INTRODUCTION

Site Description;

Site area ; 76000 sq. ft. of land (around 14 ropanies of land).

Next to the citys major thoroughfare.

Location Description;

THAMEL -

 centre of the tourism hub of Nepal

  a commercial neighborhood 

 narrow alleys with various shops and street vendors lining in the streets  that cater
specifically to western tourists.

Built Up Area   : 35000 SQ. FT. (40% ground coverage  

Courtyard area  : 12, 0000 SQ. FT. 

Project year  : 2013         

Project
2019
completion

Storeys :  15; the hotel occupies top 10 floors 

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w CITY WITHIN A CITY

CHHAYA CENTER

1. A new means of socio economic growth

2. Public realm, that invite use and activity. 

3. Provides a unique retail and communal experience 

Donald van Ruiten

4. Imparts a place for communities to connect, explore and engage. 

5. Hosts public gatherings and festivals and provides a place to hangout .

6. Ensures diversity, comfort comprehensiveness, convenience, safety

7. Stands as a permanent exhibition; drawing attention of tourists. 

 Features
 Fusion of traditional architecture with modern facilities.

 Mixed use commercial complex Houses 200 retail shops along

with restaurants, multiplex, offices, banquet halls up to 4th floor and
hotel in upper floors.
• FORM

1. Simple rectangular

2. Variation of height of each blocks 

3. Central dominant Hotel tower block breaks monotoy.

4. Form resembles residences of Newars

• PLANNING 

1. Complex of five rectangular buildings around a central courtyard (12000 sq ft) , provides a

space for social interaction

2.An approach to ocntrol micro-climate

• FACADE 

1. Rhythm of rectangular recessed wide windows 

2. Brick facades 

 3. Use of glass to enhance openness, and to give aesthetic appeal + a touch

of commercial appearance  

• ROOF STRUCTURE 

1. Sloped roof 

2. Usable for rain water harvesting 

3. Gabled roof representing newar residence architecture.

ENTRANCE: 

 via a main gate which is directly connected to the road. 

 One vehicular entrance -   width 20’-0” 

 One pedestrian entrance - width 6’7’’. 

No any focused entrance

main entrance to the building 

Parking
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
 Ramp
Courtyard
Lobby
Lift
Retail shops
Restaurant
Staircase and escalator

Inferences
Entry through narrow alleyways which may become a factor responsible for increased
traffic congestion on those routes.

Entry to the complex is unnoticeable and uninviting.

Spatial Organizations;
 Linear alignment of retail stores along the double loaded corridors.

 Long corridors may confine the openness of the building, however breakouts are
provided in order to facilitate organized cirulation routes.

 Monotonous planning considerations may affect the customer shopping experience.

 Single restaurant on ground floor may not suffice the massive footfalls.

Total built up  36,995 sq.ft 

area  

            

1 restaurant 1,015 sq.ft 

82 Retail 16,738 sq.ft. 
shops         
SECOND FLOOR PLAN

Lift
Restaurant
Escalator
Stairs
Expansion joint
Inferences
 Placements of 3 restaurants apart from each other ensures convenience and easy
approach through diagonally located escalators.

 Ends of the trade corridor leads to the elements of attraction marketing center i.e.
restaurants.

 Grand lobby next to escalator serves as a splendor to the eyes, directs the visitors and
tenants to their desired spaces, also provides a comfortable working environment.

 Courtyard provides the sense of openness and grandeur, reduces the necessity of
artificial lighting during daytime and helps to channel fresh wind into the complex.

 Could use bridges for visual connectivity as well as for easy transition from one building
to another.

Total built up  38,148

area   sq.ft 

3 restaurants 1115.97
sq.ft.,
1162.77
sq.ft., and
1932.91
sq.ft 

76 Retail 20,962.30
shops          sq.ft

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

As a mixed use commercial complex, it accommodates corporate offices, service lounges,

gaming arenas, 3 mulitplexes in 3rd and 4th floor and hotel from 5th to 15th floor

THIRD FLOOR
Total built up area    38,148 sq.ft 

            

Office 26,428.26 sq. ft 

Lift
Office
Escalator
Staircase
Circulation route

FOURTH FLOOR

Total built up  36,995 sq.ft 

area  

            

Office 29,097.98 sq.ft. 

5 meeting halls  3936 sq.ft 

1 banquet hall  7,421.20 sq.ft. 

a Food court 17,740.54 sq.ft. 

and 3 Multiplex
cinema hall 
Escalator
Staircase
Elevator
ESCALATORS Provision of diagonally placed escalators
helps maintain the traffic in the complex.

Width              : 5’-0” 

Length             : 31’-0” 

Height              : 11’-7” 

Inclination       : 20 degrees 

2 Escalators and 5 service staircase on each

floor

STAIRCASE  Service staircases also located for

managed circulation

Type of stairs              : dog legged 

Width of stairs             : 6-‘4” 

Tread                           : 1’-0” 

Riser                            : 0’-6” 

ELEVATOR • Placement of lifts and staircase far apart

from each other, 

• visitors reach their destinations through

different circulation routes, hence
increased footfall

Number of lifts            : 6 

No. of Frieght lifts      :4

LOBBY + CORRIDOR • Wide corridors for ease of movement, 

• Creates pause moments

• spacious lobbies to provide
workers/occupants with a relief
opportunity—such as breaks—from
more confined spaces.

• The corridors are wide and well-lit from

 which the stores are easily visible and
accessible. 

• 11’-0” TO 12’-0 

Concept of “Thamel within Thamel

Endowed 200 retail stores, fine dine restaurants, fast food corners, dessert points, coffee
shops,  entertainment spaces like game rooms and gaming arenas, movie theaters,
multiplexes

THEATRE

AUDI 1  AUDI 2  AUDI 3 

AREA  Approx. 1518

SQ. FT. 

CAPACITY  110  150  112 

PER PERSON  10.12 SQ. FT. 

NO. OF 3  3  3 
EXITS 

GANGWAY  5’-0”  5’-0”  5’-0” 

WIDTH  1’-6”  1’-6”  1’-6” 

TREAD  0’-6”  0-6”  0’-6” 

RISE 

NO. OF 10 
ROWS 
RETAIL SHOPS

Sustainable Considerations
Use of rectangular recessed windows to block the unwanted sun rays.

Low E- glass windows.

Courtyard facilitates temperature control and ventilation.

Rainwater harvesting through roof

Façade and construction materials

Lacks a commercial frontage character

No articulation in shape and no introduction of modern characteristics

Refuses the use of modern construction materials, in fact uses brick as the major construction
material till the top floor.
 S.N. Basis of Comparison Case Study
1Lower Basement 331 sq ft. per ca

2Floor to floor height 10 ft. clear heigh

Conclusion
• Introvert character of architecture hence conceals the environment within the complex
as a whole.

• Key considerations like transparency and visual connectivity with the on site
surroundings and activities around mall are missing.

• Central courtyard lacks interesting features such as water features, greeneries; atriums
could have hyped the existing sense of semi-openness and served as the project magnet
to attract the visitors.
• No proper pedestrian environment, surrounding landscapes planted walkways, as
central defining aspect of mall which could ultimately produce a positive effect both
from a commercial and social point of view through the notion of place-making in the
life of the city.