“A chance is like a leaf on a river, you have to grab it quick, or it’s gone forever.” Mira Rai
Kingdom of Nepal Anglo-Nepalese formed, merging War several domains into one.
Period of monarchical instability
Start of pro-democracy movement
Democratic experiment
Partyless system
19 96 -2 00 6
19 50 ’s
19 60 ’s-
19 80 ’s Slavery abolished. However, Rana rule was marked by tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution.
19 40 ’s
19 24
C. 19 th
18 15
17 70 ’s
Chosen Woman: Mira Rai, Cultural History
Nepalese Civil War. More than 12,000 deaths King suceeds power. Monarchy abolished in 2008
Eighteen months ago, Rai was just another young Nepalese from a desperate village who grew up never sure of two, let alone three meals in a day. Now the former Maoist child soldier is winning international races in one of the world’s toughest sports – races of 50km-100km over mountains – and may be on her way to global stardom.
Born in a remote Nepalese village to two landless laborers. She is either 23 or 25, she isn’t quite sure.
Runs away from parents to join Maoist guerilla fighters
Nepal civil war ends. Mira not allowed to join regular army
Monarchy abolished
Runs in her first ever 50km trail race, and wins it.
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Rai faces her greatest challenge yet: inspiring the women of Nepal to fight back against the deep conservatism in the country and “follow their destiny” as she puts it.
Travels widely and wins multiple international competitions.
Mira’s (and nepalese women’s) cultural, political and economic context.
She is beating male marathoners from sponsored professional teams. Today Rai is fighting a new battle – inspiring women of Nepal to fight back against the deep conservatism in the country by running in races all over the world. “There has been some progress, but not enough,” Rai told The Guardian. THE
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“ICHANNELS want women and girls in remote villages like mine to have opportunities. We need to change attitudes. It will not � be easy.”
POLITICS (//BROADLY.VICE.COM/EN_US/TOPIC/POLITICS)
Is Nepal's New Third Gender Passport a Win for Trans Rights? by Danielle Preiss And Pragati Shahi (//broadly.vice.com/en_us/contributor/daniellepreiss-and-pragati-shahi) OCT 1, 2015 4:15 PM
Maoist Army “I was inspired by their message of making a better society here, especially for women, and by the adventure too,” Rai “Other girls were confined to their homes and I thought if I go then the others will follow.” told The Guardian. In keeping with its reputation as a surprisingly progressive In keeping with country for LGBTI rights, Nepal recently granted its first its reputation as a and unintended "third gender" passport. But social stigmas
surprisingly progressive country for LGBTI rights, Nepal recently granted its first “third gender” passport.
Caste System
In Gorkha, most farms are managed by women. An exodus of young men to India, Malaysia and Middle Eastern countries has left many villages short of able-bodied farmhands. Economic migration has surged in recent years, with nearly 500,000 Nepalese leaving the country every year
Girls in Nepal are told to stay home, fetch the wood, look after the animals and the cooking. The “big things” are for men. Changing mentality is difficult. People have a habit of ignoring the truth— they know that’s not true, but still believe it. My parents were live-and-let-live which gave me opportunities.
Agrarian society Agriculture accounts for 34% GDP
Every day more than 54 young girls and women are trafficked out of Nepal.
Aftermath of Earthquake
“The areas affected by the quake have traditionally been high-traffic areas for taking girls to Indian brothels, but they’re also used for internal trafficking,” says Bimal Rawal, a child protection adviser for Save the Children.
Niruta
Child marriage rates are expected to soar in the disaster’s aftermath considering that parents who have lost everything can no longer afford to raise their daughters and orphaned girls will likely be preyed upon, Reuters reported. Pregnancy is a major risk for girls for young girls whose bodies aren’t fully prepared to conceive. In fact, complications due to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls ages 15 to 19, according to UNICEF. Niruta’s family’s home was flattened during the earthquake and they’re currently living in a cow stall.
