INTRODUCTION TO NEPALESE ARCHITECTURE : DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE: INST. ENGG.
TEACHING PLAN
EG 402 AR: Introduction to Architecture
Lect 2 hrs PER WEEK 10 Days INSTRUCTION
4 Days SEMINAR ASSESSMENT Total marks 10
1 Day MARKS SUBMISSION TO DEPARTMENT
Final Examination duration 1.5 hours Total marks 40
Sudarshan Raj Tiwari & Surya Gyawali: COURSE TUTORS
Course Objective : To Introduce the field of architecture and its relation with society, culture,
religion, technology and build environment.
To enable understanding of the profession of architecture and its relation with
allied profession.
To enable understanding of the role of architecture in Nepal and the career
opportunities scene.
Week 1: The field of architecture : introduction
The study of architecture at IOE and its features
Week 2: Architecture, built environment and the society.
Week 3: Architecture, built environment and the society.
Week 4 : Social, cultural and religious context of architecture.
Week 5 : Social, cultural and religious context of architecture.
Week 6 & 7: Seminar
Week 8: Technology and material context of architecture.
Week 9: Technology and material context of architecture.
Week 10: The architecture profession and its interactive relationship with allied professionals
such as planners, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects etc.
Week 11 & 12: Seminar
Week 13: The profession of architecture in Nepal -its practice both public and private, career
opportunities.
Week 14: Architect and the client, Planning and Building controls in force.
Week 15: Assessments/Marking/Closing
*****
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Week 1: Lecture One
Faculty and Student Introductions
The teaching of the course
Reading requirements will be specified by topic and students will prepare their notes from the exercise to
supplement lecture coverage
Presentation requirements and grading of students: Students will prepare type written papers on the given
topics and areas for presentation in a class seminar and both the paper and the presentations will be graded to
compute the assessment marks.
Main Topic 1: The field of architecture : introduction.
Architecture is the scientific art of designing built space. It involves conceptual creation and visualisation
of the space before actually constructing it. As a matter of fact construction should be relegated as an
engineering field rather than an architectural persuit.
Maya : "Experts call all places where immortals and mortals dwell, "dwelling sites" (vastu, j:t' ). The
Earth is the principal dwelling place because it is on Her that constructed dwellings (våstu, jf:t' ) such
as temples have appeared and it is because of Her nature as site and because of the temples' union with this
site that the ancients called them dwelling sites in this world." Mayamata 2.1-3
" All habitations are defined by their dimensions" Mayamata 5.1
Vitruvius (Roman architect AD-BC): " Utilitas, Firmitas, Venustas". For him, Venustas was the preeminent
quality in architecture. (Tr. Watton: " Commodity, Durability, Beauty")
Kostof : Architecture, in the end, is nothing more and nothing less than the gift of making places for human
purpose.
Buildings are not isolated objects. It belongs to the physical setting and context and in turn shapes it. Thus it
interacts with the nature, the earlier built spaces, the society and its cultural, religious, technological etc.
contexts.
art and aesthetics; form and function, materials and technology and so many other needs melt
together in architecture that "Mayamata" gives the following characteristics of an architect:
"... a man of quality, he must know how to establish buildings and must be well versed in all
the sciences, ... ... just, compassionate,... learned in mathematics; he must know the ancient authors... must
be able to draw and must know the whole country...etc. ..."
Brief survey from the beginnings of architecture to present days, architectural character as response to
geographical, geological, climatic, social, cultural, religious, technological etc. influences and needs.
Examples: Prehistoric and Early examples
* Early mans' attempt to secure protection from elements of nature and attack, cave dwellings, tents
of saplings sheathed in bark or brushwood, huts of reed, round houses in stone.
* Huts in the open- Terra Amata, near Nice in Southern France : so far the oldest artificial structure
?
*Long houses at Sittard , Netherlands 5000 BC ca.
