PBM&LC Nawalpur November, 2019 Photographic journey Author: Shirshak Baniya For Nagarik Aawaz
New journey in my life Working with abari bamboo and earth initiative for 2 years at dhulikhel, chitwan and surkhet, it was a time for me to switch to another new team. After 2 month of vacation from surkhet I was invited by architect prabal thapa at his studio at Kathmandu to discuss on possible collaboration that we could initiate as a team. I was always a admirer of Architect Thapa’s practice of employing eco friendly materials into building. I also could explore his design of kopila valley school being constructed, when I was working as a project manager for abari bamboo at surkhet. Our very first meetup helped each other to know our individual possibilities and limitation to join in a team. My intention was not to be based in Kathmandu. Architect Emil Shrestha had just returned from Nawalpur and he introduced me in more detail about a peace building memorial and learning centre (PBM&LC). Š ganga sagar rai
Alliance with PTA Architect Emil Shrestha was on a medical leave so there was a absence of resource person at site in Nawalpur to execute kitchen and toilet building. I was requested to bridge the gap between architect Emil Shrestha and site worker. Nagarik aawaz founded in 2001 AD by Rita Thapa to work for conflict affected and displaced community was the client of this project. Together with a meeting with architects and client at prabal thapa architects (PTA) i decided to work in a client’s team. I was designated as Field architect for Nagarik Aawaz working 15 days a month at Nawalpur site. PTA will be working on design and I was suppose to create and coordinate a community mobilization for initial 6 month. Š prabal thapa architects
About Client Nagarik Aawaz Nagarik Aawaz especially works with youths and women in peacebuilding activity by offering workshops, training and leadership skill. Youths who are misused by small groups for their interest and women who face violence from family to communal level are the target group of this organization. Nagarik aawaz (NA) at first grows a interpersonal change in the individual of displaced and conflict affected community. This Ngo has headquarter at Kathmandu and works at regional level especially in Nawalpur and Sarlahi. NA owns 1.36 ha land at Nawalpur. Nawalpur lies in the midpoint of east west highway. Prabal thapa Architect in late 2018 conceptualized the physical master plan for Nagarik Aawaz as Peace building memorial and learning center (PBM&LC).
Understanding the geography My fact of accepting this new challenge was primarily the mobility, geography and timeline of this project. The site is located 200 km away to west from capital Kathmandu. The site is 1 hour away from Chitwan. And a journey to my hometown Hetauda from the site would take 3 hour on bus. Previously when I was employee at surkhet, travel journey was always exhausting limiting friends and family visit. It was almost 600 km away from Kathmandu. It was a full time job where it was hard to manage vacation and break unless every 3 month. Nawalpur’s climate reaches to 36 degree Celsius in summer. The geography is a plain land here. Site is close to the Narayani River. The mobility and hot climate of the site attracted me to pursue this project.
Programs and user group Prabal Thapa Architects in the physical development plan describes the interaction of user and building into two halves. Active interaction happens between one or two individuals through workshop, training and seminars. This finishes building entity like training halls, event halls, dormitory in a social scale. Passive interaction arises in individuals themselves through self practice and interest through reading, writing, watching and listening. This recruits building component like library, AV room, research house. Architects has approach to use materials. skills and local technology of Indeginous Tharu Inhabitant around the site. Development of micro climate and wet lands within the site are also the essential tactic adopted by architects.
Collaborative process The scope of this project is to create and expand communal ownership. The centre is located at Sehari village of Nawalpur. In the physical development book Prabal thapa architects quotes that this centre is a home for communal interaction and participation where the stories of civil war, ethnic intolerance, gender inequality and social disputes are shared and discussed. Architect prabal thapa cited that general public and neighbourhood of the Sehari village has to be involved in various stage of project implementation. The physical construction of the building will be facilitated by the local people through participation and collaboration. Identification of local workers, labourers, craftsmen at village will be followed with pairing of expert and technicians of city. This cross collaboration will develop relationship and trust to achieve our common goal.