Kathmandu
The “bathROOM” Ring Site Durbar High School, Kathmandu Founded in 1892 is the oldest modern school in Nepal.
The “Body� Ring The Porter
BackPack Proposal Woven bamboo frame Dirty Resevoir
Passive tracking display
Filter compartments
Generation of unique running maps from residue
Could also be used in room/ building scale with water filtration
Doko
Namlo
Tokma
Model describing Mira’s world from outside, broken. But within, describes ability of locals to rebuild. An architecture to enable skills of the populace, and women in particular.
Lokta paper Baruwa or Kaagte Paat
Daphne Papyrus, which only grows at an altitude of 6500ft or above in the Himalayas.
The inner bark is stripped away, but the root system isnt damaged and regrows
Paper is handmade with a cupful of lokta pulp being added to wooden/ mesh frames.
Leaves, seeds and petals can be added at this stage
The Lokta bark has to be boiled for eight hours to soften and break down the fibres, and it is then hand sifted before being pulped to a smooth paste.
Paper is dried in the sun
Dyring wax effect By adding wax, the paper become water resistant, and more durable.
Final dried paper.
Lokta paper within the interventions
Classroom
Washroom
Interior and external moveable sheet in waxed Lokta paper. Can be used as a teaching tool for children and adults. Supporting native industry.
Exterior tensile canopy and internal linings of waxed lokta paper, with seeds and petals of native plants found within the himalayas.
Awning
Cantilevered, arched awning made with sheets of waxed lokta paper providing minimal cover over tiered stand, for sports or cultural performances.
Bamboo
Armillary Sphere
Armillary Sphere Plan and Section
Young Girl Ring Teen Girl Ring
Building Ring
Community Construction Ring
Context ring
Body ring
Body scale intervention: Filtration backpack
Body scale intervention: Filtration backpack 02
Lightweight reclaimed bamboo roof
LED Lighting
Lightweight Bamboo structure
Woven sbamboo screens Sliding Bamboo door
Sponsor signage
Public mirror and sink
Reclaimed rubble gabion wicker baskets
Biolite stove (CHP Plant), Heat, Electricity generator
Composting toilet, waste re-used in gardenss
Room Spatial arrangement
Composting toilet space
Dappled lighting effect through woven Waste re-used in gardens growing screen
Changing/ Supply/ Waiting area
Re-use of rubble
Shower space
Bookmatched Bamboo flooring. Integration of planting into community
Communa space, stove, water butt, charging points
Biolite style stove
Charging station
Intervention 01: Scaffolding Structure
Stage 01: Upturned Doko woven basket used as mould for concrete base. Bamboo up-rights joined via bolt detail.
Stage 02: Initial Bamboo structure built, moderate heights and length. To store, and dry bamboo ready for construction.
Stage 03: Bamboo structure expands to accomodate further storage. Depth and size of construction provides safety for workers from unstable school.
Stage 04: Structure in inhabitable, could be used as play-site for children or initial classroom venue.
Intervention 02: Generic Washroom
Composting toilet
Waxed Lokta Paper internal screen, with embedded flowers, petals and seeds.
Concrete foundation Lightweight bamboo flooring
Tensile, moveable bamboo and waxed Lokta paper structure. Designed to maintain ventilation, and protect from heavy rainfall
Unit deployable throughout region, made of locally resourced materials.
Intervention 03: Classroom
Waxed Lokta Paper internal screen, with embedded flowers, petals and seeds.
Concrete foundation
Lightweight bamboo flooring Hung bamboo benches and tables, alllowing reformatting of space
Modular design, in order to complete indicidual self contained units or larger multi-unit developments
Intervention 04: Tiered Stand
Initial stand, un-covered
Developed stand, with temporary cover.
Expansion of temporary stand to hold higher capacity for spiorts games, show etc
Intervention 05: Kiln
Bamboo smoking kiln. Permanent development that treats/ preserves/ dries bamboo in minutes, rather than days and weeks. Intervention that could have a longterm sustainable impact.