBC 206
• Principle of composition- Google download
• Architecture reaching for the sky- Ruth Coleman, Google
download
• Slide share
• List of Pizkar Prize winner Architects

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Architecture as an art and science of space design
• Architecture vs. building: 3 fundamental principle of an
architecture- Form, function and durability
• Art: laws of composition- unity, contrast, proportion, scale,
balance and symmetry, rhythm, character, harmony, order…
• Scientific, artistic
• Architecture from cave to sky-scraper (high-tech architecture).
• Manifestation of civilization
• Basis of development of architecture was fear, death, love
and hope.

• Product of physical/environmental, social, cultural, economical &

technological context (PESTE)

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Historic Time line:
• Prehistoric age,
• Stone age (Paleolithic- 9000 bc, Mesolithic- 8000 to 5000 bc,
Neolithic- 5000 to 2200 bc),
• Bronze age (early period 2200 to 750 bc, late period 750 to 50
bc)
• Birth of Buddha- 555 bc
• Birth of Confucius- 550 bc
• Birth of Christ – 0 bc
• Birth of Mohammed- 570 ad
• Iron age 50 bc to till date (steel age, atomic age, silicon age,
computer/ IT age…)- modern, post modern and high tech
Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
Classical architecture (western)
• Egypt: 5000 bc to 100 ad, cardinal of civilization, situated in
the bank of fertile Nile River- Pictograph, post lintel
construction ( trebeated architecture now call frame structure),
• Tombs: out come of belief of life after death, funerary
architecture (mastabas, royal pyramids, rock hewn tombs),
angle of great pyramid is 51 degree and height 147m , base
230.4m, average weight of limestone blocks is 2.5 tons
while of maximum size is 16 tons.
• Temples: ritual architecture, pillared hypostyle hall, clear
story, pair of huge pylons at entrance
• obelisks and sphinx: mysterious imaginary objects having
body of lion and head of men/ women (king/ queen), the
great sphinx at Giza is 22m ht * 54m long, face is about 4 m
width Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture

• The Ancient Near East-Mesopotamia (now

Iraq): 2350 to 563 bc, also cardinal of the civilization,
Mesopotamia means land between rivers (in Greek)-
Tigris & Euphrate rivers, fertile land ( Sumeria,
Babylon, Assyrai)
• Invention of sun-dried brick, bitumen, glazed tile,
fortified cities, temple complex, brick barrel vaults,
• Ziggurates- temples: open tiered rectangular stages
from one to seven, ladder of humble reverence
• Small cities with complex societies, Ur city of 2000
bc, fortified town, palace buildings

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
Greece: 1600 to 100 bc, use of orders- Doric, Ionic,
Corinthian (pediments, entablature, column),
Partheon and Erechtheon temples in Athens, towns
• Doric order:
• Ionic order:
• Corinthian order:
• Town/ dwellings: agora- city center with office
buildings, open spaces, shops, temple and stoa,
stoa- guest house, no of public buildings and less
private

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Roman: 900 bc to 476 ad, beautiful cities with sophisticated
public infrastructures- public bath house, entertainment
houses…
• inventor of cement, lime concrete, own orders, arches, dome,
pilaster, stadium, colosseum- combat games, bridges and
aqueducts, column and trebeated system, color marble,
stucco, mosaic finishes
• Rome, Vatican city
• Forum-city centre, open plaza, every thing in one complex,
• Roman Orders: doric, ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, composite
• Temple architecture eg rotunda, roman basilica, combination
of column and arches

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Medieval European architecture (400 to 1400 ad):
• In 400 ad Europe divided East and West
• WEST: war began, economic downfall
• Christian Architecture (400-900 ad): T-shaped basilica,
religious architecture…
• Romanesque Architecture (900-1150ad): oblong type T-plan,
verticality, structural emphasis…
• EAST: no war, fully developed
• Banzantine architecture rectangular structure with central
dome…
• Interior decoration, semi circular arches, good harmony…
• In 1200 ad East declined with Muslim invasion, while West
boomed… Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Gothic architecture (1150 to 1500 ad):
• Pointed arch architecture, lots of decoration, use of rib
beams/ slabs, Notredam Chapel, Paris…
• Renaissance Architecture ( 1500-1700ad)
• Re-birth of classic concepts, developed planned butiful cities,
garden, landscapes, oblong dome, clear story, skylights,
pilasters and arches…
• Barraque Period
• Rolloque Period
• Neo-classical
• Revived of classical style, greek order, roman
pilasters, Rana Palaces in Nepal
Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
History of Eastern
Architecture

• Vedic Period
(Vaastu Shastra-
Mayamata,
Mansara)
4.1 History of Architecture
History of
Eastern
Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
History of Eastern Architecture
• Vedic Period (Vastu Shastra- Mayamata, Mansara)
• Indus Valley Civilization: Mohanzodaro & Harappa
• Mauryan (300bc-150bc)
• Buddhism became very popular, Chandra Gupta Maurya-
Chankya was the PM, grandson Ashoka
• Hinayana, Mahayana
• Before Ashoka only 8 stupas, Ashoka extended 700, Ashoka
Pillors…
• Sunga Period (160bc- 200ad)
• Great stupa of Sanchi (capital of Sunga), Bajha, Ajanta stupa,
Gandhar…
4.1 History of Architecture
• Gupta and Post Gupta Period
• Medieval India (7 to 18 cad)
• Nalanda- Buddhist university (7-11cad), monastery
city, muslim destroyed Bihar area in 11cad…
• South India: Gupta, Chalukyan (elephant motifs,
rock cut temple, ellura/ elephant), Pallavas (lion
motifs shore temple), Chola (order, uncompleted
large temples), Panays (not make new, added no of
courtyard around an old temple, Gopurum)…
• Square forms- hindus, Circular forms- Buddhist…
used stone or bricks reversely..
4.1 History of Architecture
• Medieval India (7 to 18 cad)
• North India: Orissa (horse, chakra, garbhagriha,
Klinga, Parsurameswor), Khajuraho, until 11cad, all
construction was without mortar…
• Indian Buddhist (Mouraya to 9th cad): Patana Bihar,
Bodhagaya, kpilbastu, Nalanda, Takshesila…
• East India:
• Central India:
• West India:
• Mugal Period

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Islamic India (11cad-1707ad)
• Different Hindu and Muslim architecture:
• Hindu- idealism- ancient religion, temple doesn’t
sought all, only carved, few colors, mortar less,
stone, shikhara, trebeated system, …
• Muslim- realism- abstract/material thought,
geometric forms, frank/ free, calligraphic writing,
many colors, mortar, arches/ domes, archbulated
system, bricks, rubble with plaster…

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Islamic India (11cad-1707ad)
• Muslim Dynasty
• 1191-1290ad slave , 1290-1320 ad Khalji
• 1320- 1413 ad Tughlaq, 1414- 1444 ad Sayyid
• 1451-1526 ad Lodhi, 1526- 1707 Mughal
• Mughal Architecture: 4 capitals- Lahor, Delhi, Agra (Akbar),
Fatepur sikri (Shah Jahn),
• Humayun tomb, Agra fort- Indian gate- Akbar Tomb, Fatepur
Sikri- bulanda darbaja, Red fort- Rangamahal-Taj mahal…
• Red sand stone phase, whit marble phase, decorated arches,
dome, impressive height,
• Taj Mahal: 1000’*2000’ garden, tomb of wife of Shah Jahn,
view design for different distance, terrace 22’, tomb 186’
cube, 2 dome- outer and inner Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Chinese Architecture (8000 bc to 255 bc)
• 7 dynasties:
• 8000-255 bc- Chin, 206bc-220ad-Han,
• 618-907ad-Tang, 960-1280ad- Sung,
• 1200-1368ad Yuan, 1368-1644ad- Ming,
• 1644-1912ad- Muwan
• Religions: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism
• Very earlier civilization, tu(soil), mu (timber) main materials,
curvilinear roof projection, colorful architecture as in
Buddhist- red, yellow, blue, white, black- 5 colors, porcelain
tiles, water proof glazed tiles

