Architecture Portfolio

THESIS,2021

“RE-IMAGINING BURJI: PATHWAY TO MILAREPA”

LOCATION: BURJI VILLAGE, TSUM VALLEY, GORKHA, NEPAL BURJI

An enchanting village at 3000m high at the lap of epic mountains lies in The Tsum Valley. It is a sacred Himalayan pilgrimage valley situated in northern Gorkha, Nepal. Here, nature dominates the entire lifestyle and co-exists with the culture peacefully from the centuries to now. Stone carved houses, agriculture fields up to the horizon, here all domesticated and wild animals live under the same wide sky free and safe.

Originally part of Tibet, it was a forbidden valley until 2008. The famous Kyimo Lung, a pilgrimage circuit in the central Trans-Himalaya, Burji village lies linearly along the river at the center of this valley. The unique forbidden nonviolence rules of this valley connects people, animal, nature and culture of the place. Architecture has to be able to bring out the harmony they idealize.

This thesis glorifies the historically significant Milarepa’s cave and re-imagining Burji as a whole by documentation of the divergent socio cultural and architectural dialect of this place and proposal of architectural interventions to preserve and elevate the rich community and their romantic relationship with nature.

“Is architecture detrimental to the innate state of harmony between people and nature?

Is architecture solely responsible for diffusing such connections?”

Forgotten cultures? A missing pathway?

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

1. DOCUMENTATION OF THE BURJI VILLAGE - Through as build drawings and interviews.

2. RELIVING THE FORGOTTEN PAST FOR THE FUTURE -Exhibition of the village, communal sewing.

3. CHEESE TO RESPOND THE TRANSHUMANE PASTORALISM. -Boasting highest number of Yak, Cheese House.

4. PATHWAY TO MILAREPA. -Propose a way to the cave.

“sbas-yul skyid-mo-lung” “the Hidden Valley of Happiness”

“Just 11 households, our village boasts the maximum number of Yaks in the entire Tsum valley. It has helped burji be the major trade junction and we produce household churpi....”

“We gather in different houses every other day and weave carpets and sew together for every household turn by turn. Communal sewing has been an intergral part of our life....”

“Almost all youth and children migrate out for better education and opportunities, we know the historic importance and influence of religion from this cave but daily livelihood consumes this small village and actions to develop hasn’t been possible though there are plans. The prayer flags is attempt to do so by the community....”

“We are celebrating 100 years of Non-Violence history this year, no slaughter of animals no violence, no bee keeping or any kind of deforesting. These are punishable crimes in our valley....”

ANNE GOMPA Across the river. A center for women monks

MILAREPA’S CAVE, The great saint and philospher’s cave.

TSUM MONASTRY, Placed before the village entrance, Vibrant place for jatras and festivals.

CONCEPT

“HIDDEN LINKS : UNFOLDING THE RELATIONS”

SAMSARA TO NIRVANA. Burji village to the milarepa’s cave symbolizes the journey from samsara to Nirvana .

The pathway will act as a narrator of Milarepa’s journey to freedom. Philosophically, the connection of samsara and nirvana has and always will remain. Unlimited to any constrains as these concepts are abstract and purely spiritual. “This hidden relation is to be unfolded byArchitecture”

ECONOMIC TIES TO FREEDOM

The difficult terrain promises beauty but livelihood here is difficult primitive amenities. Terrain supports the pastoral lifestyle. Hence, Cheese production house to help uplift the economy.

“Give meaning and return to the traditional transhumance pastoralism.”

A Window to Tsum

Whole village as a living museum. Wool weaving and sewing center not only empower the village but also preserves the long lost and forgotten tradition of Tsum. Exhibition allows visitors insight to this community.

Forgotten Bhumpa at the end of the village is taken as a point of departure, a square dedicated for the Small village of Burji. Narrow alleys, courtyards and surprise elements. replica balconies of the village and tibetian identity.