New identity for Nawalpur Working in a project at village always entices me. There are a lot of things that we can learn from the culture and technology of village. The rural technology were contributed by our ancestors and abandoned by the modern generation. I believe the village culture and tradition in art, craft, agriculture and architecture are the subject where we can extemporize a lot to update the legacy of village. Here in the conceptual physical plan by prabal thapa architects, the team exquisitely composes a new identity for architecture of Nawalpur. The fundamentals of human scale, building geometry, micro climate, local materials are the basics for the continuation of village character. At the same time addition of contemporary amenities and service adds rudiments of distinctness from the existing village. Š prabal thapa architects
Timeline/Challenge/Opportunity The project seems highly collaborative. In my experience the project would take minimum 5 years to finish all the infrastructure if everything goes well with budget and manpower. In precedent analysis of kopila valley school, surkhet the project was tied up with strong preparation and direction from client team. The client team had employed their own full time site engineers and architects who used to monitor daily construction work as per the drawings and guidelines. The most challenging part in any project implementation is the coordination between the stakeholders and consultants. To balance and mediate the thought of artisans, designers, advisors and clients, is a dare task I believe which if executed with passion and purpose, it results collective products from individual talents.
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Meet up with client After attending series of meetup with architects it was time for me to understand the client background and their organizational structure. Founded in 2001 AD by Rita thapa Nagarik Aawaz was born in the crises of forceful conflicts to establish non violent campaign for economic and psychosocial wellbeing of conflict affected individuals. The team has set of more than 28 human resources working in the field of peace building. I was delighted to know that Rita Thapa who is the prominent role model for women empowerment and peace was also in the team. Rita Thapa is also recognized for her pioneering work in founding Tewa in 1995 AD. Tewa works for empowerment of emerging women's groups in Nepal. Tewa works with a vision where all women enjoy their rights, freedom and peace. Š ganga sagar rai
Precedent Tour Nagarik aawaz shares a office space inside the TEWA complex. Back in 2017 AD while I was doing architecture thesis I was came to know about TEWA. It was made possible through design competition. Sarosh Pradhan architect was the wining designer. TEWA houses office space, accommodation, training halls, amphitheatre for various events and programmes. It was always my dream to visit TEWA one day. And finally after 2 years it actually happened. Founder Rita thapa shared me her story in coordinating and realizing TEWA in a physical form. Ganga sagar rai who is a Communication manager at Nagarik aawaz helped me to tour the TEWA complex. The amphitheatre complex was phenomenal. I didn’t knew these kind of space exists in Kathmandu valley. All materials were baked bricks and stones. This shows the inclination of client team towards rawness and truth to material. I was glad to see client have been living in this kind of natural texture and form which wont be new to them if proposed in future.
Precedent Tour Fair faced brick were exposed in their original texture. The conventional practice in Nepal is to plaster the brick wall and again to paint the surface which I feel odd. The shallow recess in the wall for lights and storage were derivates from temple architecture. The high sense of detail was played in typography to communicate with the user. These small details are actually the one which completes the wonder of building. I could actually learn possibilities in the material and color through the tour.
Precedent Tour Even the interiors were remarkable. The partition wall were very organic. The thin bamboo were weaved through metal frames. This again portrayed my devotion toward the reception of client with local materials. They have been a part of this design and they are using these feature interiors in their daily office life. The more I was moving in and out of the room, I was subjected to new dimension on the creativity level of the building.
Precedent Tour Art were echoed in the wall with countless details of figure. The training halls looked like a fictional space. All the handwork of craftsmen and artist were pleasing to observe. Distinction of black and white colour were interplayed in the inside space. The roof beams were not just the structural beam only, they were the canvass for artist to fill up the surface with the organic motif.
Precedent Tour TEWA was a benchmark for me to think ahead on what level of finishing and aesthetic a building has to stance. The maintenance strategy were well equipped with the active team. Now a days I find the effort and passion of client to maintain the built fabric and structure very less. With out proper maintenance every one targets to achieve wonder in their building for years and years. Tour at TEWA guided me to changeround on ambience of interior office space, the fusion of natural and modern material, the organic expression and truth to material. This tour has helped me a lot to know the inclination of client towards minimalism and preservation of the built structure.
Nawalpur arrival Finally it was the time to head towards Nawalpur site. Communication manager Ganga Sagar Rai at Kathmandu had coordinated the information of my arrival to Nawalpur Nagarik aawaz. The five hour bus drive from Kathmandu to Nawalpur was pleasant. I had a night stay at the hotel of Chormara, Nawalpur. Chormara is a small city which is a gate way towards the southern village and Narayani river. The next day I headed to Panauti, Nawalpur with Sovakant Lamsal. Mr. Lamsal is a local residing in Nawalpur who is a programme coordinator at Nagarik Aawaz. I joined the community ward level orientation and interaction programme conducted by Nagarik aawaz at Bhandara, Nawalpur.
