CONTEMPORARY

ARCHITECTS OF
NEPAL

RABI SHILPAKAR (073-BAE-225)

SANAM MAHARJAN (073-BAE-229)
STOJ SJAKYA (073-BAE-241)
HISTORY OF C.A. IN NEPAL
• started with the small stone
temples of kirats and the
golden tired temples of the
lichchhavis.
• Tradational Architecture
flourished in Malla period
• neoclassical style was
introduced in Rana period
• (western style, borrowed
from greek and roman
style)
• It was the first step towards
the modern architecture.
• Only after rana period, graduate architects started to evolve
in Nepal
• Gangadhar Bhatta Bed Prashad Lohani, Bibhuti Man Singh,
Biresh Shah, Chandra Lekha Kayastha, Jyoti Serchan, etc. had
major contribution
• engineers like Sankhar Nath Rimal, Gauri Nath Rimal came
later on
• foreign architects like Carl Purscha, Robert Waise, Gotz
Hagmuller also made entry to Nepal.
• Began concept of modern buildings in terms of design,
materials, layout and functions
BED PRASAD LOHANI
Swaraswati Sadan, Trichandra College

• Milestone in the history of modern

architecture in Nepal
• 1st concrete structures of Nepal
• Played with variety of elements like RCC,
RBC, dome etc.
• Buildings are simple, functional and
structurally stable
• Swaraswati sadan is known as gol ghar due
to its curved façade
GANGADHAR BHATTA
‘Halabe’
INTRODUCTION

• Born on 30th April 1936

• S.L.C in 1952 from Padmodaya High School in Kathmandu
• after his I. SC from Trichandra College in 1955, earned his B.Arch.
degree from Calcutta University in 1961 (1st architect of Nepal)
• Initiated the idea of holding open design competitions for important
government buildings
• Winner of first prize of Rs.5000 in the open design competition for
the Rastriya Panchayat Bhavan in 1968
• Considered as “The Founder of Modern Architecture in Nepal”
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s statement that “Architecture should be organic.
And all organic matter must speak and should work.”
PHILOSOPHIES

• Form should satisfy function

• Building should respond to its surrounding
• Ingredients of a good building are honesty, sincerety, seriousness and
hardwork
• Architecture and society should go hand on hand
• Roofed large skylight at its zenith divided in the shape of citrus fruit
HIS FLAGSTONES TO HISTORY

• Master plan of Dashrath Ranga Shala

• City hall, Exhibition road
• Royal Palace Secretariat, beside City Hall
• Police Club Building, Exhibition road
• Glass house in Godavari
• Soaltee Hotel with Sankar Nath Rimal
• Hotel Hermitage resort with architects Anjan Das Shrestha and Ramesh
Manandhar
• Residence of Gajananda Vaidya’s in Maharjgunj and
Madan Chiranjilal’s house in Kamaladi
City Hall

• Landmark in the modern architecture of Nepal

• Spaces for national and international conference
• Considered three types of people;
- Firstly the pedestrians for whom he gave wide staircase connecting the
ground floor and first floor
- Secondly for vehicular, porch was provided and lobby on ground floor
- Lastly for performers, different entrance
• Wide staircase for easy exit and entrance
Features

• Modern concrete shell structure used for entrance emphasis

• Abstract design reflected by precast open riser stair
• Huge opening on the façade supporting modernity
• Interpenetration of different forms and newer type of elevation treatment
• Additive designs on the roof
Darasath ranga shala

• Location: Tripureshwor, Kathmandu

• Year: 1956 B.S.
• Style: Modern
• Site topography: Flat land
• Site area: 102 ropani
• Built up area: 65 ropani
• Construction technology: Frame structure
• Materials used: concrete, steel
Features

• Modern building blended with traditional slope roof

• Building composed of interpenetration of geometrical forms
• Use of pergolas to symbolize the deviation towards modern design
• Various halls well managed under the parapet of stadium
• horizontal fenestration balanced by vertical column like structures.
 Football ground

Marshall art hall

below
Tennis court

Swimming pool
Covered hall

Administration block
Godawari Botanical Garden

• Location: Godawari, Kathmandu

• Style: Green architecture
• Use: Green house, Picnic spots, Recreational area
• Site topography: sloppy land
• Materials used: plastic sheets, CGI sheets, Glass, bricks
Features

