SPACES June issue_3July16

editorial
In this issue some of the highlights are the viewpoints on construction material, technology and economy in Nepal. As a media
partner for the Nepal BuildCon International and Nepal Wood International Expo 2016, we have taken the opportunity to interview
industrial and business houses that participated at the expo and other business houses. Enclosed is a feature interview on how
businesses have prepared themselves for their journey after the earthquake, the responses from the general public, and opinions on
the construction economy of Nepal.
We also have comments from experts within the construction industry - sharing construction technicalities and management issues
that had been disregarded since decades, along with issues that can be guided towards mitigation. Nepal's construction practices,
if viewed through the lens of the recent 2015 Gorkha Nepal Earthquake, provided a glimpseof the changing construction trends over
the last decade. As Ananta Baidya shares that major aspects of construction practices such as “Public Safety for all including People
with Disabilities and the Elderly” has been disregarded, while vertical growth in infrastructures have sporadically mushroomed all over
Kathmandu Valley. While Badan Nyachhon shares that the last decade has seen positive changes in termsof consulting/utilizing the
services of engineers, architects and designers. There is still plenty that needs to be done, and the bottom line should be not cutting
corners in construction in terms of safety and respecting Mother Nature and the environment.
Conversations on ethics of the built environment – leads us to talk to Ar.Kishore Thapa, the current President of Society of
Nepalese Architect. He shares that the built environment is also the responsibility and moral duty of the citizen, besides the
government rules and regulations. On the note that disciplines of ethics and philosophy should be included in the curriculum of the
architectural schools, he relevantly points out thy architecture students should not only be good architects but should also be good
human beings. Humanities courses are now being included in the engineering curriculum, in order to realize this important aspect.
We also review two interesting events that have sparked a keen interest especially amongst the students - Organic Form making led
by Albert John Mallari and Parametric Environmental Analysis with Saurabh Shrestha. Besides the main objective of the Organic
form-making workshop of playing with the materiality of bamboo and stretchable fabric to create a dimensional form for a luminaire
fixture, the deeper note was perhaps to learn to experiment, play and understand materials and getting beyond the skin to make
meaningful and relevant design. Therein lies the soul of good design, which further echoes the skills of indigenous people are a major
part of the cultural heritage, contributing hugely to the sustainability and design.
We also feature interior designer Preksha Baid’s creatively crafted Ruby Celing at the Park Hotel and Animesh Shrestha’s Architectural
thesis on a modern day Auto Showroom. Besides the interesting Ruby ceiling, what clearly echoes within the features is that it finally is
the awareness and understandings of the designer as well the various people within the context and craft of the design that become tools
for story telling. What does stand out in the design endeavor is to have a sustainable design approach having both innovative as well as a
continuity in treasuring traditional and the skills of our craftsmen.
Much to learn and get inspired further…
Namaste!
Sarosh Pradhan / Editor in Chief
10 / SPACES June 2016