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Chinese Architecture (8000 bc to 255 bc)
• Great Wall of China- Chin dynasty 255 bc, divide China and
Mongolia, 1400 miles, 15’ to 20’ wide, 20’ to 25’ base width
up to 30’ height, stone/ bricks, stone towers (forts) in
different places, Ist Chinese architecture still alive
• Chinese pagoda- before 1st cad, Buddhist complex tower,
octagonal plan, nos of roofs
• The white pagoda (Araniko)- multi roof structure or chitya,
longest cylindrical dome, 51 m height
• Temple of Heaven, Peking 1420ad- pagoda style, 3 roofs,
circular plan, 100’ height, 3 terrace plateform, each roof is
independently built

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Japanese Architecture
• Earthquake influenced architecture
• Learned from experience and improve the fults
• Better joinery systems, Light structures, paper curtain walls
• Buddhism extended from Tibet-China-Korea-Japan (550ad),
with in 50 years 400 temples related to Buddhism was built
• Nara city 8th cad, grid iron pattern 8*8 sq Mandala i.e. 9
streets in each direction
• Japanese garden- bonsai, rock garden, main component of
building
• Tenno Ji Pagoda- 5 storyed temple, square plan (Chinese has
octagonal or circular), central pillor like pendulum
• Japanese pagoda vs. Chinese pagoda and Nepalese pagoda
Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Indonesia Architecture
• Bali meru temple
• Buddhism- stupas

• Burma, Thailand, Cambodia Architecture

Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Ananda pagoda, Burma

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Modern architecture (1900 ad to till date)
• Modern geometric forms,
• formalism,
• structuralism

• Post modern architecture (1980s ad to present)

• Reaction against modernist approaches,
• reinvented historical details,
• motifs of classical and ancient period

Architecture
4.1 History of Architecture
• Nepalese Architecture
• Traditional (residential type,
religious type)
• Local/ Indigenous/ Vernacular
• Contemporary
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• World modern architecture:
• Luis Sullivan – from flows function
• Frank Lloyd Wright - organic style
• Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – international style
• Walter Gropius
• Le Corbusier

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• World modern architecture:
• Louis Sullivan
• Known as Chicago's "Father of Skyscrapers," Louis
Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14,
1924) foreshadowed modernism with his famous
phrase "form follows function.“
• Some of the distinguishing features of the Chicago
School are the use of steel-frame buildings with
masonry cladding (usually terra cotta), allowing large
plate-glass window areas and limiting the amount
of exterior ornamentation.
• Louis Sullivan endeavored to define an architectural
style unique to America. He disrupted the imitation
of the architecture styles like Romanesque, Gothic,
Renaissance, Baroque, or Neoclassicism. According
to him, the identity of any building resided in
ornaments, yet Sullivan emphasized on the
structure. Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• World modern architecture:
• Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright (born Frank
Lincoln Wright, June 8, 1867 – April 9,
1959) was an American architect,
interior designer, writer, and
educator, who designed more than
1,000 structures, 532 of which were
completed. Wright believed in
designing structures that were in
harmony with humanity and its
environment, a philosophy he called
organic architecture. This philosophy
was best exemplified by Falling water
(1935), which has been called "the
best all-time work of American
architecture". His creative period
spanned more than 70 years Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• Walter Gropius
• Walter Adolph Georg Gropius (18 May 1883 – 5 July 1969) was a German
architect and founder of the Bauhaus School, is widely regarded as one of the
pioneering masters of modernist architecture.
• The style of Bauhaus is commonly characterized as a combination of the Arts
and Crafts movement with modernism, as evident in its emphasis on function
and, according to the Tate, its “aim to bring art back into contact with everyday
life.”
• Gropius was also a leading architect of the International Style- dynamic
composition, asymmetrical plan, smooth white walls set with horizontal
windows, and flat roof are features associated with the so-called International
Style of the 1920s.

Fagus Factory, Alfeld, Walter Gropius

4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• Le Corbusier
• Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (6 October 1887 – 27 August 1965), known as Le
Corbusier, was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer,
and one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture.
• He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930. His career
spanned five decades, and he designed buildings in Europe, Japan, India, and
North and South America.
• designs combined functionalism with bold sculptural expressionism. promoted
such characteristics as clean geometric forms and open efficient spaces. He
advocated: The Pilotis – a grid of columns to replace load-bearing walls, allowing
architects to make more use of floorspace. Free floor plans – flexible living spaces
that could adapt to changing lifestyles, thanks to the absence of load-bearing
walls.

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• Le Corbusier The Five Points of a Modern
Villa Savoye, Paris, Le Corbusier Architecture
1. The Pilotis or Pylon
2. The Roof Terrace
3. The Free Plan
4. The Ribbon window
5. The Free Facade

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
World modern architecture:
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe March 27, 1886 –
August 19, 1969) was a German-American architect.
• development of the most enduring architectural
style of the era: modernism
• Mies' minimalist style has proved very popular; his
famous aphorism "less is more" is still widely used
• "less is more" and "God is in the details".
• Mies began to develop this style through the 1920s,
combining the functionalist industrial concerns of
his modernist contemporaries and an aesthetic
drive toward minimal intersecting planes—rejecting
the traditional systems of enclosed of rooms and
relying heavily on glass to dissolve the boundary
between the building's interior and exterior
Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
• World modern architecture: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
His buildings:
Barcelona Pavilion,
Tugendhat House
Crown Hall
Farnsworth House
860–880
Lake Shore Drive
Seagram Building
New National Gallery
Toronto-Dominion
Centre

Barcelona Pavilion: less is more

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
Characteristic of contemporary World
Architecture:
• No single style is dominant
• Post modernism
• Highly conceptual and expressive style,
resembling sculptures on an enormous scale
• Hi-tech/ Advance technology, modern
building materials
• Tube structures- taller, lighter, stronger
• Use of new technique of cad- 3d modelling
• Wrapped in glass and aluminum screens
• Very asymmetric facades
• Constructivism and De-constructivism
(�नमार्णवा, �व�नमार्णवा)
• Futuristic
• Zero- energy building Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
De-constructivism (�व�नमार्णवा)
• Started in 1980
• Main root of constructivism
• Pure form (impure) distributed,
form has became contaminated
• Developed as Post Modernism –
increasingly commercialized in
USA and Europe
• Geometrical composition placed in
conflict to produce an unstable,
restless geometry
• Sought to challenge the existing
value of Harmony, Unity and
Stability
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture

Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los

Angeles by Frank Gehry (2003)
The Zentrum Paul Klee in Berne,
Switzerland by Renzo Piano (2005)

Frank Gehry’s – City of Wine

Complex, Northern Spain

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
World changing architecture includes:
1 Museums
2 Concert Halls
3 Skyscrapers
4 Residential buildings
Auditorio de Tenerife, Canary Islands,
5 Religious architecture Spain by Santiago Calatrava (2003)
6 Stadiums
7 Government buildings
8 University buildings
9 Libraries
10 Malls and retail stores
11 Airports, railway stations and
transport hubs
Imperial War Museum North in Manchester,
England by Daniel Libeskind (2002
Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture

The Quadracci Beijing National

Pavilion of the Stadium by Herzog &
Milwaukee Art de Meuron
Museum in
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin by
Santiago Calatrava
(2001)

