LIVING REALITY Volume 4, Issue 1 | February, 2019
...size is not important in thesis but design complexity and level of handling are. - Biresh Shah
"We learn architecture all time." - Jayandra Dhwoj Sunuwar
ARCHITECTURE THESIS SPECIAL
LIVING REALITY Advisory Team Ar. Saurav Shrestha, sauravshrestha@live.com MSc in Building and Urban Design in Development (University College of London)
Ar. Aanand Manandhar, anand.manandhar@gmail.com Bachelors Degree in Architecture (IOE Pulchowk Campus)
Guest Editor Jayandra Dhwoj Sunuwar, jaysunuwar@gmail.com
BFA in Architecture, Mass college of Boston, Boston MA, USA
Editorial Team Anup Ghimire, anup_arch@yahoo.com Saurav Koirala, koiralas874@gmail.com Suraj Lama, surajlama169@gmail.com Yaju Tuladhar, yaju25946@gmail.com Email realityliving2016@gmail.com Facebook Page www.facebook.com/livingrealitymag Instagram @livingrealitymag Blog livingrealitymag.blogspot.com livingrealitymag.wordpress.com ISSUU issuu.com/livingrealitymag Published By Architecture Student’s Innovative Society (ASIS), Department of Architecture, IOE Thapathali Campus, Thapathali, Kathmandu. 2
February, 2019 Living Reality
LIVING REALITY 02 . 2019
On the Cover: Conceptual sketches by Raju Rai and Yam Rahadi Magar (Photographs edited by Editorial Team) On the Right: Thesis Model by Raju Rai (Photograph by Raju Rai)
EDITORIAL 04 Concept of a thesis by Jayandra Dhwoj Sunuwar NEWS
06 Team Baha Spatial Agency from Nepal won Resilient Home Design Challenge Scenario 2 06 Richard Rogers Wins 2019 AIA Gold Medal 06 Congratulation EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK 07 THE DISSERTATION from "The Dissertation: An Architecture Student's Handbook" INTERVIEW 08 Interview with Ar. Biresh Shah ART 11 Quick with Watercolour and Pen on Paper by Suraj Lama PHOTOS
12 Photos by Niels David William ARCHITECT 14 Complexity and Contradiction: The Legacy of Venturi by Bishnu Raj Sapkota EXPERT'S EXPERIENCE 15 WALKUP BUILT HOUSING: Architecture Thesis Experience by Biresh Shah (Reported by Living Reality Team) ARTICLES 16 18 19 20 21 22 23
RICE AND THE RENAISSANCE; Gupta's Rice Park at Bhadrapur, Jhapa by Sahara KC RAMAILO MELA; Re-thinking of Commercial Spaces in hills of Nepal by Raju Rai PASLANG: A Hidden Magar Village by Yam Rahadi Magar Interior Design of "U3A - Musical Department" by Saraswoti Nepal Auto-Didacticism and Aptitude in Architecture by Garima Basnet Learning from Masters by Prakriti Bhandari My Thesis Journey by Ruby Maharjan
February, 2019 Living Reality
3
CONCEPT OF A THESIS
EDITORIAL
Jayandra Dhwoj Sunuwar Once we were young and student at the school of architecture. Now may be doing other than architecture for living. Those of us who have continued in the line architecture, the years of professional practice couldn’t have been equally meaningful and rewarding; for reason more than any other, that the client wouldn’t pay! In spite of extraordinarily ordinary things like this and many other lost opportunities; some of us, I hope have been able to secure a work of architecture to her/his credit that makes you proud. Now, would you care to sit down and have a chat with some student of architecture where both sees oneself in other? Practicing architecture, we all grow in our own unique way. While musing on our success and failure every now and then we are forced to revisit the college days; specially the struggle that we had with the Thesis Project. Ironically, architecture for many of us might not pass again the high ideals of the days of Thesis Project during the final year at the college. I believe nothing can compare to being a student. The lone traveller passing through the hills and valley of success and failure is in fact the same student struggling to get through the Thesis. Mature days of professional practice often gives a room to relax and remember the Thesis Project as an immature architectural exercise that absolutely in no way describes the Architects that you are now. As for myself, my Thesis was on revitalization of a neighborhood, which didn’t go very well because it was too ambitious. I tried to engage with far too many issues to resolve successfully within an available time frame, my architectural knowledge, and available resources. Not to mention getting pounded by those inconsiderate, obstinate, and arrogant reviewer (I hope you are not taking it seriously). “Balance the challenge”, now I say it! But the issues of dwellings have never left me. Respectable and dignified living/life is basic and ultimate goal of us all. Architecture of dwelling, especially for urban poor is the most worthy contribution that we can/should make for the respectable and dignified living/life. Thesis project do carry a lasting effect of us. So what is/was your thesis about? No, I do not need to know that. First I would like to come to the issue of ‘Title’. ‘Title’ comes first or is it the ‘concept’? Who would have thought that it all was going to get so complicated? Title is not the thesis but it does describe the project. Description can only come from understand. But how did/have you conceptualized your thesis? What is your ‘concept’? No, don’t answer it, because it is not easy to understand what ‘concept’ itself is. Forget architecture, what concepts have you built so far about life and living so far? Do you have concept? No, I’m not expecting some one to pull it out of the pocket. Concept of ‘justice’ and victim, or ownership of a property for example are the matter of common sense for us. Come to think of it, how could anyone own a piece of land and call it mine and have his say in that land restricting your access to his land? It’s ok to say, “this is my body” to your body, which is indeed yours (let’s not go any further here), but land; how can it be yours? If you are familiar with the concept of private property then it’s the matter of common sense. But when your neighbor claims 3 ft. along your southern border and wants to lease it to a Kawadi, then concept of personal property becomes the cause for contention. It will then begin to produce a lot of interpretation such as right of the community over your personal property, all in the name of greater good, restricting your right over the use of your private property making you liable for the possible harm that it can cause to the neighbor, community, and public in general! Let me simplify it; a concept is a working diagram of your thesis project. But lord help you if it’s the electric chair for the design of the Supreme Court! Wow! Concept as a working diagram is something that will help you workout the solution at all stages of design and design development. Knowledge when internalized appears as ‘a form’; in your case it can be an architectural concept. Strong concept or a conceptual clarity will not only help you design better but also help others to understand your project better. We are in constant dialogue with our friends, teacher, and reviewer through out the design process. You can’t do architecture in seclusion. A working diagram is a simple graphics, supported by couple of key words. Remember simple, a concept can’t be complicated but should be simple and clear. But and it’s a big but, a concept as a working diagram cannot exist without the extensive knowledge of the project. That extensive knowledge