Nawalpur Friends One of the interesting part of this event was to see youth presenting content of the event through A1 size paper and pen. In the village where resources like limited, the medium of technique was fascinating for me to see for the first time. We had a round of introduction session to get us know each other. I became familiar with the friends and family of Nagarik aawaz Nawalpur.
Village study The anterior veranda space is the heart of every house. The essential movement of the user happens here. Kids plays in this semi covered space. This also acts as a barrier for direct sun and rain exposure. The bright colours are used to highlight the house. Corrugated iron sheet is most practiced in roof construction.
Village study Sun basking in the winter is a culture here. The minimum temperature reaches to 7.4 degree Celsius during winter. These are followed by low clouds of fog which last for a week sometime. The space for drying clothes and crops are adjusted in every house.
Village study Primitive house at village are found with character of minimalism. Small window to block sunlight and heat creates low light in the interior. The door panels are masculine and symmetrical in size and pattern. The walls are made up of mud and bamboo frame. Structural dampness from the ground floor is the major problem for these wall.
Village study The built structure in the village are always in human scale to the surrounding. Raised platform on the edges of the building are used as a seating space. The bicycle is used frequently as a mobility standard here in village. Everyone pursuit for the shaded structure in this tropical hot climate. The landscape are usually soft with rain permeable layer.
Village study Here in the village 1 day house campaign is a very famous. In this technique precast concrete pole are fixed as a vertical structural member and cgi sheet are attached to the metal rafter. Mostly these were used to create animal shade where as now a days this is being replicated to two storey residence construction too.
Village study Picture in left shows the ongoing shift of the residence here in village. Brick wall are practiced by people here to minimize dampness of ground floor. Cgi is still running its regime.
PBM&LC Utility block Govinda ji guided me reached at the PBM&LC site. The site is located at Sehari village of Nawalpur. Recently a 5 room utility block was designed by prabal thapa architects and built by contractor AM construction. This utility block has two guest room for visitors, two meeting room, one store and two washroom. I was the first guest at this utility house and this will be my home now onwards. The building was raised in pilotis and it is completely load bearing structure with exposed brick wall. Raising the building with pilotis in this climate helps to prevent from flood water and dampness. The care taker had made a vegetable garden underneath the structure.
PBM&LC Utility block This building was a steeping stone towards the initiation of development of physical infrastructure for pbm&lc project. This was built with contractor through bidding process. The building faces towards north. The front anterior space is about 5 feet wide which acts a living corridor. the finished floor is a cement punning with a square pattern box. The roofing is cgi sheet with cement board as a insulation material. These roof structure are supported by metal frame. The skirting was provided on the lower part of brick wall. Since the brick are porous the windy rain and daily floor cleaning can generate dampness. So this cement punning skirting were very useful to minimize wetness of brick wall during monsoon and cleaning.
PBM&LC Utility block I had only heard that prabal thapa architects usually doesn’t prefer wall tiles and floor tiles in bathroom. This was true to experience with cement punning surface here at Sehari. This punning surface works decent against water. The patch of the cement was creating its own texture which looked raw. The bathroom has a functional niche to put soap and shampoo. We actually do not care these kind of simple details that adds practical function to the space. Hot water and cold water was both made possible in this utility bathroom.
PBM&LC Utility block There was the provision of outdoor washing station. In future this building will function as a housekeeping unit. All the rain water were drained to the ground with gutters and upvc pipe. The red bricks were composed with yellow sill and lintel bands. The whole thing looked raw and minimalist. The water and electrical pipeline were exposed. This opens up comprehensive flexibility to the repair and maintenance of the building in future. The roof were all made slope of about 30 degree. But the toilet block in middle was flat roof to accommodate the water service element like water tank, solar heater and pipelines. This really helped to break the monotony of linear slope roof. The building is approximately 70 feet long. The 18 feet by 8 feet flat roof above toilet block was ideal to hold service element in this utility block.
PBM&LC Utility block I feel honoured to be a first guest at the guest room. There are two existing room well equipped with furniture's and accessories. The furniture are all pure wood and is very heavy. These were fabricated by team of artisan at Gaidakot which is 50 km away from Sehari. Each of the room looks modular which has interior size of 12 feet by 9 feet. The ceiling height is about 15 feet from floor to top of the slope roof. The ventilation are provided in two opposite north and south walls. The interior of three wall are brick exposed where as one wall is painted yellow colour over cement plastered surface. This approach would break the flatness of brick wall and highlights one wall for visual stability.