NODE

Focal point where overall landscape is visible and activities experienced, view of all 4 significant gombas, open to the fields, animal grazing, river on either side, sights of sewing and weaving, the smell of churpi making and the sound that travellers bring.

Cheese house lvl 0

Cheese house lvl 1

Bhumpa squares

Sewing and weaving

Pathway developed along the cliffline, minimum disturbance to the field. linearity is inspired from Mani walls announcing a

CHEESE HOUSE Visitor centered cheese tasting, and Yak resting platform.

WOOL WEAVING AND SEWING Open exhibition and women’s center.

BHUMPA SQUARES A Village Hall and Library

MILAREPA’S GALLERY. A pathway to the cave, to the inner self.

MILAREPA “A MURDERER TURNED SAINT”

The great Milarepa is believed to have meditated in this cave. Every year thousands of people from across the world comes to visit this cave as pilgrims or trekkers and also people living in the area pays daily visit here. The way to this cave from the village hasn’t been established yet: Walk across the village then through the fields we reach the landmark with prayer flags and small gompas. It marks the base of the mountain from where the travelers walk on steep stone stairs to the cave. The way from village to the landmark hasn’t been developed, people can’t cross the fields during harvest season and take a different path away from village across the kholcha (River). This is dangerous and the villagers have to compromise their crops.

”PATHWAY AS A STORYTELLER”

Milarepa’s entire journey to enlightenment is experienced by the users. Play of light to evoke emotions.

Milarepa’s life story is broken down into 7 parts to be portrayed as an experience

Lavish childhood, Milarepa was born to a prosperous family in TIBET.

Tragedy and betrayal after his father’s death. Treated like a servants for many years

Search for tantra wisdom in order to take revenge o

Vengeance, wreaked havoc of thunderstorm and hailstorm destroying everything and everyone

‘BUILDING AS A LANDCAPE’

From the dark room to search for tantric wisdon. Light guides and hits the eye level at exit. Tree of new life. Birth in Tibetian mountains.

Landslide of vengence and the struggles of the survivers. A Reflection into one’s deeds.

Enlightenment courtyard

13 steps towards the greatest goal.

Preaching and travelling

After several years of intense penance under the guidance of his gurus, he was able to reach the state of Nirvana .

Remorse maze, Sharp lights through slits. Lowest point of one’s life. A tree of hope. Double courtyard, A look back point

“Milarepa’s life story shows how one can progress from being caught in the cycle of confusion, known as samsara, to becoming a student entering and practicing the path of dharma, to eventually becoming a teacher oneself and taking on the responsibility of training others.”

SCHOOL DESIGN STUDIO II

BOARD AND PAPER GAMES

“Designing school with school memories.”

Separate building blocks are a necessity for low rise school layout. As all the different blocks have different functions and role to play, the plans of the building block were guided by different games.

MASTERPLAN ACADEMIC BLOCK MONTESSORI BLOCK ADMINISTRATIVE LIBRARY/CANTEEN

Monopoly board Puzzle pieces Dots and Boxes Tic tac toe Tic tac toe

Like different places in the monopoly have different values: the school blocks have different functions. The car goes around the board in the monopoly that forms a pathway in my master plan around the square area occupied by the four academic blocks .

How the puzzle fits only in its unique position similarly a building must fit in the environment it is built in: meaning the orientation, sun path and wind directions are to be considered before designing.

ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK

MONTESSORI BLOCK : Dots and Boxes Open courtyard for outdoor games – Privacy and safety within the block with no disturbance from the outside Circular classes with the capacity of 15 students-Playful environment and circular socio-petal layout for safety of the children.

MASTERPLAN

municipal building

KALEIDOSCOPE19-20, National Round

ASIAN PAINTS DESIGN COMPETION

A student design competition for an, an extension to facilitate the growth of the existing Metropolitan city.

Located at the key junction of a historic stupa, a busy Commercial complex and in between the rich Newari Architecture of the valley, the design is approached within the context and BLOCK A.