4
February, 2019 Living Reality
is only possible after extensive research into the project. A person from a Mars will be utterly puzzled if you tell him that piece of earth is yours but will sell him for a right price; because he lacks the concept of private property and rules of exchange and use of property. But you never know these days with the party politics, as in a one bright and breezy summer afternoon, he could be hired to review the Bylaws of Kathmandu Municipality for a very attractive consulting fee! Nostalgically architect could muse on all-nighter and red eyes of thesis days but for a student of architecture it is very real. Million things could go wrong before the end of the final review. Pushing yourself harder then ever, wondering all along how is it that soon you will become an architect like your seniors who just graduated last year and like all others who are/were architect, wishing you had listened to your boyfriend and studied IT instead, or overwhelmed by your own achievement; student during the last days of his Thesis Project is everything but sane! And poor soul, is made to stands in front of his friends and teachers to be pricked and poked. But what a relief it is to be praised and understood! “There is good” you think, not in heaver but here in this hall! Students of architecture, I hope you have answer to, “what is your concept?” Treacherous and exasperating it may have been, at the end of the day we all live to cherish the experience of those final few months at the college; pulling overnights, walking delirious and red eye to rows of jury and reviewer while wishing the sky would fall. But nobody died on the day of the final presentation. The perk of getting old is the knowledge that all tough time pass to give way to normal time so that we can prepare for another tough time, because you are who you are because of all those tough time. The lesson is, take tough time seriously because it is not every day that you can rise up to the occasion. Did I learn how to design at the college? You hear a lot that you actually learn design when you are out of college and start practicing. You learn design all the time any way but nothing can replace those five years at the college in terms of learning architecture. Here, I am looking at student teacher relationship and its role on learning architecture. Earlier when I said, “we learn architecture all time”, it is interesting to note that I’m learning but there are no teacher and no classroom? Student, teacher, and classroom are the fundamental constituent of architectural education or any education for that matter. You can’t just say you are learning all the time. May be you’re in fact not only getting old but also stupid? To learn, the learning has to be ritualized! Student, Teacher, and Classroom are joined together by ‘respect’. In absence of respect everything crumbles. But what is this respect? Well, we all know it when we ‘see’ it! How does the respect arise in our heart and express itself through our bodily gesture? While casually learning life lesson in our normal life of a practicing architect, the ‘respect’ part is absence is clearly felt. Take for example the face that we don’t love our enemy and rather look down upon them. ‘Look up’ to a person we respect. Doesn’t this indicate that respect is something that is higher and travels upward? While being respected, if you happen to be positioned bellow the line of upward traveling respect, you will miss it! Which is to say, respect is a problem if you are not worthy of it or when you extend respect casually. The situation that respect creates can only be sustained by honesty. Student value teacher’s instruction when teacher is honestly interested student’s work? Hard work of the student compels teachers to become genuinely interested in their work. Do you value your teacher’s instruction? All this happens under the big umbrella of educational institution that is a classroom. Interaction between the teacher and the student in the classroom is what I would call a student-teacher relationship. This relationship is the reservoir of learning. When you come across someone who have trashed their thesis project soon after the review was over, will have to start learning architecture without teacher and classroom but those who cherish their thesis project will go on to spread knowledge. I’m saying this so that you may work had to generate respect and honesty in the classroom to forge conducive relationship with your teacher and complete your thesis project and live to cherish it all. Good Luck!
February, 2019 Living Reality
5
December 17, 2018, WASHINGTON, The World Bank The World Bank, Build Academy, Airbnb, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and UN-Habitat announced the winners of the Resilient Homes Design Challenge. The Challenge was called on architects, engineers, designers, and students from all over the world to propose a design for three affected scenarios: Scenario 1: Island countries affected by earthquakes, storms, and flooding; Scenario 2: Mountain and inland areas affected by earthquakes and landslides; and Scenario 3: Coastal areas affected by storms and flooding. Over 3,000 professionals from over 120 countries participated in the Challenge, resulting in over 300 team submissions. A jury of international experts selected three winning designs for each of the three scenarios, for a total of nine winners. The winners are: Team Antu (Nicaragua), CSW Architecture (France) and KZ Architecture (USA) for scenario 1; Team Baha Spatial Agency (Nepal), Compartment S4 (India) and Ten (Switzerland) for scenario 2; Team Architects Avenue (Malaysia), PoLito (Italy) and Bam-S (Italy) for scenario 3. Baha Spatial Agency proposed a design for Laprak, Gorkha; a remote location in Himalayan region of Nepal near the epicenter of 2015 massive earthquake. The team made significant approach to recapture the vernacular essence with the assimilation of local context and local knowledge. And soon the team will join other winning teams and participate in the exhibition held by the World Bank in Washington D.C representing Nepal.
REALITY NEWSROOM
Team Baha Spatial Agency from Nepal won Resilient Home Design Challenge Scenario 2
CONGRATULATION !