PBM&LC future kitchen block This foundation is a spot for future kitchen. The foundation work were designed and supervised by architect Emil Shrestha from prabal thapa architects. Architect Shrestha is on a medical leave so I will be responsible for design and construction of super structure of kitchen and toilet. This kitchen and dining will serve for the future construction workers and caretaker of the pbm&lc. The foundation are load bearing brick wall. the area of foundation is 9 feet by 18 feet. My first phase of work would be interacting with the users of this kitchen and revise the drawing provided by Architect Emil Shrestha. After we prepare with manpower and material we shall begin the construction work.
PBM&LC future toilet block The toilet block has two unit of toilet with Indian pan type. One unit is dedicated to shower. These three unit shares a washing station at entrance of the toilet block. the reason behind incorporating the Indian pan toilet is to adjust with the lifestyle of village. They are not familiar with commode. The Indian pan toilet are cost effective and easy to install in village. The shower unit will help the future construction workers who will be part of pbm&lc infrastructure development project. The washing station will have sink for toilet and kitchen as a whole which will facilitate the mass dish washing during small events and training programme.
Life in village Agriculture is the major source of livelihood here at Sehari village. Sugarcane was the major cash crops before. But now a days farmers has stopped sugarcane farming due to weak market. Mustard grows annually. Most of the household has kitchen garden. The village has its own sustainable cycle of farming and consuming their own agricultural product. The buffer zone of Chitwan national is close to the site. The Narayani river system has rich flora and fauna. The villager finds very hard to safeguard the agriculture crops from rhino, deer and wild elephants.
Life in village Joint family gathers in the open space to process their agricultural product. Sun drying are carried out for curing of crops and seeds. All these harvested crops with seed are stacked temporarily in the veranda of the house.
Life in village This is the permanent store for agricultural product. These are made with wooden plank with cgi roof at top with large overhang. It is raised from ground level to protect from dampness. This underbelly space acts as a shade for pet animals like duck, hen, cat and dog. Under the roof is a open storage for household and agricultural tools.
Life in village Sehari village is close to the Narayani river. During monsoon the annual flood in Narayani river shifts the village resident temporarily. During monsoon villagers had to stay alert day and night to prepare and escape flood. The provincial government now a days are working for embankment and flood mitigating measures.
Life in village Fishing in Narayani river is a religion here. The river are open to public for fishing. Mostly women joins in group for fishing at Narayani river. Men usually look after the animals in the field. Men and women shares these animal husbandry works each other. I find them very hard working. They do not fully depend upon city markets. They grow vegetables, rice for livelihood. All of the family members joins in the field. The village rate of working in the field is Rs 100 per hour. The system of working in Perma also exist here. In this Perma system, a group of farmers joins in a team and they focus to finish the field work of one farmer at first. And later on second, third farmers and so on. Instead of cash system for working in others field, they unites and finishes every field turn by turn.
Life in village Hand dressed stones silauto are used to grind the spices for cooking foods. To maintain a working height these silauto are mounted over timber log.
Life in village For mobility and transporting materials these bullock carts are still functioning in village. These are pulled by ox.
Construction Material I started to emphasize on the search for suitable construction material for the kitchen and toilet block. For this I explored the details of construction material that were used by the people of village. The indigenous house used extensive bamboo and natural fibre frames to create a wattle and daub wall. Wattle is a frame structure which is usually bamboo here. The daub is a sticky material that gets attached to wattle. Mud mixed with water, cowdung and straw fibre are used as a daub here in village.
Construction Material These mud wattle and daub wall are locally sourced. It takes a moisture from exterior. These are not water proof. This problem of moisture and non water repellent is the main drawbacks of the wattle and daub walls of this village. These wall are light weight with thickness of 3-4 inch in total. People generally applies new layer of mud render to this wall on festival like tihar and maghi.
Construction Material The trend of aluminium opening are being acknowledged by the people in village due to its cheap cost and easy availability. In indigenous house we can find doors and window made from timber. Where as in one of the house we could see use of timber frame for opening which was followed by aluminium opening panel. The owner of house used this timber frame from his old house. The reason behind the use of wooden opening frame is this can with stand the brick load at its lintel level. If we have to use aluminium frame then we need additional concrete band at top of the window. I really appreciate this iteration of window opening developed by villager. The cost of aluminium window with 4 mm glass is Rs 550 per square feet in this village.
