SPACES June issue_3July16

Personality
Post-quake meeting with
an architecture enthusiast
Ar.Wolfgang Korn
TEXT : Ar. Sushmita Ranjit
Our meeting with Wolfgang Korn revolved
around a discussion regarding the
structure of the traditional architecture
of the Kathmandu valley, that was badly hit
and that survived the massive earthquake
of 25 April 2015. The 7.8 magnitude
earthquake brought down world heritage
monuments like Kasthamandap, MajuDega,
Dharara and JaiseDega to name a famous
few, which collapsed within 60 seconds of
the violent tremor that day. So, with lots of
inquisitiveness and responsibility many of
our questions were related to structural
stability of traditional architecture of
temples, rest house and palaces.
Did our ancestors really think about the earthquake
when they built these magnificent structures? Was the
soil test done and foundation built accordingly? Did the
high plinths of the temple absorb the shockwave of the
earth’s movement? Are the wooden ties chukuls used
for making the whole structure flexible to adjust with
the seismic movements? Is the double layered brick
wall (inside: sun-dried brick kachiappa, outside:fired
–brick Chikanappa) design a possible weak structure
unable to transfer load to the foundation?
In
response to all the questions raised, Ar.Korn, had
only one thing to say: “We can’t avoid making
mistakes if we intend to build a masterpiece”.
He further reasoned that our ancestral team had
built with much knowledge which was collected
through a series of experiences. It was unaffordable
to not make a mistake, so learning and focusing on
details were acquired entirely from hands-on habitual
42 / SPACES June 2016