Richard Rogers Wins 2019 AIA Gold Medal Ar. Sudeep Sharma Paudyal Steering Committee member Presidentially appointed on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commission from UIA Region-IV on International Union of Architects (UIA) for the period of 2017-2020. He is the first Nepali to be appointed at UIA from Nepal as a steering committee member. Living Reality Editorial Team 6
December 6, 2018 by Niall Patrick Walsh (from ArchDaily News) Richard Rogers has been awarded the 2019 AIA Gold Medal by the American Institute of Architects. The world-renowned architect and founding principal of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has been recognized “for his influence on the built environment [that] has redefined an architect’s responsibilities to society.” Honoring “an individual or pair of architects whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture,” the AIA Gold Medal is often considered the highest honor awarded in the United States for architecture. As one of the leading architects of the British High-Tech movement, Pritzker Prize-winner Richard Rogers stands out as one of the most innovative and distinctive architects of a generation. Rogers made his name in the 1970s and '80s, with buildings such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Headquarters for Lloyd's Bank in London. To this day his work plays with similar motifs, utilizing bright colors and structural elements to create a style that is recognizable, yet also highly adaptable. February, 2019 Living Reality
THE DISSERTATION
Excerpt from the The Dissertation: An Architecture Student's Handbook
To know the first thing about a dissertation, is to understand what it is not. An architectural dissertation, unlike that of a PhD, which can easily consume 3 years and would discloses to the length of practically a book, is normally to be completed within the amount of time that an author has to write a single book chapter: one academic year or 9 months. Therefore, what the dissertation is not, is that it is not the appropriate platform to sum up every architectural belief, as there is simply not enough time, words, or images of worth. A dissertation thus, is an opportunity to focus over a short period of time, the architectural ideas/subjects that appeal to you, and to make thoughtful attempts to identify, define, explore, and articulate on them for your own development as an architectural designer and thinker. Many of the schools nowadays allow just about any subject, granted that it has some architectural bearing, but more on this bearing, is for you to discuss with your supervisor. The tutor is not going to tell you what to do, as the whole point of the dissertation is for you to find out a topic for yourself, and it is important to locate the subject that you want to explore and which you can begin to talk about. Some places you can look to locate the subject might be: Yourself: One common mistake is the assumption that what you know about architecture is already understood by all and thus cannot write a dissertation about it, while the truth is that one of the greatest joys in architecture is the infinite number of ways it can be thought about. This is actually an opportunity to convince others in your interest, the identification of which, can best be done by simply listing them down. Your Portfolio and other works: Identify the key themes of your old projects (or some literature works like essays, etc.) and explore them in great depth in the dissertation, or alternatively, identify what is absent in them and do something entirely different from your studio works. Although schools
often accept broad definitions of dissertation, writing directly solely about your own design work is normally not acceptable. Words and designs should be equivalent and inter-related while exploring the same subject matter. Books: Deliberately carry out parallel study i.e., analyze/ compare an article with a similar and familiar context. This is the opportunity to find the books that were most attractive to you and realize what kind of subject they tend to focus on. Magazines and Periodicals: If you are up-to-date with the most recent debates, issues and discussion, then you might want to take part in an active debate. They can help you often decide against, as much as towards a particular subject. Moreover, the length of articles might be notable with their organization of the arguments, the depth you need to go to, the types of evidences and documentations to refer to. Everyday life: Architecture, beyond your studio and school (the streets, landscape, internet, movies, etc.) finds a vast scope of subjects. Subjects like how architecture is portrayed in photographs, or how it portrays the public space in everyday life might be something that might indulge you. Other people: Talk to other people and make them listen to what you are thinking about. While their response might or might not help you, simply saying aloud things a few more times often makes you realize your ideas more clearly. Seminars, Lectures, Conferences: Seminars, lectures and conferences are places where architectural thinkers often talk about work in progress, about tentative proposals and strange ideas that are in development. So you can often get clues as to new concepts and lines of thinking from these less formal, more speculative arenas. Tutors: The people that actually oversee your dissertation can also be enormously helpful at this stage. Don’t be afraid to go along with your initial thoughts, and ask their advice.
Excerpt from The Dissertation: An Architecture Student’s Handbook by Iain Borden and Katerina Rüedi Ray. February, 2019 Living Reality
7
E XCERPT FROM THE BOOK
By Living Reality Team
Interview with Biresh Shah Biresh Shah is Architect, Urban Designer and Lecturer who has been actively involved in the field of Urban Design, Planning and Conservation. He completed his Bachelor Degree from School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, India in 1984. Later he joined MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Cambridge, U.S. and completed his master’s degree in Urban Design and Housing Studies. Professionally, he has had experience of working in variety of projects of different nature nationally and internationally. Besides his professional life, he is lecturer and profound writer. He has lectured, served as research advisor and external juror in different universities (Nepal and abroad). He also has published numerous articles and presented papers on multiple conferences on various issues of architecture, urban design, planning and conservation. From your experience, how would you define Architecture? The discipline linked with our Civilization and Culture. When we talk about old civilization like Egyptian, MohenjoDaro and Harappa, we talk about their architecture before we talk about their life. This is because the remaining of buildings are still in existence, but life is not. Yet, life can be studied through buildings. Architecture is a directly linked discipline with the human civilization. However, many things like media, capital, and global flow of ideas dominate architecture. The main spirit of architecture which links a particular place, culture and society like in the past is lacking now. Architecture of the past were shaped by life, community, culture, environment, nature and resources. These things have changed now. What do you think about Nepali Architecture? The Newari Architecture of Kathmandu from the Malla period is the most progressed architecture. Due to this, it has practically become a brand for National Architecture. We have lots of vernacular (traditional) architecture in our country. Every place has its own natural environment, sense of remoteness and natural assets. There are very few countries in the world with such diverse geography like Nepal. People have been living here for thousands of years. They have developed communities and built forms that are highly rooted to this place. However, in the name of development, rapid changes are taking place. Although modern developments are essential to enhance the life of people, they do not seem to incorporate the essence of 8
PHOTOGR APH BY THE LIVING R EALITY TEAM
INTERVIEW
By Living Reality Team
locality and originality. Originality, which is our biggest asset, has been forgotten. So now the challenge of balancing these things are upon us. Besides the Malla Architecture of Kathmandu valley, Gurung Villages near Pokhara also have their own uniqueness. The Tharu villages of western Terai and the Maithili villages of eastern Terai have different arts and strong cultural expression. All of these, along with other vernacular architecture are Nepali Architecture. How do you see the architectural education system and architectural practice in Nepal and international arena? Architectural education in Nepal corresponds as more of technical education. Most of the architectural programs are being run in technical colleges. The trend of introducing Architecture after operating a few other departments is common. This has been anticipated to be easy which does not require big investment. Therefore, it has become technical like a subject itself. Meanwhile, architectural discipline is established differently in foreign countries. Today, we have 7 architectural colleges inside the valley, from where hundreds of students graduate each year. Even then, we have not been able to rethink about the architectural education system in Nepal. While the courses here are similar to that in foreign schools, they do need revisions respecting our local context, and this has not been accomplished yet. A few students are very well educated about our traditional settlements and Nepali architecture. Nonetheless, our courses still need to evolve as per our own urban settlement and local architecture. February, 2019 Living Reality
There are no standards about how architecture should be attained. In our context, the professionalism of architects is being neglected. Majority of the modern buildings today do not have design values. This shows that there is urgency to revise and change our educational system. Who will do it, I don’t know. Maybe colleges themselves, or the Society of Nepali Architects.
In your opinion, what is a good thesis? How an architecture thesis should be like, is the topic of discussion. Commonly most of the students work with projects of certain size with fixed site, and fixed complexity. But in real life, we will come upon many things. So, there is no necessity of setting fix criteria.
How can we improve and achieve our standards in architectural education system and practice? We must review and change our courses. There are 8 design studios in our B. Arch curriculum. We do different projects of different size and nature in each studio. But it is not necessary to design design every year. What matters is, if we know the design process, method and principles, we can certainly do different project in real life too. So, we should rather work on how to understand these aspects. The students must also boost their skills in drawing and designing. Drawing is important and it is necessary not only for presentation, but also for thinking. Skills and practice related courses should be increased. Details are neglected, it should be given more priority. These details are important for artistic synthesis, which makes the buildings more valuable. Two or three studios must be based on skills, details and their practice.