Borrowing elements from traditional architecture of the valley and responding to the existing block.

Stupa , a cultural significant structure in the site is taken as a point of design departure. An axis drawn symmetrically across the stupa divides the entire site for zoning. 18’ chamfered entrance in response to the site that creates visual connection to road. Creating angled breakage into the courtyard

VISUAL BARRIER

Connection to block a (Efficient employee movement)

CONNECTION TO BLOCK A (EFFICIENT EMPLOYEE MOVEMENT )

User Separation

CAFETERIA:

“Beyond the orthodoxPast the tradition with the essence” REVENUE

ANGLE HELP MAINTAIN THE CIRCULATION PRIVATE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND VISIBLE FOR THOSE WITHIN THE BUILDING

CIRCULATION: Around the atrium space

Visual connectivity - Existing landscape to the atrium

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Efficient circulation, multifunctional spaces and shared facilities between the old and the new.

UTILITIES AT THE WEST TO BUFFER THE EXTREME HEAT.

CHAMFERED EDGES TO BREAK THE VOLUME.

CAFETERIA PLACED AT EAST TO ALLOW LANDSCAPE IN THE COURTYARD.

LIBRARY PLACED AT THE NORTHERN LIGHT AND AT THE PROXIMITY FROM THE BLOCK A

PORCH AND OUTDOOR EATING TO REPLICATE THE PATI.

REPLICATED THE IMMEDIATE GEOMETRY OF BLOCK A AND A TOWER FROM THE DURBAR SQUARES OF THE VALLEY.

COLLAGE OF INTERIOR SPACES

SECTION THROUGH THE ATRIUM.

urban CONSERVATION STUDIO v 03

KWALKHU, PATAN

Kwalkhu is a small ancient settlement which is located 350m west of the Patan Durbar Square. The ‘Kwatha Chhen’ courtyard is located opposite of the entrance of the Golden Temple.

The study area is adjacent to the busy nodes leading to Patan Dhoka and Dhaugal. Documentation was done with measured drawings and local interactions, followed by analysis. After this, a proposal for the site, a minimal intervention to enhance the living of Kwalkhu.

Emphasis was given on the open space in the ancient settlement and its importance. The open space at Kwalkhu is a small stretch about 36 meters in lengh and is in a trapezoidal shape with the wider end about 11 meters which narrows down to 7 meters at the other end.

At the break of dawn, we could see vendors and old women selling vegetables and pooja essence at the nodes. The plinths, steps and the covered space of sattal are used for business.

Kwalkhu is treated as a stop on the way to other places rather than a destination.

The locals liked sitting in their own stools in the plinth area during 2-3pm as the space receives sun and is buffered from the road.

Since Kwalkhu is located in the core of Patan, the houses are very compact carrying minimum area at foot print. 44% of houses cover less than 1 anna.

Many of the newer RCC buildings have tried to maintain a traditional façade by using brick exposed façade coupled with addition of traditional looking wooden windows as well as elements such as struts and projections with jhingati tiles. They make 44% of the total.

The original inhabitants of Kwalkhu were the Amatya and Rajbhandari. They were responsible of royal stores and respectedly lived in the core area.

Kwalkhu is along the North-East and South-West axis. It allows the open space to receive sun from 11am to 3 pm in summers

There is a clear demarcation of paving materials.Brick paving can be observed alongside the stone axis, where a strip of sunken bricks also allows for drainage. 14% of the structure have CGI finish whereas another 14% of buildings show traditional gable roofs.

Every settlement has certain character which reflects our tradition which is needed to be conserved for the attainment of its original state in totality. The authentic elements of the settlement represent the character, so as such these elements need to be preserved. “Architecture conservation helps to preserve the emotional values, functional values and cultural values of an area while preserving the structure.”