• Use of the natural aspects at its best

• A space for recreation as well as research created with integration to nature
Rastriya Panchayat Bhavan

• Commissioned through Design Competition

• Consisted of five buildings
• The assembly hall, secretarial building, library building, multipurpose hall
and restaurant
• The 90 ft. dia. Assembly hall was never built
Soltee Hotel

• Location: Tahachal, Kathmandu

• Style: Modern blended with traditional style
• Site Topography: Flat land
• Site area: 11 acres
• Built up area:6112 sq. m
• No. of storey: 5
• Construction technology: framed structure
• Materials used: traditional Nepalese elements like bricks, jingati tiles
SHANKAR NATH RIMAL
INTRODUCTION

• Born on 1st march 1935 AD in Tangal, Naxal

• Graduated from Calcutta university in 1957
• Trained in dtckechooff and Widman K.G. in Germany during 1959
• Autodidactic in architecture
• Started professional work as assistant Engineer in the public works
department
• Started his own firm “Shankar Nath Rimal Engineers and Architects P.
Limited” from 1961
• Displayed his skills in other specialized fields such as structural details,
drawing, Landscape design
PHILOSOPHIES

• Spiritual quality in design

• heterogeneity over homogeneity
• redefine nepali architectural space
• use of modern technology faithful use of elements
• emphasis on purity of form
• cost effective
HIS FLAGSTONES TO HISTORY

• Sahid Gate
• Narayanhiti Royal Palace
• Soaltee Hotel
• Everest Hotel
• Royal Nepal Academy
• Amrit Science Campus
• Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
• Tikapur township
• Nepal Art Council
• Pangre Ghar
Sahid Gate

• Built in 1958
• Designed as memory of Democracy
• Told to design such that vehicles could
pass through it but created it as a
sculpture
• Introduced monumental architecture in
Nepal
• Frame structure with marble as
treatment material
Everest Hotel
• Built in 1969
• Structure reflecting modern architecture
• Elevation wrapped with smooth texture and
glass opening
• Modern way of construction-diaphragm wall
• Light color on smooth surface to symbolize
boldness
• Use of modern materials and various lighting
inside the building
• Color well combined to suit the floor and
furniture
Royal Nepal Academy

• Built in 1964 (largest auditorium of the time)

• Designed for ballet, opera, dance, lectures, cinemas and other
musical functions
• Consists of two galleries, two multipurpose halls(two ramps leading),
library, administration rooms etc.
• Stage of clear width of 96 ft.
Construction Technology
• Use of open griders, pre cast, post tensioned griders lifted from
ground level
• Pre cast insitu beams of even 51 ft. span for art galleries
• Diaphragm wall and shear walls provided for earthquake resistance
 pond
Service block parking

Administra
tion and
Main
studio
entry

Press
amphitheater store
garage
Main block Parking shed
Pangre Ghar

• Experiments of rimal and wonder of the

period for Nepalese architecture
• Huge cubical mass balanced over two
concrete wheels
• Use of local material in simple way to create
complex design
• Symmetrical façade articulated by corner
windows and the design produced by
alternating opening and walls
 BIBHUTI MAN SINGH
 Graduated from the West
Pakistan University of Engineering
and Technology
 Chief Architect of Technical
Interface.
 Former president of the Society
of Nepalese Architects (SONA).
 Park Village Resort,
Budhanilkantha
 Club Himalaya at Nagarkot,
 Himalayan Pavilion, Germany
 Hotel Dwarika, Battisputali

“MY NEXT PROJECT WILL BE MY BEST ONE..”

HOTEL DWARIKA, BATTISPUTALI
• Built in 1998
• Entirely built in Newari Traditional style
• Built to save old wood carvings from
traditional Kathmandu buildings that
were about to be thrown away.