How can good thesis be achieved? In common, there is a benchmark in site area, which is a kind of limited thinking. This results in selecting the site in agricultural and farmland by the student. But buildings should not be scattered in a big area like 40 Ropanies. For any site, a building should be designed in an area required for it, and rest of the space should be left as it is; size is not important in thesis but design complexity and level of handling are. Preparing plans, sections and elevations over a large area (for example 40000 sq. ft.) is not the purpose of thesis. Designing a house with an area of 3000-4000 sq. ft., but with proper details is good. Good thesis depends upon the nature of project and the level of dealing and detailing. Skilled students should choose small project so that detailed design can be done.
What is Architectural Thesis in your opinion? Architecture thesis is design thesis. After completing 8 design studio projects, of different scales and associated studies of these, thesis is an independent project of a student. It shows how we have gained knowledge and how we have improved our skills. Thesis is also an opportunity for increasing confidence before starting professional practice. It is an evaluation of oneself. How should students select his/her architectural thesis topic? After studying architecture for 4 years, students develop certain interest. We do not just study, we interact with our society. The method of observation and ways to express them changes, and so does the perception on things after studying architecture. Therefore, the knowledge gained all these 4 years should be rendered on thesis. A thesis topic with linkage to these experiences, knowledge and intellectual directions would be better, rather than a randomly selected topic. How should students do research effectively in thesis? Design and research should be balanced. Also, it depends upon the project priorities. In the beginning they should research on subjects essential for actual design process. But most importantly, the supervisor plays a vital role in guiding the student. February, 2019 Living Reality
How can students overcome fear and anxiety from thesis? The students who work with interest does not need to fear thesis. There is no reason for it. Teachers should also help students in their work with sincerity. Colleges should provide an environment of academic excellence. Healthy interaction with proper and intellectual solution between a student and a teacher brings out confidence in the student. Then, they can overcome their fear and anxiety. What do you think about the trending Architectural Thesis in Nepali Architectural School? I have not reviewed a thesis for about 4 years. There were some good ones too. Providing a design solution is not big thing, but resolving them architecturally is very important. If architectural resolution is done in good way, then presenting them with details increases the value of that thesis. This is lacking. If a topic has a single core building is conducted with details (fenestration quality in elevations, sections, and appropriate details) then, it is good and sufficient. One fashion that I don’t like is taking an unnecessarily large project in the name of thesis. Another trend is selecting an imaginary and huge site. To increase scope, other unnecessary buildings are added in the site. This distracts student from concentrating on their actual design problems. This type of trend is appearing in many colleges and it should be resolved. Students can prepare good thesis focusing on details only when there is no pressure of size and scope by college and supervisor. 9
PHOTOGR A PH © DTS .EDU.N P
Dhaulagiri Technical School of Lete, Mustang
How did you start your Architectural practice? After completing B. Arch, I worked for one year in India. One of my friend's father was the chief architect of the Indian Government. He had studied with Frank Lloyd Wright and had also worked at Taliesin office of FLW. After retiring, he had opened a small practice and I worked there, which was a good experience for me. Then I returned back to Kathmandu. One of my friend (senior at SPA), had been running a small practice here and I worked with him. Later, I got the opportunity to study masters at MIT. Upon completion of my master’s degree and working in Boston for a year, I returned back to Kathmandu. Then I worked as freelancer. I used to research and write articles. I also worked with Ar. Deepak Man Serchan as a consultant architect and we did a few projects together. My teaching career started when Ar. Deepak Panta brought me in Pulchowk Campus to teach. B. Arch program, which had just started. While teaching there, I established my office - ARCHI-PLAN. Afterwards, Ar. Deepak Panta and Ar. Sanjay Thapa also joined me at Archi-Plan. But balancing work and teaching started to become difficult. I used to be at Pulchowk with the students and other teachers whole day. But then I left teaching and gave more time to my office and projects. Later, we participated in the South Asian University Design Competition in Delhi and won. Then we worked for the designs in joint venture with some friends from Delhi. Meanwhile, I have been teaching Master’s program in Urban Design at Khowpa. And besides that, I have been writing about Architecture and Public Spaces as well. Would you tell us about your Architectural Works until now? South Asian University / SAARC University, Delhi (Includes 12 building, Staff Housing, Guest House Faculty Club, Big Library building around 1.5 lakhs sq. ft., Administration Building, Faculty Buildings, Convention Center); Many Residences; Nepal Medical College (two buildings with master plan); Kathmandu College Management, Gwarko; Pashupati Plaza, Khichapokhari (Design many commercial building but constructed only); Viewer Apartment,
Dhobighat (Now Hotel); St. Xavier Campus, Jawalakhel; CTEVT Campus, Lete, Mustang Among your works, which is your favorite one? It is difficult to pinpoint. Nepal Medical College. The site was a complex topography and the requirements were complex too. Besides it was a functioning campus during construction, that achievement is memorable for me. The South Asian University campus is yet to be completed. But as a designer, many smaller projects also have been quite satisfying. Who (architect) do you admire the most? Which design (building) is your favorite? In Kathmandu (Modern Architecture), I admire Carl Puscha’s design for Taragaun Hotel (now a Museum) a lot. It is built with simple local materials, but is very innovative in its layout, form and construction. It is a modern building but it seems to be rooted in the architecture of Kathmandu. But there are many other buildings in Kathmandu that I admire as well. Among the major architects of South Asia, I admire Charles Correa. During a long career he has accomplished an extraordinary range of projects demonstrating a synthesis of the Big concepts and the small detail, in simple beautiful ways. I have also admired the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright greatly. His vast range of work in America encapsulated relationship with nature, use of natural materials, bold construction, extraordinary craftsmanship and modern art brilliantly. His philosophy, design ideas, and innovations gave birth to the aspirations of entire generations. Despite his genius, his ideas and constructions were easily understood and made strong connections to architects all over the world. This is so different from the “iconic architecture” of so called star architects today, which most architects can hardly connect to or understand. Would you like to say something about today’s talk? I find such possibilities and future optimism while conversing with students, which I rarely find in discussions with fellow professionals.
The Interview with Biresh Shah was taken by Living Reality Team on July 30, 2018 at his Residence. 10
February, 2019 Living Reality
QUICK WITH WATERCOLOUR AND PEN ON PAPER February, 2019 Living Reality
11
This picture is from the Dhorpatan Trek. I stayed in that house overnight, and the local people, took good care of me. In the morning I paid a little money, for what I have been eating, and a little for sleeping, and everybody was happy.