PROPOSED INTERVENTION OF SATTAL

AMARAPURI RESIDENCE

Nawalparasi , Nepal

TEAM: STUDIO NEBA

DATE:2022

Located around 160 km west of the capital city Kathmandu, Amarapuri is the small village bounded by Mukundapur VDC in the east, Rajahar VDC in the west, and the Narayani River in the south. This village is beautifully located on a hilly area above the plain that adjoins the Narayani River. It is situated in the lap of Mahabharata hill range.

“An amalgamation of Nepali and Scandinavian homes.”

Paying homage to Nepali architecture with the earthiness of natural materials andW open courtyard, while combining practicality and coziness of “hygge” of a Scandinavian home.

A double-height courtyard with a skylight welcomes you as soon as you enter the area, interconnecting the living space and kitchen/dining, all based on an open floor plan.

Through the courtyard, access to the rooftop is provided that exhibits a panoramic view of the hilltops. Bedrooms are tucked away on the rear end and opens up to a beautiful wide balcony that overlooks the garden.

The villa correlates with the local heritage and craftsmanship found within the community.

SKYLIGHT

LUMBINI VILLA

Lumbini, Nepal

TEAM: STUDIO NEBA

DATE:2022

SITE: 6535.01 SQM| 70,336 SQF| 12-13-2-0

BUILT UP AREA: 173 SQM | 1860 SQF | 1 Villas Unit

The site is located a few minutes away from one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, amidst the rice field.

“Bringing back some Bali vibes to Lumbini.”

The task was set to achive transparency of the building, simpliciy of form connecting the indoor and the outdoor. With the simplicity of a one-wall layout, it maximizes efficiency without compromising on functionality. Opening the facade creates various connections, and interspaces are formed between the house, the porch, and the water.

The chromatic material palatte is based on earthy tones of different materials used, the wood, stone, stucco and the terrazo tiles. Touches of wood add a sense of warmth and accent features that creates a feeling of coziness in the space

The tropical pool turns an outdoor area into an oasis of green, and the wide variety of tropical plants that surround it is a vacation-like landscape.

The Lightweight slope roof humbles the villa allowing gradual height alteration throughout. High ceiling living space roofed by wooden texture compliments the furnishing.

Bathtubs, where one can soak and relax while gazing out at the lush green garden. Minimal fixtures and bright interiors for refresthing bathes.

The abstract Terrazo flooring for clean, vibrant and cool aesthetic. Pigmented stucco is used rather than paint to avoid humidity build-up in the walls.

BATHTUB

FURNITURE DESIGN

The chair is built around the concept of ergonomic minimalism – Simple yet stylish. The visually light and uncustomary slender design of solid woods aesthetic results from the fusion of high-end technology and refined craftsmanship.

Comfort led the design of the backrest, which is positioned and angled for exceptional support. The slim yet robust matte steel frame defines the intriguing geometric silhouette – and delivers high durability.

Featuring a durable iron construction beautifully crafted in solid wood, the dimensions are as follows:

Base: Metal tube Ø 19 mm + powder coating

Seat: Solid wood

WHAT LIFE MEANS.

Bells ring, the dawn echoes Brooms sweep, the gate opens Flames lit, the vendors stroll. Through wooden lattices I look into life and the lifeless.

Celebrating solitude

Coloring the square Singing the faith

And Running the living. These constant changes Gave my stillness life.

The clocktower, Brings the afternoon Rings the responsibility. My Horizon change. Travelers rest, Sellers pause. Some remain.

I belong to people Not kings or the gods. Listening to Devotees Dreaming with the deviants,

I understand all of What Life Means.

A beautiful dream.

The divine gift of a soul. To feel and be felt. To breathe hope, To dream.

The day,

The bell rang like never before Flattening the faith. Pitch black and grey, mid-day. I surrendered, I collapsed. An eternal ring of screams. Blood over and under

I took all of What Life Meant.

11:56, Nature reimagined

The man and the man-made That ring. That beat, From underneath Shook us all Shook us all…

-The Kasthamandap Temple

In the memory of all the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in

ARCHITECTURE POETRY, 6TH CYCLE,2022 ‘Learnings from the Nature’