Modern Architecture in NEPAL

PRETEXT
Nepal has preserved an expansive variety of architectural styles, all linked by similarity of
constructional pattern and materials; intergrated into a homogeneous complex by their
underlying purpose.

Architecture flourished in the Malla period, in a competitive environment with different rulers
trying to outdo each other. While varients of the pagoda style are predominant, there are
few in the borrowed sikhara style. Buildings were mostly temples, palaces and building of
public use. Residences were based on courtyard planning.
There was an extensive use of Bricks; Sun burnt and kiln on wooden posts and beams,
inticrately carved wooden windows and doors. Symmetry was a preference; axial and radial.

During the Rana Period, for the first time, the 19th Century western monumentalism was
brought to Nepal. Building, mostly palaces were built in the Neo-classical style that
borrowed elements from the Greek and Roman Architecture. Kishor Narsingh Rana and
Kumar Narsingh Rana were the two main Engineers of the time.

Modern Architecture in Nepal starts from about the time the Sarashwati Sadan ( 2000
B.S.) was built, which is a milestone in the history of Modern Architecture in Nepal. It was
designed by Bed Prasad Lohani; the first to introduce concrete structure in Nepal.
Ranjana Hall ( 2009 B.S.) is another example. He played with variety of elements in his
buildings like; RCC, RBC, dome etc. His buildings are simple, functional and structurally
stable.
Other individuals who have played significant role in the development of Modern architecture
in Nepal are; Prabhinga Man Singh Pradhan, Shankar Nath Rimal, Robert Weize, Shiva
Raj Panta, Ganga Dhar Bhatta, Bhubaneswor Lal Shrestha.

Robert Weize initiated the development with the masterplan of of Tribhuvan University,
Kirtipur and some of its earlier buildings.
Narayanhiti Palace, designed by a team of Stain, Polk and Chatterjee from an Indian firm
based in Calcutta, was constructed, S. N. Rimal was the Site Engineer.
Sarboccha Adalat (The supreme Court), Science Block of Trichanda College, Rani
Pokhari designed under Bhavan Vibhag and the Department of Archaeology by Indian
Coorperation Mission are other contemporay buildings.
Prabhinja Man Singh designed Amrit Science Campus; structure by S. N. Rimal.
Vrikuti Mandap ( 2015 B. S.) by Shiva Raj Panta
RNAC Building by Bhubaneshwor Lal Shrestha
Post Office Building, Sundhara by Indian Cooperation Mission
NEPALI CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTS

Shankar Nath Rimal

Eldest son of Devendra Nath Rimal And Sita Devi, was born on 1st March 1935 in Tangal,
Kathmandu
Schooling: pre primary – Nandiratri School, Naxal
Secondary – Durbar High School ( SLC in 1950) along with brothers; Gauri
Nath and Durga Nath
Shankar Nath joined Engineering despite the family’s wish for him to be a doctor.
He received Colombo Plan for Electrical Engineering and later shifted to Civil Engineering.
He graduated from Calcutta University in 1957.
Started professional work as assistant Engineer in the public works department.
In 1959, left for Germany on a year long training in Dtckechooff and Widman K. G.
In 1961 Started his own firm” Shankar Nath Rimal Engineers and Architects P. Limited.”

Spent his life on creative domain which led him to the threshold of perfectionist.
He spared time for creative works in the form of sculpture and painting in water colour, oil
etc. The paintings are rather abstract and fresh with bold use of colours. His sketches
contain minute details. He has also expressed his emotions in some of his miniature
sculptures. He has displyed his skills in other specilized fields such as Project Writing,
Structural Details, Working Drawing and Landscape Design.
He also reshaped our national Flag to proportion

HIS PHILOSOPHY
Spiritual Quality in designs
Heterogenity over homogenity
Redefine Nepali Architectural Space
Use of Modern Technology
Faithful use of elements
Emphasis on purity of form
Cost Effective

HIS VIEWS
 One must be fully engaged in his work to be successful
 Originality comes from philosophy, which is also essesntial to achieve sustainability
 Architecture is an applied art; point where art and science meets to form a different new
 Planning, Aesthetic and Structure should be given equal importance; without Planning it
cannot be functional; without Aesthetic it cannot be satisfactory and without structure it
will fail.
 Better locally available materials with local workmanship while use of modern material
should be in a simplified way.

HIS WORKS
Include Gateways, Hotels, Industries, Public Buildings, Institutions, Museums, Library,
Auditoriums, Temples and numerous Residences.

