KVPT’s Patan Darbar Earthquake Response Campaign - Work to Date - September 2016

kicked out at the same time, and this became part of
the progressive collapse of the temple. Connecting the
plinth stones to each other, to the foundation, and to the
columns above is a major and critical step in protecting
temples from future earthquakes.
• Maintenance? What maintenance?
Because of the centuries-long history of lack of maintenance
of Newar structures (even our own Newar lead architect
jokes that lack of maintenance is “in our blood”),
we assume little to no long-term future maintenance
of our projects and design accordingly, aiming for the
greatest possible durability in the face of this reality.
• Contending voices for authenticity
Authenticity is a loaded term in preservation practice.
We recognize that our assumptions about its meaning,
however carefully conceived, are our own, and that others
have contending views. These assumptions have a
profound influence on seismic design solutions.
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