Vernacular House of Dhorpatan in 1973 AD, Photo and Text by Niels David William
Complexity and Contradiction: The Legacy of Venturi When circumstances defy order, order should bend or break: anomalies and uncertainties give validity to architecture
-Robert Venturi
ARCHITECT
By Bishnu Raj Sapkota American architect Robert Charles Venturi Jr. lived long till 93 years of age as an obelisk of Post Modern Architecture till September 18, 2018. The Pritzker prize winner of the year 1991 is pioneer of various buildings, plannings, theoretical writings and teachings. “Less is bore”, with this maxim, Venturi completely opposed the philosophy of modernist architect Mies van der Rohe. Graduated from Princeton University in 1947 with higher distinction called summa cum laude, Venturi received his Master in Fine Arts from same university in 1950. Venturi developed architectural theory and design quality within himself with the help of Professor Jean Labatut at Princeton University, where BeauxArts pedagogical framework was being followed at his time. Venturi worked at several esteemed architecture firms and in 1954, he won the Prix de Rome, which allowed him to study at the American Academy in Rome. The rich history of architecture in Rome, especially the designs of Michelangelo and Borromini, helped Venturi develop his personal architectural philosophy. He would later incorporate pediments, arches, and columns into some of his famous works. This trip was invaluable to Venturi's career because he became acquainted with architect Louis Kahn who gave him a position at his firm after returning to Philadelphia in 1956. From 1959 to 1967, Venturi worked as Louis Kahn teaching assistant,
an instructor and later as associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He also taught at Yale School of Architecture and Harvard University. In 1964, Venturi completed the seminal project of his career, The Vanna Venturi House in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, which he designed for his mother and demonstrates many of the principles he espoused in Complexity and Contradiction. This book is one of his popular work in the field of architectural theory being related with various existing vernacular and modern architectural forms. He visited various places and had a rich knowledge about the world architecture and illustrated his ideas using various examples. Venturi challenged modernism with the multiple solutions available from history which was related not only to the specific building site, but also the history of all architecture. He wanted architecture to deal with the complexities of the city, to become more contextual. Venturi is an architect whose work cannot be categorized to particular field of architecture. To him a single solution was never enough. Thus, he worked rigorously for the betterment of architecture world. Today, he might no longer exist in this world but his work of art, architecture and philosophy shall shine for centuries.
Bishnu Raj Sapkota is student of Architecture at IOE Thapathali Campus. 14
February, 2019 Living Reality
PHOTOGR APH BY GEORGE WIDMAN / AP
WALKUP BUILT HOUSING: Architecture Thesis Experience My Interest in buildings started flourishing after I joined Architecture. My major interest was on sustainable relationship between buildings and spaces, which still strikes my mind till date. So I tried to apply this in my design studio. My perception on towns like Bhaktapur and Patan, where I used to roam in my childhood days, started to change after studying architecture. I started writing about them. I realized that a building is not an autonomous physical entity. Buildings make spaces and spaces make buildings. Keshav Narayan Chowk at Patan Durbar Square has been built in such a way that, it perfectly displays the relationship between buildings and spaces. The mutual relationship between a building and a space provide value in architecture and urban city form. I came to perceive this when I visited Kathmandu while I was studying in Delhi. Thus, I wanted to explore this in my thesis. During those days, there were three projects in fifth year: the design studio, urban design studio (which has been replaced with conservation studio here) and thesis. In urban design studio, we had to write a research paper on any topic of individual interest. There were many housings in Delhi, with areas as big as 5-7 hectors, carrying certain population density, housing design and community development with social and physical facilities. Famous architects like Charles Correa, Raj Rewal also have created some housing projects. I started studying about particular spaces of those housings like “spaces designed and created by various typological building”. I studied about 12 housing areas and did a housing project in my thesis. Group housing was still unknown in Kathmandu during those days. Only single family houses were constructed due to low land price. Later the government devised a plan to build a housing at Golfutar in about 100 Ropanies land by plotting. I took the site and did a "Walkup Built Housing" there. Courtyard houses and row houses were my initial concept for thesis. I was interested in designing
houses on small footprints and opening up the remaining space as common areas for all. While designing on small footprints, vertical sub division was possible. In addition, I tried to carry the values of old town into the new types of group housing. With this idea, I planned streets, courtyards and squares which was supported by my teachers. In my final jury presentation, one of the jury members was chief architect Ratan Singh from the Delhi Development Authority and the other was Ar. Aditya Prakash from Chandigarh who was an associate of Le Corbusier during the Chandigarh planning. After my presentation, Aditya Prakash supported me but Ratan Singh did not, because the housing project with such planning had never been done in Delhi before. During those days, buildings were constructed with the same orientation, which was a hangover of Modern Architecture, but after Athens Charter, which supported planning for proper light, air and accessibility, buildings should be oriented accordingly. But my understanding was, in doing so the space between buildings become useless, as one's front space becomes other's back space. Instead, if small chunk of lands are brought together to form single large area to support social interactions, then such lands become socially valuable. In Delhi every house had a parking space, but in my design, parking pockets were at different places and internal spaces were not accessible by vehicles. It was pedestrianized. Since my project was against Ratan Singh’s principle, he did not accept it. I would have gone against my own idea of increasing community interaction if I had considered his idea while planning, and that was not acceptable for me as well. Thus, Ratan Singh gave me very low mark because I was performing against his ideas. However, Aditya Prakash appreciated my work and provided me with high mark. This is how I remember my thesis experience.