* Places of burial or worship: The Dolmens in Locmariaquer in France: Late third millenium BC.
*The Stonehenge (c. BC 1500) - a sacred structure in Salisbury, England.
* Pyramids, Sphinx and temples of Egypt : stone and trabeated systems 3000 BC to beginnings of AD
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* Babylon : Bricks, arch, vault, domes
* Greek Temples
* Indogangatic plains : Mohenzodaro 3000 BC, Ashokan Stupas and pillars 250 BC, Gupta temples 350 AD
* Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance,
*Industrial, Modern, Post-modern and Contemporary -Today !
Each is dealt as an example of architectural creation of relevance to man in the context.
Main Topic 2: The study of architecture at IOE and its features
The education of architects : orientations to aesthetic design, construction and technology, planning and
conservation
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
- philosophy of the course
a compromise response to the nature of works performed by architects in Nepal/ upcoming areas such as
urban renewal and conservation, rural settlements planning
- course content and subjects offered
- Distribution of courses
Communications:
EG414SH Communication I English / Nepali
EG464SH Communication II Photography
EG425AR Drafting Drawing skills
EG781AR Computer Applications
EG426AR Art and Graphics I Graphic presentations to clients
EG476AR Art and Graphics II Graphic presentations to clients
EG475AR Free Hand Sketching I Graphic presentations to clients
EG525AR Free Hand Sketching II Graphic presentations to clients
EG675AR Working Drawings Communication within the Profession
Humanities and Basic Sciences:
EG411SH Mathematics I
EG461SH Mathematics II
EG412SH Statics
EG462SH Dynamics
EG656SH Sociology / Economics
Skills:
EG482CE Basic Skills Workshop
Construction Sciences and Technology:
EG423AR Building Materials I
EG523AR Building Materials II
EG474AR Building Science I
EG524AR Building Science II
EG774AR Building Science III
EG477AR Building Construction I
EG527AR Building Construction II
EG577AR Building Construction III
EG627AR Building Construction IV
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EG827AR Building Construction V
EG574AR Building Services I
EG624AR Building Services II
EG585CE Surveying I
EG635CE Surveying II
EG686CE Estimating
EG687CE Specification
EG532CE Structures I
EG582CE Structures II
EG632CE Structures III
EG792CE Structures IV
EG842CE Structures V
Theory, Criticism and History of Architecture :
EG422AR Introduction to Architecture
EG522AR Theory I
EG572AR Theory II
EG622AR Theory III
EG528AR History of Western Architecture
EG578AR History of Eastern Architecture
EG628AR History of Nepalese Architecture
EG678AR History of Modern Architecture
EG778AR Architectural Conservation
Management and Practice :
EG829AR Construction Management
EG861AR Professional Practice
Planning:
EG679AR Human Settlements Planning I
EG779AR Human Settlements Planning II
Electives and Research:
EG791AR Elective
EG830AR Seminar
EG841AR Elective
EG831AR Directed Study
Design:
EG421AR Building Design I
EG471AR Building Design II
EG521AR Design Studio III
EG571AR Design Studio IV
EG621AR Design Studio V : Emphasis area: interior design
EG671AR Design Studio VI : Emphasis area: landscape architecture
EG771AR Design Studio VII : Settlement planning project
EG821AR Design Studio VIII: Conservation project
EG701AR Practicum - expectations and advantages
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EG881AR Thesis - content
Evaluations : assessments, sessional records, examinations
Flow chart: File MacFLOW Bachelor of Architecture
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Week 2:Lecture Two
Main Topic - Architecture and built environment.
In the first lecture:
- we tried to define arcitecture :
Kostof : "Architecture, in the end, is nothing more and nothing less
than the gift of making places for human purpose."
- studing architecture at IOE:
Conventional content+ conservation + settlement planning
- Man's need for building and early expressions
Buildings are not isolated objects. It belongs to the physical setting and context and in turn shapes it.
