Fieldwork has drawn to an end. A first drawing to express the project’s design intentions, and start out shaping the proposal.
Located between Bungamati and Khokana, the proposed new settlement relocates some of the population of these villages to reduce their density and tackle the urban growth challenge affecting the entire Valley.
While the geological, seismic and economical local conditions prescribe a shift of materials from those of traditional buildings, the settlement seeks to preserve the traditional urban organisation. Houses are grouped around courtyards, known as chowk, and the urban pattern is punctuated by public squares, known as nani.
By following the traditional settlement pattern, the proposal seeks to maintain the social structures that can eventually lead to the establishment of a community-based conservation tradition. The preservation of the community groups that can undertake this task would then enable the conservation and production of the local heritage.
Let Them Build 