This section is the thesis experience shared by Ar. Biresh Shah during interview with Living Reality Team. February, 2019 Living Reality
15
EXPERT EXPERIENCE
By Biresh Shah (Reported by Living Reality Team)
RICE AND THE RENAISSANCE; Gupta's Rice Park at Bhadrapur, Jhapa My struggle with architecture is how I can make a great work of art the common experience of common people. Creativity and beauty that I put in architecture I believe should be enjoyed by as many as possible. My work should uplift and nourish the heart and mind of all, especially of those who only rarely get to enjoy the finer things in life. I was determined that my thesis would be the architecture of the public place but was not sure exactly what. Once I had a chance to see a Photo Journal of Jhapa, I found the architecture of that region very interesting. Thus, I decided to travel to Jhapa in search of my thesis topic. Trip to Jhapa had taken us to Bhadrapur, architecturally very distinct with houses from the time when whole Nepal was not under the total hegemony of architecture of modern Kathmandu. I can still recall the atmosphere of barrenness, a sleepy little town with wide roads but no vehicles. Houses, which were not painted for years, abandoned mills and industries turning into ruins. It was in fact a dying town. On a rather chilly terai winter afternoon, I had a chance to meet Mr. Shree Ramchandra Prasad Gupta next to his ruin of a rice mill, sited on wooden chair and one hand resting on the umbrella. The town of Bhadrapur, Gupta's rice mill along with Gupta himself all look alike in a way, a reminiscence of long gone better days. In spite of all this, Mr. Gupta still hoped that this rice mill could rise from ruin. Maybe that is the only thing that he was waiting for all these
years. Moreover, I thought; with my thesis project, this town of Bhadrapur, Gupta's rice mill along with Gupta himself could come alive to be a public park; a unique address in Bhadrapur. The site is next to city Bus Park, surrounded by open field and residential neighborhood. I thought this was perfect setting for a public park. Therefore, I named it "Gupta's Rice Park". There are many thoughtfully constructed buildings in the style of Bengali Haweli fused with Assam style within the premise of the rice mill. 50 years ago, Gupta went to an engineer from Mumbai to design some of the buildings. The Rice mill was just half of it until I started digging of rice and its influence on the Nepali culture. We cannot overlook the possible culture of rice shared by people of Nepal from low land of Madesh to Hills. I would like to call my project “Rice and the Renaissance: Gupta's Rice Park”. The project will attempt to salvage and find use to some of the existing buildings of Gupta's Rice Mill. This way Gupta's Rice Park will have strong connection with the past and intrinsically link with the site. The initial idea from my personal experience was my immediate response when I saw the Mill from the gate for the first time. I was overjoyed when I saw it from a distance as if I already knew that this was going to be my site for Thesis. Along the road we come to a point where the two existing buildings
Thesis Model of Gupta's Rice Park
16
February, 2019 Living Reality
PHOTOGR A PH BY SA H A R A KC
ARTICLES
By Sahara KC
PHOTOGR A PH BY SA H A R A KC
Master Plan of Gupta's Rice Park
from the time of Gupta's Rice Mill; one Gupta's Residence and the other Gupta's Office, creates a frame through with one could view the site with a hint of awe and surprise! I have decided to build largely on the north of this sight line while creating large parcel of land for the rice field on the south. The sight line ends with monument to Gupta on the far end from where the whole project seems to radiate. Approach to the project starts from the intersection on the northeast with the view of the renovated office building. It is at the far end across a small public plaza of the pool and the market place, which will be the new entrance block to the park. Existing old tree in front of the entrance block will serve as a 'Chautara'. Passing through the entrance block we will arrive to interior ‘plaza like space’ from where one will experience the project in its entirety; expanding rice field encircled by pathways and buildings. Starting with the auditorium as we move on the space opens up to a Children Park and come to the block; which I have named 'Melomeso', a familiar term connected to rice farming. This block consists of display area; a museum like space on one side and a semi enclosed interactive performance space extending into rice field. Melomeso block is filled with activities and chooses somewhat similar to the term is when used in rice plantation. Here, at northeast, you see children playing, or you can take part in the rice planting festival or just enjoy the show. If you wish to educate and entertain yourself then you can proceed towards the display area house in those three triangles from where either you can head toward Rajbansi courtyard or toward another block, which is termed Hope, or Hunger! If you take this journey, you will finally end up in the Golden Grain Block. This block tries to celebrate the harvesting. While around you are at Melomeso, you can proceed
to Rice Testing area. This block comprise of Rice Testing Area, Rajbansi Court Yard, and Rice Science Center. At the end of it all is the Monument for Gupta a shrine/Memorial (but Gupta is still very much alive) like space which pays homage to Gupta. At the center of it is Bust of Gupta on the pedestal. Gupta is in fact is the light to this project from where everything seem to radiate. Beyond the Gupta Memorial is a quiet wooded area for family and friends to picnic. A path connects this area to Golden Grain and Rice Production area on the south. This noise block is pushed to the far southwest. From here people journey the entire rice field to arrive back to Entrance Block. Rice farming is the means of living and living itself. It is tough and brutal and people have found ways to do it all in a festive manner. It is the celebration of life and underpinning of the culture. It is mechanical and spiritual. I thought the 'Brutalist' sensibility would suite best for this project in terms of style and I have made few gesture in this direction while overarching style, form and scale is Regional. I always wanted to do a thesis in a project where I had a least Knowledge in. I wanted to take this as an opportunity as a medium of Exploration and widen my knowledge in Architecture. Gupta’s Rice Park taught me the Spiritual Dimension of Rice and its influence on our Nepali Culture and even the plate of rice that we consider so ordinary is ordinarily extra ordinary. The grain that we eat and take it for granted it must be glorified. It is also about the experience of architecture felt by the common person and what they will take back home after they leave the Park. A place for entertainment, knowledge and leisure and a place for celebration of Rice as a cultural phenomenon.
Sahara KC is an Architect graduated from Himalaya College of Engineering. February, 2019 Living Reality
17
RAMAILO MELA; Re-thinking of Commercial Spaces in hills of Nepal By Raju Rai sides of street. I created a chowk and placed shop units on different contour levels. There is chautari to provide sense of haat bazzar in ramailo mela because the weekly haat on Tudikhel expands to this chautari. This space is used for the small program like poem contest or for other function and can also be used by local people on other day of haat to display the local product for selling. The view from tudikhel to the chautari will be wonderful, a chautari and traditional type of selling shops in background. I carried out design development; making models and sketches. Conclusion The main idea behind creating this Ramailo mela is, a space should be accessible by all group of people without any inhibition, regardless of the purchasing power or social distinction. My thesis with all my knowledge, hard work, and creativity, provides a commercial space for Khandbari that is rooted on the local and traditional idea of commerce. Consequently, the proposed design rises up to retain the spirit of the place even for the generations to come. Looking back, I find my thesis a wonderful opportunity to explore and create something beautiful and perhaps even more beautiful than anything before it. Finally, I would like to wish good luck to all the final year student of architecture; enjoy your thesis.