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture

Architecture
4.2 Contemporary World Architecture
Some World influencing Architects
1. Eiffel Tower- Paris, Gustave Eiffle • Design philosophies of
2. Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon contemporary
architecture:
3. Kansai International Airport, Japan-
Renzo piano • Elegant scale
4. Daxing International Airport, Beijing- • Non-conventional-
Zaha Hadid futuristic (Zaha Hadid)
5. Norman Foster • Structuralism (Tom
Wright)
6. Frank Gehry
• High tech (Ranzo Piano)
7. Santiago Calatrava
• sustainable- zero energy
8. Tom Wright
(Norman foster- Masdar
City)
• Changed built
environment

Architecture
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Towards Modern Nepalese Architecture…
• Starts with 2 Rana Engineer Kumar Narshinga Rana and Kishor
Narshinga Rana started building neo- classical buildings
• After 1950 (2007 BS)…
• Er Bed Prasad Lohani was the pioneer to use concrete technology
• Kul Ratna Tuladhar started engineering education within country
• Ist generation Architects
• Gangadhar Bhatta: City Hall,
• Sankarnath Rimal (actually structure engineer- Sahid gate,
academy building, Everest Hotel…)
• Gaurinath Rimal
• Dhurba Bh. Pradhananga (Bisal bazar)
• S. M. Pradhan, Narayan Prasad Bhattrai Architecture
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• It normally represent the architecture of Kathmandu
valley after Nepal entered in new ear in 1950 (2007
bs)…
• Robert Wise : TU library, Hotel del Annapurna, yellow
pagoda, NA Head quarter…
• Carls Purusha: TU Ceda Building, Taragaun Hotel, brick
exposed architecture
• Louise I Khan (American Ar): Family Planning Program
Building
• Kenzo Tange (Japanese Ar): Lumbini Master Plan, Library/
museum building

Architecture
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Shifting towards Public Scale Architecture from
traditional residential and religious…
• II nd Generation architects: S.R Tiwari, S.B. Mathe, Rajaram
Bhandari, Narendra Pradhan, Uttam Shrestha, Bijaya
Budhathoki, Deepak/ Joti Serchan, Bibhuti Man Singh, ML/CL
Kayestha, Ambika Adhikari, Ranjan Singh Shah, Rajesh Thapa
• SR Tiwari , some residences and devoted to urban planning
and conservation (academic), Bibhuti Man Singh – technical
Interface, Narendra Pradhan – and Gumba architecture,
Deepak M Sherchan and architecture of malla renaissance, ML
Kayastha’s practice: NTB, Kathmandu Mall,
• John Sandy and associates,
• Ar Tom Cress- Bakery Café- Riverside spring Resort at Kurintar,
Dhobighat Church, ICIMOD building
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Evolve out of a necessity to construct certain modern building
types, however, architectural ideas filtered in the context.
Limitation of technology and resources, issues of maintenance of
buildings were of greater importance to architects.
• Emerging Architects: Housing Civil homes – Suman N Vaidya,
Elevationist – Rajesh Shrestha – Commercial buildings- Om
Hospital, Design Cell- Arun Dev Pant- HIBA- Krishna Tower-
Jomsom mountain Resort - design with approach, Sworup
Gurung Koney, Bishnu Panthi: UWTC- Stadium front gate-
Hospitals, A-not architects n architecture etc…
• S.R. Tiwari, Kai P Wise, Rabindra Puri: Architectural
Conservationist
• Green Architecture: BM Singh with LEED Certification, Prajwal
Hada
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Kenzo Tange (Japanese Ar): Lumbini Master Plan

Architecture
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Kenzo Tange (Japanese Ar): Lumbini Master Plan

'architecture must have something that appeals to the human heart.' - Kenzo
Tange, was the lead architect in the movement of modernism in Japan, create the
Metabolist (organic biological growth) architectural movement, The style and
movement believed that cities should be built to account for future changes. The
solution was modular, prefabricated capsules that could be attached to the core of
a main structure. The Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is the perfect example of this
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Loise I Khan (American Ar): Family Planning Program Building in
Kathmandu
• Expressive brick architecture
• Self control philosophies of family
planning
• Use of brick arches and cornices
• Brick piers and recessed windows
• Roofed by Nepalese bureaucrats in
1995
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
Architecture of foreign architects in Nepal:
• Robert Wise works in Nepal
• Weise designed several prominent
architectural landmarks like
• the Annapurna Hotel,
• The Yellow Pagoda Hotel,
• the Nepal Army Headquarters,
• Russian Embassy,
• NARC building,
• besides a large number of single
residences and
• projects in the Tribhuwan
University Campus in Kirtipur.
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
Architecture of foreign architects in Nepal:
• Carls Purusha works in Nepal

• design and
construction of the
Tara Gaon Hotel
• Institutional building
CEDA for Tribhuwan
University.
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
Architecture of foreign architects in Nepal:

• Royal Palace, Lab School, Education

Contre Sanothimi by Benjamin pulk (US
architect)
• CMA Campus, Dhankuta by Ar. David
Dobereiner
• RBB building0- concept by Maria and
detailing by Raj Vaidhya
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture

• The 1st Stream: Foreign

Practitioners in Kathmandu
• The 2nd Stream: Work of
Internationally known
Architects
• The 3rd. Stream: Works of City Hall by Gangadhar Bhatta
Foreign Design ‘Invisible’
• Architecture after 2007 BS, end of the
• Consortiums in Public Rana Era, Exposure to the outer world…!
Projects • Prevalence of Modern Technology in
• The 4th Stream: Nepal
Architecture; For Private • Existence, among other than Neo-
Sector Classical
• And influence of Technology and style
Nepalese Abord: Biresh Shah
and Sanjaya Thapa - Designed • Malla renaissance, post morden
SAARC University at Delhi • Environment and aesthetic
4.3 Contemporary Nepalese Architecture
• Kapan Monastery • Narendra Pradhan
• Rajesh Thapa
• White Monastery
• Rajesh Shrestha
• Pokhara Mountain Museum
• Suman Nanda Vaidya
• Jomsom Mountain Resort • Arun Dev Panta
• Agriculture Development Bank • Bishnu Panthi
Building • Anjan Shrestha
• Rastria Banijya Bank Building • A Not Architecture
• Sachin/ Suman Maharjan
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal

• Geography
of Nepal-
from 70 –
8848 m.
• 3 Ecological
zones: HM,
Hill & Terai
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
• Nepalese Architecture • Indigenous building culture
anywhere develop without the
• Local/ Indigenous/ Vernacular
benefit of processed knowledge.
• Traditional In such situation locally available
building materials and the site
• Contemporary
geology initially influence the
• Traditional Architecture represents development of building
specific period or specific purpose technology and forms. Building
architecture developed in a culture develop over time and
particular age over failures and successes of
earlier attempts. Socio-cultural
• Kirant Architecture and religious response dominate
• Lichhivi Architecture as technological and material
performance reach satisfactory
• Malla Architecture
level for the time.
• Shah Architecture
• Nepalese Fort (quilla)
• Rana Architecture architecture
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture : Gopal/ Mahispal Dynasty
• Gopal Dynasty: capaital was at Matatirtha, 7 gaun jatra- 7 sisters
Goddess, matriarchic system
• Asthamatrica – queendom
• Ajima temple- mother goddes temple: rectangular Newari house
like structure- chariot at ground floor, Ist floor has bed room and
so on.
• Used temporary materials like bamboo, thathe… not existed today,
though Pashupatinath temple is said to be existed from this
dynasty
• Mahispal- 2nd dynasty, used temporary materials
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Kirant Dynesty- 700bc to 2nd cbc (109 bc?)
• Came from Mangolia, forest people- sacrifices animals
• Newari language based on Tibetan language and not based on
Sanskrit.
• Ashoka Stambha was erected in 249 bc
• Gorkha is said to e the palace of Kirat king, later in Patuko
Dhisko- Patan
• Brick culture, Kirant were Shaiva- rudra- not create but destroy…
• Shiva lives in funeral places, Bhairavs…, ancestor's worship
• 4 corners – 4 Narayan- kirat settlements
• Hilltop ponds to supply water at foothill settlements
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Lichhivi Architecture
• After Kirant, Lichhivi came in to emperor- 2nd cbc to 879 ad, came
from Patana area (Baisali- vaisnm)
• Golden era of Nepal: civilized reached at pinnacle
• Development of Dharma, they established a trust called ‘guthi’ for
conservation of agriculture land and monuments.
• Bishalnagar/ Handigaun was the capital of the Lichhivi, however
they were developed some township at the place of core city of
Kathmandu today.
• Haridatta burma established 4 Narayan temple in 4 corners of the
valley: chagu, Bishankhu, Shikha, Ichangu, Mandev, Anshubarma…
• Thankot to Sankhu – Indo Tibetan trade route…
• Palace centric and temple centric towns
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Lichhivi Architecture
• The description of the Chinese Traveller Wang Hsuan Tse, in his
travelogue, who visited Kathmandu in 673 ad, about the sculpted
and painted wooden houses in Kathmandu bears ample testimony
to it. …the palace was of Trikuta design, i.e. probably, with three
courtyards,
• Kailaskut Durbar- Anshubarma: Kailashkutabhavana was built by
Amshuvarman (605-621 AD). Construction may have begun during
the time of Sivadeva I, predecessor of Amshuvarman when citizens
of Kurppasi (Khopasi) were instructed to furnish 50 varieties of
clay for the door opening festival and Kailasha festival. This
suggests the palace may have been whitewashed as was the
practice in contemporary India. Probabley of 7 storeyed, 3
courtyard, copper tile roofing … 4 corner golden makara- dhara,
copper pipes supply,
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Lichhivi Architecture
• Man grhiha – Mandev, 5th cad, Handigaun, 3 courtyard
palace, probably N/S elongated, bricks and tiles at roof,
• Bhadradhivasa Bhavana: Narendradeva issued three
edicts between 671-679 AD from Bhadradhivasa bhavana.
• Basic development: Viharas and chaityas, temple,
palaces, stone spout
• 4 Ashokan stupa around Patan looks similar- earthen
mould and brick paved,
• Garud of Chagunarayan and Narayan Temple,
Handigauoun
• Lichhivi chaitya- polished surface as of Ashokan pillor,
multiple plinth formation,
• Handigaun, Dhumbarahi, Bhandarkhal, patan
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Malla Architecture
• Thakuri dynasty: 879- 1199ad
• Kasthamandapa (was a pati) and its foundation & structure is said
to build in this period
• No other significant monument was built in the dynasty
• Pati- day time social gathering, night time travellers sleeping,
cooking purposes
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Malla Architecture
Mall dynasty : 1200-1768ad
• Parallel to renaissance in Europe
• Period of revival, rejuvenation, refill and rehabilitation
• Overall development of art, architecture, music, culture
• Developed Sustainable towns and settlements
• Developed both religious and secular architecture
• Sustainable towns and settlements- 3 durbar squares, nos of
Newari towns
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Malla Architecture
• Well managed public infrastructure:
• Rajkulos, ponds, stone water spouts (dhunge dhara), well,
Jharus
• Open Spaces: Town, community, neighborhood level… (khel,
chowks, nani…)- durbar square, market square, private
square…
• Jatra routes, streets, alleys
• Dabalies, temples/ shrines, pillors
• Temples, bahals, bahils, pati, sattale and
• Houses (palace, public, private)
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Malla
Architecture
• Stone
• Adobe earth (sun dried bricks)
• Fired Bricks/ tiles
• daci appa bricks, without the use of
plaster, are used for the external
facades of the temples and royal
palaces. The daci appa provides
protection against water
penetration because of the special
treatment administered before
firing.
• lime mortar
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
• Traditional Architecture: Shah Architecture
• 1768- 1846ad, then Rana started
• Unlike the malla kings who were artists, craftman, musicians, Shah
were warrior in nature, they had not their own style…
• They carried on with existing architecture of the valley. Some
vandalism by Rana bha Shah, Bhimsen thapa put silver door in
Pashupati
• Prithivi Narayan shah built 4 towers: Basantapur, lalitpur, Kritipur
& Bhaktapur as symbol of victory. Basantapur Durbar (only 9
storied)
• Dharahara and Sundhara
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
• Traditional Architecture: Rana (1846-1950ad) Architecture
• Janga bahadur made a visit to England and Europe via India. He brought Neo-
classical (Renaissance) and Mughal architecture (domes, minarets…)
• With the rising power of the Rana family, around the middle of the 19th
century, many neoclassical palaces were built. Additions and modifications were
made to the Kathmandu Royal Palace in this neoclassical style, adding to
previous changes that had been made in the late Moghul style. A completely
new plastering technique was introduced at this time, based on the large use of
air hardening lime mortar
• lime mortar vs. red or white colour clay mortar/ paintings (used centuries
before)
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
• Traditional Architecture: Rana
Decorations in relief on frames, pilaster
strips, columns and capitals, plastered
surfaces, characteristic elements of
neoclassical architecture, "the better class of
buildings is elaborately ornamented with
plaster and paintings"
• ‘stucco’, "brick dust plaster", known as Bajra,
It is composed of molasses, black pulse, jute
fibers, 2 parts brick dust and 1 part lime: this
plaster is good resistant to humidity.
• Huge stucco walled palaces
• In 1934 earthquake, some pagoda roofs were
replaced by dome (easy to construct)
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Rana Architecture
• The Rana palaces of Nepal were built by the Rana dynasty rulers of
Nepal as both private and government buildings. The Rana rule
lasted for 104 years, and during that time a number of grand royal
residences were built, especially by the Prime Minister, his
immediate family, and other high-ranking dignitaries.
• The grand palaces of Rana were called white elephants and stood
at the center of vast expanses of landscaped grounds, which Rana
rulers used to show their supremacy over the common people,
and to please their British friends and fellow Ranas. After the
overthrow of the Rana Dynasty, some palaces were converted into
government buildings. Others were demolished by their owners
and rebuilt into libraries, museums, hotels, and heritage
complexes.
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Traditional Architecture: Rana Architecture
• Most of the Rana palaces are white plastered, have been built in
Neoclassical or Baroque European architectural style, and are made up
of four wings with arresting French windows, Grecian columns, and a
large courtyard in the middle for religious and ceremonial purposes.
• The internal beams and columns of these palace are made of Salla Pinus
roxburghii wood.
• Traditional mortar and white plaster, along with bricks, were used in
construction. Black lentil paste, molasses, brick dust, mustard meal, and
limestone powder were used in the cementing and plastering mixture.
Lime-plaster (Bajra), a mixture of molasses, black pulse, jute, brick dust
and lime, was the main ingredient for plaster as it had been for centuries
in Nepal, primarily as it had good resistance against humidity.
• The floors were constructed using battens, rectangular in shape, above
which planks were laid. These in turn supported the final floor, on which
square-shaped slates were laid.[3] Foreign-trained Newar architects
designed most of the palaces.
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
Other Traditional Architecture:
• Fort (Quilla) Architecture: Hariharpur
Gadhi/ Sindhuli Gadhi, Makwanpur
Gadhi/ Chisapani Gadhi, Jit Gadhi,
Kaskikot, Gorkha, Amargadhi, ….
• Temple/ pati/ sattal, Chaitya/ mane,
Gumba (Monastry)…
• Heritage Settlement- Chainpur,
Taksar/ Bhojpur, Dwalkha, Panuti,
Nuwakot, Bandipur, Janakpur,
Silgadhi/Doti, 52 in Kathmandu
Valley…
• Palpa Durbar, Dailekh Durbar,
Mangalsen Durbar, Lomanthang
Durbar, 52 Dhoke Durbar/ Dhankuta…
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Vernacular (Indigenous/ Local) Architecture: Architecture
Of Different Parts of Nepal
• THAKALI – From the Inner Himalayan Valley
• GURUNG, PAHADE – From the Midlands in the Hill
• NEWAR – From the Midlands in the Kathmandu Valley
• THARU – From the Siwalik chain and of Terai
• These Four zones of the settlements are thus represents the
whole settlements of Nepal in terms of its Geographical
Classification and ecology.
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Vernacular Architecture means the ordinary/ local technology
with local available materials used in making particular
structure, where existing knowledge is used with utilizing the
locally available materials and builders.
• Vernacular buildings are built by ordinary people without the
help of formal experts. Vernacular strictly belongs to the place,
to its past and untouched by foreign influences, while modern
architecture can help transform traditional societies into modern
societies that resemble the advanced-west.
• It is based on an indigenous traditional knowledge of both
design and construction, which exhibits a social, environmental
and economic demands of the place and the people in the
austere aesthetics of sustainability.
• Indeed, vernacular architecture is valuable for its dynamism and
its capacity of continuing evolution.
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• • Vernacular architecture is a dynamic cultural heritage and it
is not “frozen in time” like a historical heritage.
• Its local appeal makes it an important attraction in trekking
and nature tourism.
• Their grandeur and significance lies in their naturalness and
local belongingness. They respond precisely to the site,
climate and materials.
• Nepalese rural vernacular architecture is as varied as the
topography, natural environment and ethnicity of Nepal.
however, on the basis of major construction material in use,
may divide Nepal into three broad vernacular architectural
divisions in different ecological regions such as eg. Tarai,
Middle Hills and High Mountains.
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Thakali Architecture:
• Thakali came into Nepal from the North and settled in trade route
between India and Tibet.
• The name of the Thakali derived from the location of “Thak- Khola”
of Kali Gandaki valley. Generally these settlements have spread in
Manag, Marphais, Mustang etc area also in transition of hill and
mountain area.
• “Tukuche” being Capital of Thak-khola is the most laterally settled
Thakali Village. Example of Thak khola shows it is also lies on the
present day trekking route to the Annapurna as it lies on the ancient
route of the salt trade.
• As with the Tharus and Grungs, the Thakalis – Marphalis never
developed their own written language.
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Thakali Architecture:
• The area is almost a desert. Strong daily wind blows. Families
generally migrated south for only three months. Now they stay for
as long as six months and some have permanently settled there. The
reduction of the strength of the trade route, the main profession is
only agricultural.
• In the settlement, THE SETTLEMENT OF THAKALI is supported by the
Gompa, Chorten and Temple. The Village Gate, Prayer Wall
demarcates the settlement.
• Inside the settlement, there is some Social Center, Low Caste House
to support the Agricultural Land and Garden for the Residential
Buildings.
• The rectilinear settlement of the Thakali is developed comparatively
in independent line which is justified by their location. They live in
fairly large sized houses.
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Thakali Architecture:
• The area is The Terraced / high land is used for housing and other
sides are used for agricultural land.
• It has single band housing and agricultural land behind. Generally
the size of the village ranges from dozen to 100 inhabitants,
compactly organized in the main road. Thakali settlement gives a lot
of urban taste.
• Gompa is the religious structure at the center of the settlement or
near to the prayer wall. It is also social, cultural & religious
important place, where used for the Lama to read their religious
book at the time of person’s demise and at time of birth etc.
• The village gates are the guard of the settlement. The main function
is to demarcate the settlement in the trade route giving a sense of
the place for the traders, where you are and where you are going.
• Buddhist Gompa and Gate are in the outskirt of the settlement.
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Thakali Architecture:
• The are
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Thakali Architecture:
4.4 (a) Vernacular/ indigenous Architecture of Nepal
• Thakali Architecture:
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Gurung Architecture
• Gurung are settled on the southern flank of the Annapuran. It their
settlements are adjoining of the Tamang, then they spreads
outward to south east and even west in Lamjung, Gorkha, Kaski-
Pokhara in Gandaki. They are also settled in higher slopes of the
Himalayan.
• Generally Gurung houses are two-stored, made up of the large
walls, neatly constructed with dry wall and covered with slate roof.
• Average size of the village ranges 150-200 houses clustered
together to form a uniform.
• Gurung also live at duality of two great traditions of Hindu culture
and Tibetan Buddhism.
• Gurung villages can be generalized as an assembly of the houses
clustered together in the terraced lands within their territory of
mid-hill, Nepal
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Gurung Architecture
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Gurung Architecture
• The shape of the house is different in different locations. They are
Rectangular shape in the west of Pokhara but Oval shape with
elliptical thatch roof is practiced in the southern side.
• They have migrated from the Tibet during the period of Tibetain
expansion between the seventh and tenth centuries A.D. Initially
they settled at high elevations on the southern slopes of the
Himalayas in the areas of Lamjung Himalaya and Himal Chuli in the
central Nepal. Gradually they moved west to southern slopes of the
Annapuran (Kodang).
• In the settlement, Gurung settlement is supported by the GOMPA,
• CHORTEN and MANE. The TERRACES of the hills are used for the
building spaces and with DHANSAR (small building).
• The settlement of the Gurung is developed in clusters form in the
hill with small physical features.
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Gurung Architecture
• House form
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Gurung Architecture
• Oval House
of mid-hill,
Nepal
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• ARCHITECTURE OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF NEPAL
• Oval House
of mid-hill,
Nepal
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• ARCHITECTURE OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF NEPAL
• Oval House
of mid-hill,
Nepal
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Dhadhing – Pahade bhrhamin
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Tharu Architecture
• Tharu are found within the boarder of Nepal and Indian state. In
Nepal they are found throughout the Terai and inner Terai valley.
This group is the oldest known inhabitants of southern Nepal. They
are probably the product of marriages between Rajput women
(Northern India) and natives, at the time of Islamic invasion.
• According to J.C. Nesfield, it must have been derived from the
language of the group, “Thar” which it means “Man of the Forest”.
• The religion is composite in Nature and Hindu (Narayan Mahadev
etc). Their own deities are spirit of good and evil, mountain gods,
forest sprit etc.
• Bamboo, Neem and Pipal trees are the sacred trees in the
settlements planned close to the dwelling units.
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Tharu Architecture
• In traditional dwelling they symbolized the ancestoral spirit or Kul
Devta of " Kali, Bhagavati, Mainyan, Parvatiya and goraiya by a large
decorated
• The Tharu language has the composition of Nepali words of 40% ,
Hindi 40% and 20% words have been taken from various languages.
• The Tharu density is in the 150 population per sq. mile spreading
into Central and Western Terai .
• In the settlement, THARU SETTLEMENTS connected and separated
with MUD PATHWAYS, which combined by the HAT BAZAR AREA and
• the SERVICE POINT of different hierarchy.
• The abundant AGRICULTURAL LAND made THARU HOUSE and living
rich with SACRED TREES in the house plot.
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Tharu Architecture
• Most of all settlements are in rectilinear organizations. They have
mud road and interconnected of the pathways.
• The villages are closed on all sides with the bamboo hedge and
trees.
• The number of houses are varies from the 15-30 and construction
pattern is long low houses with adjoining kitchen and garden.
• This settlement has two courtyard- front and back courtyard.
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Tharu Architecture
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Tharu Architecture
4.4 (a)
Traditional
Vernacular/
Architecture
indigenous
of Nepal
Architecture of Nepal
• Tharu Architecture
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House
• Function, form and style
• Materials and methods of construction
• Rules and Rituals in planning, foundation laying, inaugural etc.
Vastushastra and practice, Symbols and symbolism Meanings
and cultural linkages
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House
In Nepal, Vernacular architecture retain their local material and
technology relevance
– Regional and Ethnic identity
– Ethnic groups are location specific
• Kathmandu valley and its geology: Hills and Valley floor, Monsoon
rain, fertile soil
• Locally available materials :- Clay, brick , timber, stone, tile
(jhingati) and metal.
• Limited stone deposits of working possibility and transported
from nearby area. E.g. Chobar.
• Technology: Primarily and Mostly of trabeated (post and lintel)
structure in almost all buildings. The absence of the term “arch” .
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House
• Residential form of Malla Architecture : The building that see
today is the original form of Malla Period.
• According to the position of the house within the locality,
different names have been given to them.
• Plan type and location in Town:
• –Chuka & Chukache: Courtyard and Courtyard House
• –Nani: Secondary Courtyard
• –Yakahche: Isolated single house
• –Pikhache: Street-side house
• Principle form of Residential building:
• Either Single Bayed or Double Bayed (Duwah)
• 2 ½ , 3 ½ storied building (Tale)
• Façade treatment is almost same from internal and external
(fenestration)
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmandu of Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House: Planning of Residential Zone
• When we walk through a certain street of Malla time, we find
that series of houses on either sides of the narrow street.
• Suddenly come to an open space which is enhanced with
certain public facilities like Water Spouts/ Wells and sometime
Temples. These spaces along the street are called Lachhi ,
where several roads or semi roads are connected.
• The building pattern showed the Uniform skyline.
• Street size and these squares are variable according to the
location. Durbar square is the biggest in size.
• In Malla period, town planning did not have green areas in
public spaces. Green areas are only at the end of the town
called Deyko (Downtown).
• Within the town basic facilities like well, water spouts, drainage
system were developed.In the villages water cannel were
developed, which are called Rajkulo.
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmandu of Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House: Planning of Residential Zone
• When we walk through a certain street of Malla time, we find
that series of houses on either sides of the narrow street.
• Suddenly
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Chukache: Courtyard House
• House for a large family, extended family or a clan
• Access from under the front house on Street side.
• Function of the courtyard: Play, washing, grain working, sitting,
sunning, Providing - Dalans and Stairs
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Chukache:
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Pikhache: Street side House :
• The Pikhache is the house facing towards the street. Which are
not more than 3-4m.
• If one has 20-24m. house facing, probably rich person.
• The depth of the house is almost similar, either single or double
bayed.
• Some would also have wall raised to block the view just in front
of the door.
• Most of the time these houses would have shop (Pasal) in the
street face with Pillared opening ( double tham construction).
• Dalan in the other face is the courtyard.
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Pikhache: Street side House :
• The average Newari house is basically rectangular in plan,
uniform depth around 6m while the length ranges from min
1.5m to 15 m.
• The characteristic feature
of this design is the
vertical room
arrangement, which is not
dependent on the size of
the house.
• •Due to security
considerations and to use
as little irrigable land as
possible, the Newari
house is vertically
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Pikhache: Street side House
:Functional Layout in the
Vertical
• Chhedi (Ground floor): Agri.
waste storage, domestic
animals, fodder/raw
materials : due to dampness,
Shop front/ workshop
• Matan (First floor): Bed
rooms
• Chvota (Second floor): Living
room
• Baigah (Top floor): Attic for
Kitchen, Worship space,
Kitchen Stores
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Pikhache: Façade Treatment
• Symmetry is the aim in the design of the façade. It is attained,
where possible, on a central axis of a main window or door by
pairing windows around the central axis on each succeeding
floor with the central window of each floor emphasized by its
size and detailed carving.
• Highly Décor in cornice and other brickworks, carvings in doors
and windows,
• •In general house, entrance door is one & on the either side
two small – latticed windows are positioned.
• •Any irregularities in the ground floor façade due to a door or
row of columns are not repeated in the upper storeys which are
arranged, independently, in a symmetric fashion.
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Pikhache: Façade Treatment
• Sajhya
4.5
4.4 Architecture
Traditional Architecture
of Kathmanduof Nepal
Valley
• The Newari House:
• Construction Technology
• Wall size is wide enough that no need of footing for foundation.
Wall spacing is generally 10’-0” as per joist length thus no need
of strong foundation. Lower base of the wall is provided with
boulders in slightly wider size.
• Flooring ground floor is simply mud compacted, sometime
paved with Telia Brick. No damp proof materials were used.
Stone bands were used to check the dampness called ilohan.
• A spine wall (Du Anga) parallel to the house frontage divides
each floor into two rooms. The centre wall, for structural
reasons, division on the top floor is seldom replaced by
columns.
• This principle of a central spine wall applies to all houses,
regardless of their size.
4.4 Traditional Architecture of Nepal
• The Newari House:
• Construction Technology
• Wall size is
 4.5 Architecture of Kathmandu Valley
• The Newari House: The Rituals
• Foundation laying
• Building change god’s architecture/wounds the earth – so needs
to be worshipped
• Worshipping the five Kalasas/silver tortoise under the
foundation/five bricks over Kalasa- the pancha-tatwa
• Inaugural
• Ground floor completed- worship the door, Worship of tham,
dalin and nina
• Bau Biye-gu pacification of the nava graha/ worship of the nine
dishes, Nine pots rested at the nine local crossroads, the regents
of space
• House spaces, Temple yards and Town spaces are conceived to
be in the same cosmic pattern- macrocosm – microcosm
• The umbrella over the roof and the Gajur over the temple!
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Fundamental Principle of Architecture
• Aesthetic – beauty, form, identity, art principles, cultural and
religious symbolism
• Circular form
• Rectilinear form
• Curvilinear form
• Combination of rectilinear and curvilinear form
• Spiral form, Pyramid, arches, vaults, dome…
• Laws of composition
• Golden ratio
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Fundamental Principle of Architecture
• Aesthetic – form/ beauty/ visual impact & built environment.
Curvilinear/ rectilinear/ linear from. Visual Design Elements: Six
integral components used in the creation of a design:
• Line: horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curve
• Form and Shape: 2D, 3D, geometric, organic
• Space (mass and void)
• Color: warm, cool
• Texture: smooth, rough
• Value: Tins and Tons
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Fundamental Principle of Architecture
Function– usefulness, pleasing, utility, functional value, comfort
easiness, surrounding environment
• Social need,
• livelihood support/ requirement's
• Spatial feeling,
• Human dimension,
• Private and public space: degree of privacy
• Inclusive- Disable, child, elder, women friendly
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Fundamental Principle of Architecture
• Structure- firmness, durability, material, resilient
Technology…
• Trabeted system (post and beam, frame structure)
• Load bearing structure
• Hybrid or SRC, compression/ share structure
• Composite structure, confine masonry
• Arch structures, jack arch, rib/ waffle slab
• Truss/ Steel structures/ light gauge structure
• Suspension, Ferri Otto- tensile/ cable/ fiber
lightweight structure
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Laws of composition:
• Proportion and scale:
Comparative
relationships between
elements in a design
with respect to size
• Balance: symmetry,
asymmetry, horizontal,
vertical, radial
• Rhythm: Repeated use
of line, shape, color,
texture or pattern,
Types: Regular,
Graduated, Random,
Gradated
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Laws of composition:
• Repetition
• Harmony
• Contrast: Noticeably different,
Can be created with Color,
Proportion and scale, Shape,
Texture Etc.
4.6 Principles of Architecture Design
• Laws of composition:
• Unity: is achieved by the consistent use
of lines, color, material, and/or texture
within a design
• Verity
• Pattern
• Movement: Flow or feeling of action
• Emphasis: The feature that attracts
one’s eye – the focal point, can be
achieved through size, placement,
shape, color, and/or use of lines
4.7 Factors to be Considered while designing
buildings
• Building design Guideline
(draft-dudbc):
1. Context fit (geography, geology, Building Design Checklist:
climate, material, technology…)
• Architecture
2. Functionality (efficient?)
• Structure
3. Visual impression,
• Sanitary
4. Sustainability (Resilience,
Green, cost effective?) • Electrical/ lighting
protection
5. Safety and
• HAVC
6. People-friendliness
• Interior
(Inclusiveness?)
• Exterior & Landscape
4.7 Factors to be Considered while designing
buildings…
• Social, Cultural and Physical Appropriate planning:
aspects Socially acceptable:
• Site and surrounding • Spatial requirements
• Climate and environment • Orientation, openings size
and placing, organizing
• Functional and cultural
the components…
requirements
Technically feasible:
• Material, workmanship and
technology • Technology
• Economy- cost factors • Material & workmanship…