Thus it interacts with the nature, the earlier built spaces, the society and its cultural, religious, technological
etc. contexts.
architectural character as response to geographical, geological, climatic, social, cultural, religious,
technological etc. influences and needs.
Early examples
*The Stonehenge (c. BC 1500) - a sacred structure in Salisbury, England.
* Pyramids, Sphinx and temples of Egypt : stone and trabeated systems 3000 BC to beginnings of AD
* Greek Temples
* Indogangatic plains : Mohenzodaro 3000 BC, Ashokan Stupas and pillars 250 BC, Gupta temples 350 AD
Further,"Architecture is a social act- social both in method and purpose. Every building represents a social
artefact of specific impulse, energy and commitment." - Spiro Kostof
(A History of Architecture)
Theme 1: The Built Environment
Buildings of the past and present, in terms of the nature of built environment they create, may be classified
into three basic concepts as Sigfried Giedion (Architecture and the Phenomena of Transition and Space, Time
and Architecture) has proposed
First Concept : Architecture as space radiating volumes
Building as a sculpture
buildings form spaces outside for use of man
Some examples:
Egyptian architecture : Pyramids, Temples
The Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens
Nepalese architecture : Stupa & Temples
In this type of buildings, interior use of building is limited, it is designed for viewing from outside and often
from some calculated distances. The Egyptian temples were roughly finished because they were designed for
viewing from a long distance but the Greek Temples were finished extremely fine as its viewing distance was
very close. It is treated as a sculptural form in space. The Parthenon had even perspective corrections applied
so that it "looked perfect". Ex. column form for distance viewing. The layout of other buildings in the
Acropolis also indicates the use of the concept of a complex of building creating external space.
The Nepalese temple and the stupas are also designed in the same concept as they create external spaces
through their volumes. The detailings indicate exterior viewing. The positive (building form) and negative
volumes (nature of penetrating air volumes) are remarkable for the Tiered temples. Use of space inside is
minimal in temples and none in the Stupa and Chaityas.
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Second Concept:
Architecture as interior space
Building hollowed out and opened up by means of windows
Elaboration of interiors, lighting etc.
buildings form spaces inside for use of man
Some examples:
The Pantheon, Rome
Gothic Cathedrals
The Pantheon was one of the early buildings forming this space concept though the departure from the first
space concept can be seen in other areas in earlier times in Rome. The temple with its strong form and
detailing of the main circular room (diam. 43.30 m) with its coffer dome and its approach through the
collonaded porch show its intention and its hall was lit from the eye of the dome and windows were not
central. The paving pattern of the hall and other decoration inside. As the eye of the dome was used for
lighting the movement of the light inside the dome brought to the inside the changes taking place as the sun
moved in the sky outside. From outside it was plain cylinder with a porch like those of the Greeks.
The Gothic cathedrals are early examples of building where the load bearing walls were avoided as a
structural system (using arches and counter weights) and thus were profusely punctured with windows to
bring in light. Their use of stained glass in the openings considerably highlighted their intentions in the nature
of interior. The cathedrals also used spires and height to stand out in the low profile of medieval European
towns.
I am not able to find for you a good Nepalese example in this concept. May be the 55 windowed palace was
starting the trend but could not flourish due to historical changes !
Third Concept : Architecture as both volume and interior space
Both Internal / external built environment
Group design of buildings
Jorn Utzon's Sydney Opera House in Sydney Australia is a good example of a
sculptural building with equally grand intent in the interior space formations. In Nepal we may look at the
CEDA building in T.U. Kirtipur to get some idea of this third space concept.
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Week 3 Lecture 3
Theme Two: Building and Society
Buildings reflect social needs, values and society
Egyptians : Society where the common man was so unimportant.The almighty Pharoah and the toiling
peasantry.Inflexible rule of an omnipotent government: vast labour for erection of monuments, use of
prisoners. Forced labour. Priests carried the persuit of learning, astronomy, mathematics, philosophy etc.