PHOTOGR APH BY R AJU R AI
ARTICLES
When I was searching for topic of my thesis proposal, it somehow dawned on me that my thesis will actually define me and my architecture. There are many thesis topics or subjects, each with its own dimension. Selecting topic is the most frustrating period and we all have to go through it, choosing one while leaving other when all looks equally promising. My thesis topic was “Ramailo Mela”- Rethinking of commercial spaces in hills of Nepal. My thesis carries some experience of doing commercial complex as my class project in my 6th semester, the experience of going to ‘haat bazaar’, ‘Mela’ in my childhood, the picture of ‘rote ping’ on some villages and memory of playing on it. Commercial activities are integral part of all society. Therefore, what intrigued me was, “Is building western type of mall in Kathmandu Valley is the only vision of a commercial space?” What if someone wants to develop a commercial space outside Kathmandu valley (for example Khandbari, my hometown), what would it be like? I took this as a challenge; rethinking of a commercial space. I chose site carefully after visiting all possible places in Khandbari. It is located on the eastern belt of Tudikhel (where twice on week haat is setup), in contact with main road and business road on east side. There are houses on the both side of the street. Site was carefully studied and design was approached accordingly. I had put different structures, which are used for different purposes on both
Thesis Model of Ramailo Mela
Raju Rai is an Architect graduated from Himalaya College of Engineering. 18
February, 2019 Living Reality
PHOTO GR A PH BY YA M R A H A DI M AGA R
Thesis Model of Paslang
PASLANG: A Hidden Magar Village At the beginning, I was very confused about my thesis topic but I was sure to do a project related to village life, specifically Magar Community. After reading some books, interacting with teachers and relating with the recent earthquake, I came up with an idea to design a gathering place in rural hills of Nepal and submitted some paper on the title, “A GATHERING AT KOT”. Here, Kot is such a place in the ridge of hills including temple- also used as storage of weapons at the time of Baise-Chaubise Rajya. Most of the priests of Kot were Magar. I took the site in Gorkha District because the project had to relate, Earthquake, Magar Community and a village. From history, Prithivi Narayan Shah used Magar army to unite Nepal. It was my luck to find Paslang village as site where 15 households were destructed by earthquake 2015. Therefore, a project to provide shades for the victims of Gorkha earthquake by reconstructing their houses along with an idea of homestay that promotes local culture and economic life. What really triggered me was the name of village, PASLANG, where PAS means hidden and LANG means village. The village hides itself with many histories related to Gorkha durbar and interesting various religious myths. Therefore, my idea was to
preserve the beauty of the village, which lies in the relation of built structure and the geography. Another was to retain the memory of village by keeping the main lane intact. The village was envisioned with three sections. Entry Section; point of arrival and departure, Residential Section-15; new house with homestay concept and Temple Complex; at the end with the intension to conserve, history and cultural artifact related to Magar ethnic group. A Display Block was proposed to connect the entry and residential section to the temple complex. I was very fortunate to present my thesis work to the villagers and former mayor of Gorkha Municipality. I believe this thesis for me was an opportunity to explore myself, and a great learning experience. This was my approach to provide solution after the devastating earthquake of 2015. It gave me the chance to meet those valuable people as guide and teacher, which I never have expected. Unknowingly, it urged me to think that there are various places to explore outside the Kathmandu valley, which still anticipate eagerly to be explored. Thus, architectural students should work hard for solving architectural issues, rather than focusing on getting marks.
Yam Rahadi Magar is an Architect graduated from Himalaya College of Engineering. February, 2019 Living Reality
19
ARTICLES
By Yam Rahadi Magar
Interior Design of "U3A - Musical Department"
ARTICLES
By Saraswoti Nepal U3A An international movement, U3A is a distinct and exciting organization to provide life-enhancing and life changing opportunities for retired and semi-retired senior citizens. The third age refers to a time after one have finished full-time working or raising family and have time to pursue their interests or just try something new. Moreover, people come together to learn and share their experiences, not for qualifications but for their own reward. The working model would be like volunteers run the programme and all courses are written and led by retired people, principally for third-agers. Prof. Pierre Vellas first started it in France in the Faculty of Social Science in Toulouse in 1973. Later, the concept emerged in different countries like United Kingdom, European countries and Australia although there are no such specific institutes or U3A in Nepal. Significance The main objectives to design a “University for third Age Nepal� is to promote late-life learning for elderly retired people by introducing a new organization with effective design values. In general, majority of the Nepali elderly people are found to have leisure in their late lifetime, which makes them stay idle. As they cross 65+ age, they feel like they are cut-off from the society, which leads them to live a solitaire life, by being far from their family too. Consequently, the retired people become the victim of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. There is a positive influence of having U3A in a country to mitigate the mental issues of retired people. This one would be an influential and innovative paradigm for our country, Nepal. The role of U3A is not to make things change faster but to link together what already exists (like orphanage home), to help institutions to continue and to help others get started. Project Design During my case studies and analysis period, I found Nepal Music Centre, a music led organization located at Pingalasthan, Kathmandu that covers the area of 20,483 sq.ft and I choose this existing site for my thesis project. The space allocations for U3A musical department are divided into following major areas- administration area, classrooms, rehearsal (auditorium) hall, library, washrooms and outdoor spaces. All the areas are designed in such a way, that every elements of interior spaces are functional, aesthetical and user- friendly. Calm and soothing colours with the wooden finishing touch within an interior as well as exterior space helps in maintaining balance throughout the design. Considering the standard design values for elderly people, every interior component of the building like ceiling, floors, walls, furniture, doors, colours and other design values are given special treatment. Interior walls, floors, and ceilings are treated with different insulating materials for thermal and sound insulation. All the furniture and circulation spaces are well designed with effective anthropometric values that would create a comfort zone within the spaces for users. Most of the students take Thesis project as a burden or academic pressure. I would like to suggest that it is not just only a work to be fulfilled for the academic system but also a globally accepted system of universities/colleges. Within this time period, we can have an opportunity for developing our research ideas, critical thinking, citation awareness, knowledge build-up and it helps in actual realization of one's creativity level.
Saraswoti Nepal is an Interior Designer. 20
February, 2019 Living Reality
Auto-Didacticism and Aptitude in Architecture
We might have wondered why it was necessary to appear the architecture aptitude test before getting enrolled into architecture when just the entrance score did suffice to our friends who went for other faculties. And even got surprised to know that architecture is the only course which has five years long bachelor’s programme while every other engineering course has four years of programme. The questions arised get justice if we understand about autodidacticism and aptitude in architecture. The literal meaning of autodidacticism (also autodidactism) is self-education or the act of learning about a subject or subjects in which one has had little to no formal education. Architecture has stood as one of the topmost fields which has established a longterm embracement with self-education or autodidacticism with the celebrated names like Tadao Ando (1995 Pritzker Prize laureate), Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - the pioneers of modern architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright (the man labeled “the greatest American architect of all time” by the American Institute of Architects in 1991) and his “lieber meister” Louis Sullivan (the father of the modern skyscraper), Buckminster Fuller, Peter Zumthor (2009 Pritzker Prize laureate), Carlo Scarpa, Luís Barragán (1980 Pritzker Prize), et cetera who didn’t possess an architecture degree but their gradual self- learning, practice, aptitude, dedication and contribution to the field have been tremendously eminent and developed into individual doctrinal theories which will be lauded even by generations to come. While these names fall in the list of autodidacts, the longevity of formal architecture course as five long years of bachelor’s, and the years to be added for higher level of studies might infuriate us but it is necessary for us to understand that architecture is nothing like finishing a chapter and mastering it in a given time frame. It is a life-long pursuit. It is about developing the natural instinct- the aptitude- feeding, nourishing it and let it grow. All the great names mentioned above gave significant “decades” in studying books and nature and developing the aptitude they had for architecture into tangible form and struggled to establish their work style and ethics.