• Revived the technique of

"Dacchiapa," the Newari
traditional method of
making carved bricks.
 CLUB HIMALAYA, NAGARKOT

PARK VILLAGE RESORT, BUDANILKANTHA

CARL PRUSCHA
CARL PRUSCHA

• June 10, 1936

• Austrian Architect
• Physical planner in the services of UNDP
• Assigned to prepare the master plan of Kathmandu Valley (
60s)
• 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
• Great respect for climate and existing landscape
• Adopted simplicity in construction
• Used technology within the grasp of the local workmanship.
• A timeless architectural vocabulary, one that cannot be
dated by stylish feature.
• Simplicity
• Simple Geometry
• Monumental
• Honesty
• Light and shadow
HIS WORKS IN NEPAL
• Centre for Economic Development and Administration
(CEDA) building at Tribhuvan University (T.U.), Kirtipur
• Taragoan museum, Boudha
• UNHCR housing
• Few residential buildings
CEDA
 CEDA (Centre for Economic Development and Administration)
• Located in Kritipur
• Built in 70’s
• an independent center of the TU
• Building material narrowed down to bricks as it was a predominant
• a series of geometrical forms which offer a complex composition
to create strong public spaces.
• to blend physical, cultural and spiritual landscape of the valley
while maintaining its contemporary expression
• Inspiration- geometry of mandala with its circle and its square
• Administrative part designed as a square while circle used
for conference space.
• It is placed axially in the direction to Swyambhu, from where
its spiritual connection was established.
• The third complex of the building given a triangular form as
a mediator between square and circle.
SECTION
TARAGAON MUSEUM
 TARAGAON MUSEUM

• designed to provide lodgings for

people coming to the Valley
• constructed almost entirely in
exposed brick vaults with wooden
windows
• entirely new architectural form,
yet feels so much part of the
tradition of the Valley.
• The brick vault commonly was
selected instead of the pitched
roofs commonly found in the
valley.
• A central small plaza was created
with the cluster of 16 small units
• The Taragaon hotel building no longer serves as lodge for the
pilgrims.
• Used as a museum in present day
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BY CARL PURSCHA
UNHCR HOUSING
GOTZ HAGMULLER

• Austrian Architect
• came to Kathmandu to supported Bhaktapur Development
Project in the 70’s
• made Bhaktapur his home since then.
• most of his work has been restoring several heritage
buildings of significance
His important projects are:

• Patan museum on Patan Durbar Square

• Garden of dreams at Kaiser Mahal, Thamel
• Reconstruction of the precious Chyasilin Mandap, Bhaktapur
durbar square
• Conservation master plan for Swayambhunath
• His own house in a traditional courtyard in Bhaktapur.
PATAN MUSEUM
GARDEN OF DREAMS AT KAISER MAHAL,
THAMEL
CHYASILIN MANDAP
ROBERT WEISE
 First Swiss architect in Nepal.
 Completed graduation from the college of architecture and
engineering of kt of Zurich ,Switzerland.
 Studied tropical architecture from the building research station
at Watford, U.K.
Gave birth to “A Modern Era of Hybrid Nepalese Traditional
Architecture” (use of pagoda style in modern buildings).

“Foreign lands are not all foreign to me, for it is there that I hope to
be able to express the personal freedom in me.”
WEISE IN NEPAL
 He was the first architect to practice in Nepal after 1960s.
 Contributed to the contemporary architecture in Nepal by
achieving a blend between the traditional and the modern.
 Worked as an architect and construction manager under contract
with Balso mission from 1954-57
• Made an effort on making all government offices roof capped off
with pagoda style
 Worked under the contract with “sata” (Swiss association for
technical assistant)
 Introduced the design of double flight stairs for the 1st time.
 Worked as an architect-in-chief under the contract with HMG
HIS WORKS
 Original master plan of T.U.
 Designed the Library building of T.U. and several
other building of the campus.
 Hotel Malla
 Hotel del’ Annapurna
 The fish-tail lodge

The royal Nepal army barrack at

Chhauni, Bhaktapur, Pokhara
Yellow pagoda hotel (now Nabil bank at
kanthipath)
SOS children village (Bhaktapur)
German embassy (Gyaneshwor)
Japanese embassy staff quarter (Jawalakhel)
 DE L’ANNAPURNA
 1st modern tourist hotel opened in july 1965
Blended traditional architecture with modern
style
Use of pagoda roof with the implementation of
modern technology
Simple rectangular plan withelevation articulated
by rhythmic rectangular windows.
Windows are of modern style in the façade facing
the road.
Use of carved struts and a\c box to give a
traditional look.
FISHTAIL LODGE

Another experiment of Weise.

Architecture more organic in nature, and
resembling with the surroundings.

Circular plan layout with circular shell

roof.
Use of local materials
Elevation articulated by rhythmic doors
and French windows.
SAMAJIK SEWA MANDIR
Experiment on forms, finishes, elevation and landscaping practiced by Robert Weise in 1980s.
Elevation- combination of exposed bricks and white plaster.