• Legal parameters Economically viable:

• Affordable,
• Time Value
• Accesses to services…
4.8 Standards to be followed while designing
buildings in Nepal
• Building Act, 2055 BS & Nepal Other Development Control
National Building Code • Byelaws of Heritage sites
• Apartments Act- 2054 BS • Byelaws for Petrol pumps
& hazardous storages (gas
• Town Development Act- 2045 BS stations)…
• KVDA Act- 2045 BS • Road act
• Electricity act
• Byelaws: बस्ती �वका, सहर� योजना
तथा भवन �नमार्ण संम्बन्धी आधरभ ा • Civil aviation rules and
�नमार्णमापदण्, २०७२, Byelaws of regulation (aerodrome
concerned municipality space)
• Protected conservation
• Different guidelines and directives: area: national parks,
eg. Green building guideline, office wildlife reserves…
space standard, color code… • IEE, EIA provisions
4.8 Standards to be followed while designing
buildings in Nepal
Nepal National Building Code: Approved by GoN on 2060-04-12)
• NBC 105: 1994- Seismic Design of
• 23 volumes, 4 category:
Buildings in Nepal
• A: International state of- the- • NBC 206: 2003- Architectural
art (vol: NBC 000 – 1 volume) Requirements
• NBC 202: 1994- MRT- Load Bearing
• B: Professionally Engineered Masonry
Building: (NBC 101 to NBC 114,
• NBC 205: 1994- MRT- Reinforced
NBC 206 to NBC 208 – 17 Concrete Buildings without
volumes) Masonary Infill
• C: Mandatory Rules of Thumbs • NBC 203: 1994- Guideline for
Earthquake Resistant Building
(NBC 201, 202, 205 – 3 Construction; Low Strength
volumes) Masonry
• D: Guidelines for Remote Rural • NBC 204: 1994- Guideline for
Buildings (NBC 203, 204 – 2 Earthquake Resistant Building
Construction; Earthen Buildings
volumes)
4.8 Standards to be followed while designing
buildings in Nepal
Land use Planning:
• Urban
development/expansi
on area (to direct Regulatory controls:
urban structure • Land use zoning
development…) • Sub-division
standards
• Natural Resource area
• Design standards
(agricultural, forest,
and NBC
water bodies and
• Set back
other areas) –to
restrict urban • Ground Coverage
development… ) • Height restriction
• FAR
• Light plane
4.8 Standards to be followed while designing
buildings in Nepal
Coverage of Building
Byelaw Kathmandu:
Different Zoning identified
in Municipalities