Pharoahs seen as god, demigod, mystery priests, builders but rarely as father of people. The Pyramid
Greece: Democracy to a great deal. Naval empire. People mattered. The Temples along with stadium.
Music, dancing, Boxing. Devotion to religion, fine arts, games, music etc. The Agora. The palace is missing
in Greek architecture as important edifice.
These examples show that architecture has close link with society ( def.? a group of people with a definite
interrelationship and interaction pattern)
Rome: The Forum > The meeting place.
The Temples.
Basilicas > Justice and Business
Thermae: The public bath
Amphitheatres > Love of Drama
Circus.
Nepal: Malla period
The palace occupies the central place in the town: shows the social importance of the palace and the kings.
The scale of the palace (height for example) is not imposing as compared to private houses : shows they were
not authoritarian. Note that the main gates are not monumental in character and hav little axiality relation
with main roads (unlike Simha Durbar of the Rana Prime minister which is axially laid out and placed at the
end of the access way to imphasise its authoritarian power)
The formation of Durbar Square, market square (ex. Ason Chowk) and neighbourhood squares ( ex. Itum
Bahal) show the social intractive nature of Newar population. These spaces and the street were used for
entertainment through Jatras and other festivals. The religious nature of cultural and social interaction is
obvious.
The Newar house as a dormitory, the agricultural persuit of the towns people and their house reduced a
building used for sleeping and social activities during non-agricultural season and days. The inclination of
the main window (Sañjhya) downwards shows the living room use to watch the street. The street thus is
more than for pedestrian movement alone and shows the fine demarkation between the private life in the
living room and the public life on the street. The Tiki jhya window and the privacy provided to bed rooms in
lower floor. The Kitchen in the attic, letting the guest see almost evrything in the house shows the social
status of guests and their closeness to the owner.
The lack of public entertainment does not mean they lacked such activities but rather their functional
incorporation in the street and temple sites and squares. Note the shadow dance play during Indrajatra at
Kathmandu Durbar square or Awah Guthi Chapa (the Sattal of the Awales) at Chysal of Patan.
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Week 4: Lecture Four
Topic - Architecture, built environment and the society
Theme- Architecture has a societal objectivity and a societal responsibility.
Summary week 2 : We discussed the three concepts of forming a space through a building. We also discussed
how the nature of a society in the past could be discerned from the architectural creations of that society. We
cited the examples of Egyptian, Greek and Nepalese (Malla period) architecture to explain the theme of the
lecture.
Just as the buildings of the past depicted the nature of the society that created or used it, so also current
design must keep the social purpose as a guiding objectivity and must be responsive to it.
Architecture has the power to condition social behaviour, values and even needs.
We defined architecture as a means of meeting human purpose. Because it has a purpose, any design activity
has to start by setting a goal. This means that the architect must have " a clear notion of the 'is condition' and
the discrepancy between it and the 'ought-to-be condition'... The elaboration of strategies for dealing with the
discrepancy is influenced by one's attitudes, ideologies, political affiliations and the resources available". The
desirability of the ought-to-be condition may vary and indeed it could be contrary to the goals, aspirations
and beliefs of another segment of society.
(Horst Rittel/ Rory Fonseca)
The issue in architecture, thus, particularly of public buildings, is the problem first in finding a common
definition for the desired condition to be established by the building and also the method of achieving it in
such a way that societal purpose is fully addressed. This issue is easier identified than resolved.
Semantical concepts which might grasp the relation between the task and means hardly exist...The question
how an architectural form may serve a particular purpose is not answered by the slogan "form follows
function".
Alberti, prescribed that the most 'perfect' forms should be reserved for the church, and that public buildings
in general should be carried out in the strictest conformity with his formal principles. Deviations from these
rules , however, may be recommendable in private houses.....(Alberti: De Re Aedificatoria)
The prescription for a higher order in public building could be seen as Alberti's understanding of public as a
generalization of the individual.