“Sahid Gate”, first of his works:– memorial arc Nepal Smarak Dwar - 1958

Narayanhiti Royal Palace - Engineer Incharge of construction (1961-1972), in which

Mangal Sadan, Nanigung and Darbar Parisar are his own creation.

Hotel Soaltee, Kalimati – 1962, along with G. D. Bhatta

Royal Nepal Academy, Kamaladi - 1964
Hotel Everest International, New Baneshwor - 1969
Tikapur Town Planning (Pop. 25000) - 1973
– space contigeous with the surrounding
Dynamic; Interwoven house blocks and green zones
Janakpur Cigarette Factory - 1964
Yagna Shala Building, Pashupati Nath Temple Complex
Taragaon Cultural Tourism Centre
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, Singha Darbar - 1969

Amrit Science Campus, Chhinalata Guthi, Nepal Art Council, Rastra Bank, Bhairahawa
NIDC Arcade, Mercantile Corporation show room, Hetaunda Flour Mill, Tikapur Hospital
Staff Housing for Bansbari Shoe Factory, Clock Tower at Janakpur, Temple at Devaghat
Lumbini Development Trust; Library, Museum and Auditorium Building, Reuki Training
Centre, Pokhara, Bishnu Mandir, Singapore, Pashupati Nath Temple, Patan, Medicare
Hospital, Balkhu, Nepal Temple, USA

Residences
- Pangre Ghar (Mr. Khagda Bahadur Singh), Pulchowk
- Khutte Ghar ( Mrs. Angur Baba Joshi)
- Shanti Sadan (Her Late Highness Shanti Singh)
- Shova Sadan (Her Royal Highness Shova Singh)
Ganga Dhar Bhatta (Halabe)

THE MAN
First Nepali Architect ( B. Arch Degree, from India)
Upon Completion of bachelor degree ( 1961), he joined Bhawan Vibhag (the Department of
Building) as an assistant Engineer. At the time there was no position for architects.
Upatyaka Nirman Samiti was established to work out on development plans.
Instrumental in promoting Architecture in its modern form in Nepal
He drew the first Kathmandu Valley Map based on the photographs taken from Plane
Later dropped architectural practice and completely engaged himself in Poultry farming

HIS PHILOSOPHY
Architecture and Society should go hand in hand
The ingredients of a good building; Honesty, Sincerety, Seriousness and Hard work.
Form should satisfy function
Building should respond to its surrounding

HIS WORKS
Hotel Soaltee, along with S.N. Rimal
City Hall, Exhibition Road
Features: Dynamic Building form, Abstract Gateway, Segregated Vehicular and
Pedestrian approach, Wide open-riser Stairway leading to ther first floor,
Large Windows, Complementing Landscape

Master Plan and pavilion design of Dasarath Stadium

Police Club Building, Exhibition Road
Rastrya Panchayat Building:
Comissioned through Design Competition. Consisted of five buildings; The Assembly
Hall, Secretatiat Building, Library Building, Multipurpose Hall and Restaurant. The 90 ft. dia
Assembly hall was never built. Jeewan Kunj, Green Houses, Godavari Botanical Garden
Carl Pruscha

THE MAN

Austrian Architect
Assigned to prepare the master plan of Kathmandu Valley ( 60s), influenced architectural
trend in Nepal.
The communal institutions were the visible pivotal points forming centres of the compact
towns and villages.
Translated the prevailing rules to incorporate them into more modern and technical context.
Architecture as the appropriate response he helped recover the lost methodology to unite
techniques and Discipline in construction
The environment; existing forms and functions, was the basis on which he produced
contextual yet new and refined spaces. He assimilated the spirit of the place and the rules
presiding over spatial transformation.
Made aware the bond between Architecture and Urban Planning

The building activity is a victory gained over the danger of dissolution and in support of the
cosmic order with which the work is and must be in harmony.

Made great attempts in merging his buildings into the surrounding, physically
While he intentionally avoided any features suggestive of Nepali architecture, yet managed
to design buildings in harmony with the place.

HIS PHILOSOPHY
Architecture is a response to a higher need – man’s need for shelter and his need to satisfy
definite spiritual impulses along with physical shape
Great respect for climate and adaptation of building to the landscape
Adopted simplicity in construction and used technology within the grasp of the local
workmanship.
A timeless architectural vocabulary, one that cannot be dated by stylish feature.

HIS WORKS
Centre for Economic Development and Administration (CEDA) building at Tribhuvan
University (T.U.), Kirtipur
Taragoan Resort, Bauddha