Many of the architects in general get recognition only in the later phase of life by investing lifelong pursuit into architecture. That is why posthumous projects are a thing in architecture where the projects are completed after the architect’s death. Architecture is different from engineering. It is much more than the physical and technological aspects. It is intangible. It is less like a profession and more like a journey of understanding and enhancing the experience of space by evoking the senses of the people and connecting them back to the long-forgotten memory of nature which we barely learn from schools or formal education. It takes up our natural instinct and ability to develop ourselves to learn from nature, our history, ancestral practices, the vernacular forms, etc. and build up our understanding and put it into practice – which may demand a lot of time, much more than what we invest in our architecture schools. This becomes one of the reasons why portfolios are of higher value than the mark sheets when we decide to get into any architectural firms. Therefore, while we are having a hectic schedule meeting the syllabus demands in our architecture school, we should never put the real core and essence of architecture in shadows. And even if we are not satisfied with our works till date, we should understand that we have a lot to learn and improve in this long pursuit. The end of school is not the end of our opportunity to receive knowledge. B.V Doshi, the recent 2018 Pritzker Prize laureate says- “The question I ask… what was important? Was it the form of the building or the content, the space? Look around… every object around us, the nature itself - lights, sky, water, stone - everything is in a symphony and this symphony is what architecture is all about. My work is the story of my life. Continuously evolving, changing and searching. I have been on this search for many decades and it still mesmerizes me at every turn. It has been all my life and I will happily be doing it for many more decades to come.” Are we ready and flexible enough for this journey that continuously evolves, changes and searches?
Garima Basnet is student of Architecture at IOE Thapathali Campus. February, 2019 Living Reality
21
ARTICLES
By Garima Basnet
Learning from Masters Learning architecture has no limits. There are still much to learn and explore. For me, I believe internship gave me that liberty to explore even more. This is what I personally felt during the period. Every Saturday and Sunday we used to explore architecture. During these exploration I was able to visit buildings by Corbusier, Correa, BV Doshi, Rahul Malhotra, and Prof. Chaya. At that time, I was able to experience pattern of architecture, its distinct layers, and textures, how a building can be alive by creating beautiful living pattern, how building can be a part of making a life more enjoyable, more active, and most importantly language of a building.
powerful. Naked facade, porosity and addition of some contrast in building elements with the use of primary colors to express his buildings were his way of doing things.
Welcoming ramp towards first floor in Mills Owner Association
Learning from Iouis I kahn building visit
Stone platform overlooking framed savarmati river through Brise Soleil
Learning from corbusier’s building visit Corbusier one of the prominent architect of 20th century had designed few buildings in Ahmedabad, and has been able to influence everyone by his way of sense and approach towards architecture. Visiting most of his buildings, I was influenced by the proper display of scale and porosity in the buildings. Modular scale and proportion could be seen everywhere in his designs which were quite amazing and were able to create interesting spaces inside the building. Porosity is something that his buildings have and add lots of sense inside an enclosure which makes a nonliving concrete building to breathe and live. The functionality of porosity is basically associated with the circulation and filtration with respect to the external environment. His choices of adding porosity and opaqueness inside a building is so balanced that all of our senses are always curious to explore the building. The gesture that he was able to give to those spaces in order to make it alive is really 22
He is also one of the greatest architect of 20th century. The kind of architecture language that his buildings carry is very different. What I've learned from his buildings is how one can use heavy materials adhesion to strict set of platonic geometry, repeated geometry and monolithic forms with the consideration of light and shade. I could feel texture, scale, proportions, materials, light and shade in his buildings which actually have created unity in the building. While visiting the IIM-A, I felt like I was simultaneously outside but also with buildings. He did not separate different functions of the building but nested them together. I could see his buildings perfectly portraying the idea of mass and void in the presence of light and shade making spaces live.
Perspective view of arched corridor
February, 2019 Living Reality
A L L PHO T O G R A PH BY PR A K R I T I BH A N DA R I
ARTICLES
By Prakriti Bhandari
My Thesis Journey
Social corridor as a breakout spaces and play of light and shadow on it
Besides this, there were frequent lectures by B.V Doshi sir and other respected delegates in the office. I was lucky enough to hear those inspiring words from Professor Juhani Pallasmaa, Rolf Fehlbaum, Peter Stutchbury and Richard Leplastrier. Those great minds were spreading their experience and much more during those lectures. My internship taught me to be more curious more enthusiastic to learn new every day. Though, six month’s duration of learning were all full of ups and downs, high and low, someday I was struggling, and someday I was not. I can say that, every day I was growing as a person with compassion to learn even more. Office works are completely a team effort and I believe I have learnt more technical aspects observing them work. At last, Architecture is complex, so to unveil this complexity all of our senses should stay active.
Prakriti Bhandari is student of Architecture at Himalaya College of Engineering. February, 2019 Living Reality
One day, while I was hanging out on Facebook, I watched a video uploaded by ‘DokoRecycles’ (Waste management organization). The video had a great impact on my mind and I decided to do my thesis on WasteManagement. In the first class of thesis topic discussion, I told my teacher I had decided to do the thesis on waste management and then the teachers asked me what would be the content of the project. I had no idea about the contents of the project, the spaces, functions or even the major concept of the project. The teachers even suggested me to work on another topic. I was then completely shattered. After that, I was not able to do anything except worrying about my thesis. I was thinking about changing the topic, but my friends supported me and advised me not to change the topic. At that particular moment I had lost my smile and my happiness came to an end as I was confused myself. It was such a hard time for me, knowing that my friends were proceeding with their thesis rather confidently and was in dilemma. Today when I look back, that particular moment brings smile on my face. Every day I did research on waste and with the support of my family, friends and supervisor I had decided to carry out my thesis on waste management. My topic presentation went good and better than expected. I finally settled on the topic WASTE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER. My mid-term presentation was not so good and I again started doubting my project. However, my final research presentation went very good and the external juror appreciated my topic, work and presentation skills. With the final presentation, my research journey ended. My conceptual presentation for design phase was good and my design development presentation was excellent. Jury loved my presentation skills and the planning. The comments were all positive and appreciated my devotion and design output. I remembered when I thought of changing the topic but now I am proud of myself. Motivating yourself time and again gives you energy to work harder. Prefinal was good as well but the marks obtained was not satisfying. I was disappointed at that moment. Then, I remained myself that marks do not matter. Every individual is different and his or her judgement will vary accordingly. Now it was time for the final defense. Despite getting used to the presentations, I was a bit nervous and excited at the same time for the final presentation. Final presentations were held in Pulchowk Engineering Campus, and it went good as well. After completing my presentation, I patted on my shoulder and told myself that I had done it. I was very much happy at that particular moment. That was one of the best moments of my entire life. I want to give message to the juniors – “There may be ups and down in your thesis journey, all you have to do is work daily and find the solution of the problem. Trust in yourself and your intuitions.” Ruby Maharjan is an Architect graduated from Kathmandu Engineering College. 23
ARTICLES
By Ruby Maharjan