[ cf. MAYAMATA: Mandala/Dimensions etc.: "all habitations are defined by their dimensions... The norms
are regulated by various constraints amongst which technique is the most often inextricably tied up with
social and religious factors... Social sphere demanded absolute conformation to the established order in
transposing onto the architectural plan and the built up space, the heirarchy founded on the verna and the jati
etc... Best forms eg. squares for gods, kings and brahmins, the lower down the social scale you go the more
elongated are the prescribed forms"]
The proportionally ordered totality of the Hindus !
Social structure is based upon common values and symbol systems and social milieu mediates cultural
objects. Social conditions presuppose the existence of cultural objects . The commonly felt ordered totality
of the environment may be called culture and new additions to the physical setting affect this as such.
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Cultural Element Socio-cultural
Environment
Social interlinkage,
relationship and
Network
Cultural Element
Architecture controls environment in order to make interaction and collaboration possible. The participation
of buildings in human actions is therefore needed. Human actions are socially determined, buildings ,
therefore, manifest social meanings.
Social purpose of a building may thus be an expression of a status, a role, a group, a collectivity or an
institution; and a collection of buildings may represent a social system as a whole.
Buildings both divide and bring together human beings. Architecture must aim to fit the social purpose and
add to cultural accretion of the society.
The work of an architect stays beyond the present and thus has to have an element of anticipation
incorporated in the vision of the desired ought-to-be condition. In that sense, it can guide social needs and
values for the future.
When we observe a building, we often react with statements such as ' this residence looks like an office
building' or 'this building looks like a jet-set office', we are giving an idea of our thoughts on symbolism and
social status of buildings. Hospital must appear clean, sanitary and clinical. Social symbolism of office
building, school building, town hall, market etc. : elaborate .
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Week 5 : Lecture Five
- Social, cultural and religious context of architecture.
"A glance along th perspective of past ages reveals architecture as a lithic history of social conditions,
progress, and religion and of events which are landmarks in the history of mankind...." - Sir Banister Fletcher
Definitions:
Social context : institutional or general linkage or relationship between humans and group or section
of human beings. Means of relationship. Eg. family, caste, status groups, economic stratification etc.
Cultural context: set of intellectual (non-material) and physical (material) accretions of the past that
have potential to /condition our behaviour and nature. The commonly felt ordered totality of the
environment may be called culture. Cultural objects such as common values, scientific constructs,
philosophical ideas, moral codes, etc. are non-material ones. Cultural heritage.
Religious context: matters related to gods, priests, rites, rituals etc.
Religious controls or dictates. Faiths and fears.
Social, cultural and religious context affect architecture.
Confirming to the context or order is generally expected, although some scope for "departure for the
better" or development (" a change towards the desired direction") is always available. Over the years this
scope for change has been increasing.
Architect produces solutions to problems coming from the environment. This environment is defined
by social, cultural and religious, along with other, factors. Other factors may be climatic, material,
technological etc. Architecture itself is a cultural object.
[Every society seems to have progressed through similar stages to reach its current state:
Society living in fear of nature (primitive). Worship of the sun and earth appears as early
religious practice all over the world. It lead to development of religious beliefs, faiths and rituals to ward
off evils - natural happenings causing hardship to human beings.
Society propped up by religious beliefs : reality as an ordered cosmos. Hindus developed a
complex set of explanatory theories on universe, nature and natural processes - presenting an order of the
cosmos. Similar attempts were made in other regions also.
Society based on practical functionalism and material order and / or scientific principles.