Authorities for Planning

and Building permits in
Nepal:
• KVDA (planning permit
of apartment and group
housing)
• DUDBC (permit for
apartment building)
• Concern Municipality
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
Zaha Hadid (born 10.31.1950)
The first woman architect who ever won
the Pritzker Architecture prize went to the
legendary Zaha Hadid. Born in Iraq Hadid
went on to win this iconic award which is
often termed the ‘Nobel peace prize of
architecture’. Hadid’s forms are
characterized as futuristic, unconventional,
daring and artistic. Many of her projects
were never built and she still was ranked
on Forbes list at 69th most powerful
women in 2008. Her beautiful buildings
always leave us with our mouths open, as
if to say, “How did she design that?”

Her most noted projects are: MAXXI – the

National Museum of the 21st Century Arts
the Bridge Pavilion in Zaragoza, Bergisel Ski Zaha Hadid and her many works, including a
Jump in Innsbruck, Phaeno Science Center mobile museum for Chanel with Karl Lagerfield
and the Opera House in Guangzhou.
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
Renzo Piano (born 9.14.1937)
The Italian born architect was named one of
Time magazine’s top 100 most influential
people in 2008. Piano who is an Italian
Pritzker prize-winning architect has been
instrumental in shaping modern architecture
that stands on its own in recognition. The
Shard – Europe’s tallest skyscraper in London Piano’s Kansai
has faced much controversy in its International
construction, but many feel it has given Airport
London a way to join the 21stcentury. In his
younger years he worked with the world- The Shard, Shard
renowned architect Louis Kahn and soon Bridge, London
become known for his unique applications of
materials and details.
Piano’s most notable projects include: The
newly opened Shard in London, England,
NEMO Science Center in Amsterdam, The
New York Times building in New York, and
Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
Tom Wright (born 9.18.1957)
Is it possible to become one of the Tom Wright’s
greatest modern architects of our Burj Al Arab
in Dubai
time if you are only noted for one
building? When the building is the
most recognizable hotel in Dubai,
yes. British architect, Tom Wright is
responsible for the Burj Al Arab in
Dubai. Acclaimed for its luxurious
amenities as a hotel and also one of
the most recognizable buildings in
modern architecture. Noted with
the world’s tallest atrium, and
equipped with its own helicopter
landing pad and tallest tennis court
at the top, Tom Wright definitely
deserves to join the list of great
modern architects.
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
SANTIAGO CALATRAVA
Known for his unique neo-futuristic
style, Spanish architect Santiago
Calatrava has to his name nearly
100 projects spanning more than
three decades. Though his early
career is characterized by bridges
and train stations, he is also known
for a wide variety of museums, the Alamillo bridge
hotels, sports complexes, and in Sevilla, Spain
theaters, among other things. His (pictured)
most notable works are many, and
include the Athens Olympic Sports
Complex in Athens, Greece; the
Alamillo bridge in Sevilla, Spain; the
Chords Bridge at the entrance to
Jerusalem in Israel ; the Ciutat de les
Arts i les Ciencies in Valencia, Spain;
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
Jean Nouvel (French: born 12
August 1945)
Nouvel has designed a number of
notable buildings across the world,
the most significant of which are
listed below. As part of the
announcement of Nouvel's Pritzker
Prize, the Reina Sofia Museum
the Torre Agbar skyscraper in
expansion in Madrid, Spain; the
Barcelona
Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Gasometer A (2001) in Vienna
Minnesota; the Copenhagen
Concert Hall in Denmark; the Doha
Tower skyscraper in Qatarthe Hyatt
Foundation, which awards the prize,
published a full illustrated list of
Nouvel's architectural work,
including projects which were never
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
Norman Foster
(born 1 June 1935) is a British
architect whose company, Foster +
Partners, maintains an international
design practice famous for high-tech
architecture.
The restored Reichstag in Berlin, housing the German
parliament. The dome is part of Foster's redesign

View of 30 St Mary Axe. The building serves as the

London headquarters for Swiss Re and is informally
known as 'The Gherkin'.
4.9 Contemporary world architects and their works
Richard George Rogers
(born 23 July 1933) is a British
architect noted for his modernist
and functionalist designs in high-
tech architecture.
Rogers is perhaps best known for his
work on the Pompidou Centre in Pompidou Centre
Paris, the Lloyd's building and Lloyd’s building
Millennium Dome both in London,
the Senedd in Cardiff, and the
European Court of Human Rights
building in Strasbourg.
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu
• Nayatpola Temaple, Bhaktapur
• Krishna Temple, Patan
• Syoambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu
• Kasthamandap, Kathmandu
• Janaki Temple, Janakpur Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini
• Dharahara, kathmandu
Janaki Temple, Janakpur
• Rani-mahal, Palpa
• Martyor’s Memorial, Kathmandu
• City Hall, Kathmandu
• International Mountain Museum,
Pokhara
• Kapan Monastery, Kathmandu
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• 3 temple style of Nepal:
Pagoda(Tiered) Style:
Chagunarayan Temple