Play with cubical forms, flat roof and the huge openings in front facade.
Introduction of semi covered spaces (path ways).
RESIDENCE
( Prince Basundahara’s residence )

Transformation of forms and well balance of

mass and void
A revolutionary experiment and a master
piece of modern residential bldg.in Nepal.
Modernity reflected through plane texture,
modern materials, dynamic forms, louvered
openings, flat roof and the shading devices of
various forms.
 Royal Hotel

Hotel Malla

T.U. Library Block

Hotel Yellow Pagoda Residence for Aaditya
Sumsher,Babarmahal

SOS Children village-Sanothimi

KAI WEISE

• Ar. Kai Weise is a Nepali national of Swiss origin.

• Masters in Architecture from the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology, Zurich in 1992
• working as a Planner and Architect in the Himalayan Region.
• He worked on the municipal planning of Madyapur Thimi from 1997
to 2005.
• Kai Weise has been working in various capacities as a UNESCO
consultant and advisor to the UNESCO office in Kathmandu since
2004.
• He has been involved in preparing Management Plans for various
World Heritage properties: Kathmandu Valley, Lumbini, Samarkand
and the Mountain Railways of India (India) and recently on Bagan
(Myanmar).
BENJAMIN POLK
BENJAMIN POLK

• American designer and architect

• best known for his work in India and Nepal.
• Born: May 18, 1916, USA
• Died: April 23, 2001
• Practiced architecture in San Francisco and in Asia
• He designed and constructed more than fifty projects during
this time.
• also a musician
LABORATORY SCHOOL
• Built in 1965
• Situated in Kirtipur
• Unique roof design,
which is a pair of two
concrete slabs gradually
rising up,
• resembling more like a
‘bird spreading its wings
for a mountain flight’

• buildings are of exposed brick whose rhythmic

pattern adds to the academic environment
NARAYANHITI ROYAL PALACE
 NARAYANHITI ROYAL PALACE
• Built in 1969
• The reason behind employing a foreign
architect was because King Mahendra
wanted a new definition for his palace,
different from previous styles.
• admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright.
• used combination horizontals lines,
hipped roofs, windows grouped in
horizontal bands, huge overhanging
eaves
• He perfectly composed the shikhara
form and a towering structure to its left
to touch up the formal Nepali essence.
• The entire form has been designed as a frame structure with
some portions consisting of structural shear walls.
• OPC used for structural works
• mild steel for RCC was imported from England.
• The palace’s exterior was initially proposed to be clad with
marble which was not locally available, so the choice was
shifted to machine-made bricks.
BIRESH SHAH

• completed his Bachelor of Architecture from School of Planning, India

• worked as urban planner/ designer

• Vastukala paramarsha, kupondole

• The Drigung Kagyud Rinchen Palri Monastry
• Mukti tower
• Laxmi complex
TOM CREES

• Important contribution to the contemporary architecture of Nepal

• Major works are:
• Riverside spring resort, Kurintar
• Bakery Café
• ICIMOD Headquarter, Dhapakhel
• Tea House, Nagarkot
HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Louis I kahn-Nepal Family Planning Center, Maitighar

• Tadao ando- Siddhartha children and women hospital, Butwal
• Indian architects- B P Doshi, Achyut Kavinde
• Kenzo Tange- Lumbini master plan
• Dhurba Bahadur Pradhananga- Bishal Bazar
• Narendra Pradhan and associates- Mountaineering Museum
• Bishnu Panthi-WTC, Tripureshwor
TIA
HOTEL SHANGRI-LA, LAZIMPAT (1984)
ICTC BUILDING , HATTISAR (1994)
SHANGRILA VILLAGE RESORT, POKHARA
(1988)
CONCLUSION
Significant development in the context of modern architecture in
Nepal since 1950s.
Both Nepalese and foreign architects played vital role to lay the
foundation of modern architecture in Nepal.
Outcome were the various modern buildings which stands till today
as an example.
Offers significant learning for the new architects in Nepal .
From past to present we have many modern buildings erected
though in steady manner but its sure in future that we can see more
modern bldgs like Guggenheim museum, Bauhaus, Villa Savoye etc in
the land of Nepal.