Scientific studies / Experimentations and Industrialization led to dismantling of religious framework of
explanations to a great extent leading to faith in material order]
Architectural menifestations:
Social context: The cave house
The house of labourers at Kahun
c c c
c court cell
stairs
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The Igloo
The Newar house
The Western house
Palaces, Agora of Greeks, Kumvesvar of Patan
Religious Context:
The Afterlife - tombs
The Temples : Great Temple Abu- Simbel Egypt
Parthenon of Greeks
Temples of Kathmandu valley
The Vastupurushamandala and relation with house form, temple and town forms
The church & Cathedral
Cultural Context:
Earlier cultural accretions form a backdrop for new creations. The cultural accretions from the
Gangatic plains and the beginnings of Nepalese architecture in Lichchhavi period. Thecultural accretions
from the Lichchhavi period and the development of Nepalese architecture in Malla period.
For the seminar:
Form a group of two to four persons: geographic, ethnic and gender mix.
Choose a topic: a building or a group of buildings .
Visit and study the building for social and/or cultural and/or religious context it reflects/ represents.
Make a report with photographs/ sketches.
Make a class presentation
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Week 6: Lecture Six
Technology and material context of architecture
In earlier lectures we discussed the influences of social, cultural and religious factors on
architecture and built environment and also observed how architecture influenced them in turn.
In addition, architecture responds to other factors such as topography of the place, geology and
material availability, technological knowhow, climatic characteristics etc. also.
Today we would look at material and technological context of architecture.
Materials for construction have to be local by necessity as for most buildings are needed in bulk
and transporting them over long distances is not feasible . Also as we go in the past, only few cases where
materials have been transported over great distances.
Local materials are a result of local geology, climatic actions or some other special situations
such as volcanic deposits, availability of building quality trees and timber, etc.
Example: Romans transported materials for concrete leading to a concrete characteristic of
architecture in Roman Empire.
For monumental purposes, however, such transportation have been and are undertaken. Example:
Ashokan pillars, Egyptian Pyramids, etc.
Nepalese architecture and its material and technological context:
Examples: The temple
Religious doctrinal requirements: The square
Doctrinal requirements possibly developed in sites with stone deposits, eg shikhara formations
from south/central India, variation between north and south Indian standards
The Lichchhavis and their short lived architecture in stone.(?)
Kathmandu valley and its geology: soil/ clay the most most aboundant material, limited stone deposits of
working possibility and building quality, availability of trees
Technology: to start with the Guptan temple, trabeate system, building quality trees and absence of 'arch'
technology.
Learning the solution to problems through long periods of experience and experiment: rain, earthquakes
responding with technology within the material constraints, symmetry an answer to both religious needs and
earthquakes
Thickwalls, receeding walls and timber beams set, stone base, wood and carvings, sloped roof and
projections, strutting, etc.
House forms, material, technology
Three parallel walls, room width dictated by timber joist spans, baked bricks on outside, sundried ones
inside, roof and projections, symmetry an answer to both religious needs and earthquakes, etc
In Tarai, Kapilvastu, the Sakyas also had no stones : The architecture of Buddha's time.
Mesopotemia ( between the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates) NW of Persian Gulf: alluvial plains, no
stones, bitumen for mortar, rarity of building timber
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result: brick and barrel vault and elongated rooms. Discovery of the arch by 3000 BC
The Persians with aboundant stones and timber developed the columnar architecture and beams
system with timber
The Greeks and stone, Trabeate system of structure, stone for roofing too. Use of available marble
The Romans, stone, brick, and pozzolona (volcanic earth), sand, aggregate and development of
concrete: concrete vaults, domes, walls etc.
Roman concrete was alternate layers of mortar and rubble pressed together ! Maritime Transportation
of concrete and pan-Roman characteristics in the empire.
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Week 7: Lecture 7 -Technology and material context of architecture.
FURTHER CONSIDERATION
Material and Technology Context: In the last lecture we talked largely about the material availability in
certain areas and their impact on architecture. We observed how in the past, local materials and their nature
led to the development of compatible technologies. Today we will go into further details.
Architecture being a concrete art, the need to build in a lasting and safe way was of paramount importance.