Shikhara Style: Vatsala

Devi Temple, Bhaktapur Gumbas (Dome) Style:
Kalmochan Temple, Thapathali
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• Nepalese Tiered temple x-section:

• Stone, clay, wood,

bronze..
• Reversible
technology/
materials
• Joinery system
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• Kasthamandapa:
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• Shikhara Temple:
• Below Mahabouddha, Patan
• Right Gandswara Bitrag shikhara
temple, Chobar
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• Stupa x-section: Swayembhu
4.10 Architectural landmarks in Nepal
• Stupa x-section: Bouddhanath
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
Historic Buildings/ Heritages Architectural conservation
have 3 values which should describes the process through
which the material, historical, and
be conserve are:
design integrity of any built
• Historic Value- >100 yrs heritage are prolonged through
• Emotional Value carefully planned interventions.
• Use Value Decisions of when and how to
engage in an intervention are
Principle of Conservation: critical to the ultimate
• Minimum intervention conservation-restoration of cultural
heritage. Ultimately, the decision is
• Maximum retention
value based: a combination of
Two major challenges of artistic, contextual, and
conservation work are: informational values is normally
• Authenticity & considered. In some cases, a
decision to not intervene may be
• Reversibility the most appropriate choice.
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
Conservation is management Climatic factors:
of change. Change of change is • Solar radiation/ heat/ light
trend. • Wind (prevailing/ local)
• Humidity
• Climatic factors and
• Tempreature
secondary factors affect the
• Precipation- rain/snow/hail…
monument.
• Slope/ altitude/ orientation/
• Conservation is the act of proximity of forest/ water bodies
preventing from decay Secondary factors:
• prolong the life of heritage • Earthquake
fro cultural identity and • Thunderbolt
continuity • Dust… etc
• Man-made causes like war,
• Minimum intervention and vandalism, thift, pollution, heavy
maximum retention… traffic, internal problem like
electricity, drainage, waterlogged
etc.
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
Maintenance and Repair of Conservation Tasks:
Buildings: • Preparation of inventory
• Regular & routine: cleaning, (inspection,
minor repair, remove vegetation, documentation…)
• Periodic: damp proofing, painting, • the search for optimal
metal painting, methods of caring for
• Diagnostic: major repair according and conserving them
to problem arises • Conservation work
• Insurance, sinking fund…
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
UNESCO listed Cultural WHS of Other somany heritage
Nepal: sites waiting for
conservation and
1. Kathmandu Durbar Square
enlisted…
2. Patan Durbar Square
• Janakpur
3. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
4. Swayambhunath • Gorkha
5. Pashupatinath • Palpa
6. Boudhanath • Nuwakot
7. Chagunarayan • Dolakha
8. Lumbini
• ….
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
Conservation methods
1. Restoration/ Renovation- It is method of Conservation which seeks the
attainment of the original state in totality. The aim is to preserve and reveal
the aesthetic, historic value of the monuments. The details and features are
based upon the respect for the original design, material and authentic
documents. Replacing of missing or decayed parts must integrated
harmoniously with the whole. Intervention at this level is more radical than
simple preservation. The act or process of accurately recovering the form &
details of a heritage resource & its setting as it appeared at a particular
period of time by means of removal or later work or by the replacement of
missing historic features, or in other words, preserving & restoring the old
architectural objects for the same use as they were constructed is called
Restoration. Restoration of an architectural object is to understand &
respect its value at present for the same use as they were constructed in the
past.
2. preservation
3. Reconstruction
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
Conservation methods
1. Restoration/ Renovation Phenomenon of
2. Preservation: The act or process of applying deterioration:
measures to sustain the existing form, structure, • Decay
integrity, and material of a heritage resource. • Deterioration
• Damage (expansion/
3. Reconstruction: The act or process of contraction- cracks…)
reproducing by new construction the exact form • Destruction
and detail of a vanished building, structure, or • devastation
object as it appeared during a specific period of
time.
4. Rehabilitation: The act or process of returning
a heritage resource to a state of utility through
repair or alteration that makes possible an
efficient contemporary use while preseroing
those portions or features of the property which
are significant to its historical, architectural,
archeological, or cultural values.
5. Conjectural restoration
4.11 Conservation of historic buildings
History of conservation in Nepal:
1. Traditional (Gopal, Abhir, Kirant, Lichhavi, Thakuri, Malla, Shah,
Rana)
2. International collaboration
• India- Prof. Ghosh, Mr. Benergy…
• UNESCO: prof. Sekler , Carl Purusha…
3. Modern (after 1950)
German Project: Bhaktapur Development Project
• 1974-1986
• Developed information database
• Focus on infrastructure development and socio-economic up-
liftment
• use of Reversible technology and materials- steel members with
bolting mechanism, lime-surki mortar, woods, bricks…
4.12 Ethics of architects in professional practices
Ethics of architects in professional practices
• The Architect:
• A person, job - design buildings for an individual or a group
of people (an organization).
• Involved in other fields, from teaching to bureaucracy.
• Completed Bachelor level of architectural studies (B. Arch or
any other equivalent degree)
• Become professionally qualified architect
•
4.12 Ethics of architects in professional practices
A good architect should have following qualities:
• Responsible for good built environment
• Qualified in design of buildings, Give the best design for the
purpose of fulfilling clients needs, fitting to the neighborhood
or area
• Technically sound proposal , Good at graphics and
presentation skills (should properly understand and produce
drawings)
• Should be aware of constraints (should be able to understand
client’s psychology too and advice in good manner)
• Able to act as coordinator among allied professionals, good
relationship with both client and contractor
• Adhere to code of conducts and should behave ethically follow
laws of government and other rules and regulation
pertaining the profession
• Contribute in overall uplift of the profession
4.12 Ethics of architects in professional practices
Ethics of architects in professional practices
• The Architect:
4.12 Ethics of architects in professional practices

NEC
Professional
Code of
Ethics

Ethics of
architects in
professional
practices

No separate
architect
council act
4.12 Ethics of architects in professional practices

• Building
• Context fit (

Ethics of architects in
professional practices
Review of the Chapter
Fundamental of Architecture
• Roman architect Vitruvius, according to whom a good building
embodies firmitas, utilitas, and venustas (durability, utility, and beauty).
Elements:
• SPACE
• LINE
• COLOR
• SHAPE
• TEXTURE
• PATTERN
• SHAPE
• VALUE
Review of the Chapter
Architecture: Principle of Design
Louis Sullivan declared that "form follows function". "Function" began to replace
the classical "utility" and was understood to include not only practical but also
aesthetic, psychological and cultural dimensions.
Review of the Chapter
Description of Architecture: Durability, utility and beauty

Type/ style Durability ( structure): Utility Beauty:

Material, tools, (function use): attraction,
technology, access, pleasantness,
workmanship, easiness, wow, hearty
maintenance/ repair- comfort… touch…
sustainability…

Traditional: Foundation, plinth, For man, combined effects of

Malla/ Rana… Enclosure, animals, a building's shape,
Floor, Openings, vehicles… size, texture, color,
balance, unity,
Indigenous: Roof system…
movement,
Mountain/ Hill/ primary/
emphasis, contrast,
bearing-wall, post-and- outdoor/
Terai… symmetry,
lintel, frame, truss, indoor space, proportion, space,
Contemporary membrane, and
alignment, pattern,
suspension (Feri Otto) ...
decoration, culture
and context.
Structural Systems
Structural Systems
Government building design, dolakha
Verdan Resort, Lakeside, Pokhara
THANK YOU !