Construction Material In one of the house we could see another improvisation of door and window. The people in village are very brilliant in creation of new module of construction system. Here they used 2 inch square metal pipe for window frame. The availability of good seasoned timber is the problem in the village now a days. For those who doesn’t have accessibility to timber, one can adopt this practice.
Construction Material To fix glass into metal frame is a crazy task. One can see the fine example of metal frame door and window with glass in taragaon museum Kathmandu. And I could witness the next authentic version here at this Sehari village. The owner designed this window. To fix glass he had used 7mm rebar at exterior and silicon solution at its interior. Glass allows light to enter inside room.
Construction Material The doors of toilet were made from metal frame and plain corrugated iron sheet were used as a panel. From small opening in indigenous house to large window with glass and timber I perceived how the people in village are developing and improvising the new door and window system.
Construction Material The art of weaving is a ritual in this village. This is their talent transferred from one generation to another. In the picture left we can see a weaving at a timber frame. This bed is mobile and can be transferred from one place to another. Usually this bed are used for old people to sun bask.
Construction Material I found this false ceiling made up of natural fibre at one of the hotel. Here also the thick piece of bamboo are weaved through rope and fixed to the rafter of the cgi sheet. This gives natural finish. The bulb are widely used in village because these are easy to replace and repair. Unlike in city we prefer more panel light and fixed light, the villagers uses CFL and LED bulb.
Construction Material These are cement tiles made in village. I had a interaction with owner of the house about the production and preference of this tile. These cement tile were widely famous at one moment in village when cgi were expensive. Here the owner makes this tile using own local tools and cement imported from the city. The tile are made on the site. This reduces the transportation cost to import from city. These tile are sound proof then CGI sheet during rain and hailstorm.
Construction Material The puncture in the top as shown in the picture helps the two cement tile to make a tongue and groove joint. The two pointed mass helps to hold the tile over timber or bamboo rafter. The tile is 1 inch thick. Each tile size Is 14 inch by 10 inch which makes a small section while staggering. That's why the chance of leakage of water is high in this roofing system than the CGI. The production and use of this cement tile is no more now in village. People are friendly with CGI due to its cost, size and colour choice.
Design development Village tour and study helped me to understand the form, proportion and ground relation of building with the landscape. A brief consultation were done with the user group of the building (Nagarik aawaz Nawalpur). The contextual needs of the building was addressed in the revised design by connecting utility block, kitchen and toilet with a stairs and bridge. Together all these three unit will act rationally with each other allowing users to exchange the function. These ideas and graphics were communicated to team of prabal thapa architects and Nagarik aawaz Kathmandu team.
Design development 1. Locally treated Bamboo will be used as vertical post which will be connected by 10mm thread rod and metal joints 2. 1 inch square pipe of metal will be used as horizontal connection to support two vertical bamboo post 3. bottom wall will be wattle and daub made by cement plaster and wire mesh reinforcement 4. Upper half will be hand rendered wattle and daub made by adobe earth and wire mesh reinforcement 5. Ventilation will be made up of chicken wire mesh for heat and air 6. Gable end will be made from local thin bamboo. 7. Roofs will be made from Ferro cement locally manufactured at site with cement and wire mesh
Design development For toilet we choose metal frame with cement wattle and daub so that the structure can with stand the moisture and water. The materials were selected so that we could equally divide work volume into three artisan team. Our idea was to distribute responsibility to all the teams since the inception to the end of the project. At the same time we could employ metal welding team, bamboo team and civil team. Normally in the construction, civil team starts the project which is followed by metal welding team in the end. Here the bamboo team will start preparing bamboo for kitchen block. The metal welding team will start building metal bridge and staircase. And the civil team will start preparing for the backfilling and floor slab.
Design development The kitchen block had 70 percent outdoor space to allow users to shape this unprogrammed space in their own way. The closed kitchen would house a sink, gas stove and a medium refrigerator. The veranda at east were developed as a buffer space between the indoor and outdoor. The design development were reviewed by team of prabal thapa architects from Kathmandu with feedbacks and suggestion. We will move towards construction after a final permission from Nagarik aawaz Kathmandu team. From December first week we will be starting the structure work. I account these drawing as a guidelines. The daily meetup and interaction with users at site during the construction process will update this design development process. Most of the things will happen on construction site with communication ,coordination and collaborative decision making.
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