Recap: Nepalese materials and technology
Greek materials and technology
Mesopotemian materials and technology
New ex: Roman arch, dome, cross-vault, Buttress and pinnacles
Early Christian architecture, use of timber trusses (King and Queen-post in nave and
aisle (also some times cross-vaulted).
Mediaeval English: Cathedrals
Gothic pointed arch and associated structural elements such as buttress and pinnacle,
cross vaulting with arches of different spans, decorative vaulting, stellar vaulting
Industrialization and modern times:
Transportation and loss of local character
Structural iron: steel
Reinforced concrete: 1892, Francois Hennebique
Mies van der Rohe: Glass and steel
Le Corbusier
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Week 8: Lectures 8
The architecture profession and its interactive relationship with allied professionals such as planners,
Engineers, interior designers, landscape architects etc.
Architecture and the Professional architect
Planning and the Professional architect
Building and its construction :
Engineering Design and Construction technology: The structural engineer
The construction engineer
The foundations engineer
Services in a building and linkage with city services:
Water supply and sanitation : Sanitation Engineer
Electricity : Electrical Engineer
Mechanical services : Mechanical Engineer
Interior Design : Interior Designer
Landscape : The Landscape architect
The interaction at design stage:
The need to coordinate
The need to understand the complexity of the other professionals and
accomodation
The interaction at detailing stage
The interaction in construction stage: The contractor
A Group of buildings
The building as part of town: The Planner
Architect as coordinator : The practise in Nepal.
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WEEK 9: Lecture 9
The profession of architecture in Nepal -its practice both public and private, career
opportunities.
The Sthapits and the Bajracharyas of the Mallas
The Engineers of the Ranas
PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE : a new beginning since 1950s
50s-60s and early seventies: an engineer dominated building profession. B. P. Lohani's Saraswoti Sadan, K.
R. Tuladhar takes AA diploma,
Shanker Nath Rimal > engineer practices as architect/engineer
Gangadhar Bhatta > retires early with City hall > Although a copybook design, It made Architects known.
Architects in Government >
Dept of Housing, Building and Physical Planning
1970s architects are formally included in post list.
Chief Engineer Gauri Nath Rimal and architects.
Architects in Private Practice: D. B. Pradhanang > Bishal Bazar Building
Some leaders today:
Bibhuti Man Singh
Deepak Man Sherchan
Working in Nepal
Trained in Foreign Countries
Architecture Career Opportunities today:
Government: MHPP > DOB, DHUD
Municipalities
Private Sector:
Consultancies
Own Practice > Free lance > project affiliation
Turn-Key Contractors
Housing Corporations
Industrial Houses
Building, Planning, Conservation
working in the Government: Advantages, Disadvantages and Trends
Private practice: Advantages, Disadvantages and Trends
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Week 10 : Lecture 10
- Architect and the client, Planning and Building controls in force.
Architect and Client: Client is the owner or sponsor of a project. The architect
works for him/her to realise the project.
Clients can have different levels of knowledge/understanding about a project. Most have an idea only of the
main activity or function of his project and cost limitations (He pays for it !) and architects have to elaborate
and design the project so that the client clearly sees his
project feasibility
project requirements
responsibility towards others (his neighbours : Controls)
design
cost etc.
Architects responsibility :
give the best design for the purpose of fulfilling clients needs
technically sound proposal
fitting to the neighbourhood or area
Who can practice as an architect ?
Regulation and Codes of practice
Code of ethics
Society of Nepalese architects/ NEA/SCAEF
Planning and Building controls
Planning controls
Zoning and compatibility of proposed function
Right of Way
Building controls: Building codes NS/IS/BS/UBC
Set Backs : Light and air regulations
Height controls
FAR, GCR, Service requirements, Disaster codes: fire escapes
/earthquakes etc.
Facade controls
Easements
Get a copy of Kathmandu town control bye-laws
and study it.
Lecture Twelve/2005
