SPACES_16Feb_016_A

editorial
As winter gives way and the temperature rises, SPACES picks up steam on the current issues with interesting features in
this issue.
We feature viewpoints and pointers from a panel of professionals after the devastating earthquake of 25th.April 2015,
working in different sectors in order to develop better understanding of the issues that have surfaced post-earthquake.
One apparent observation is the skeptical outlook towards construction quality and high-rise buildings, which has
sparked a debate.
It must be pointed out that very few-designed apartment building were critically damaged.
Most damage was done to old structures that had passed their life span or ill designed structures hurriedly built having
poor construction material and technology. Maximum devastation appears to have been caused by low-rise stone and
brick masonry structures in villages, which were built with very basic considerations. It is a soul-searching period for the
general public as well as the Architects, Engineers and designers to setup a standard and help generate awareness of
earthquake resilient structures. Design or material strength is not the only consideration, but also the context of the land
conditions such as soil, adjacent erosion, instabilities and the vulnerable environment are important focus areas to be
considered besides construction.
We highlight the findings in Tilaurakot where the current archaeological investigations sponsored by the Government of
Nepal and UNESCO is an important focus for ancient Kapilavastu - the childhood home of Buddha, unearthing exciting
new discoveries that are re-writing the history of this important ancient site. Under the co-direction of Professor Robin
Coningham of Durham University and Kosh Prasad Acharya of Pashupati Area Development Trust, the multidisciplinary
teams of Nepalese and international archaeological experts have been applying a variety of traditional and cutting-edge
archaeological techniques to explore the ancient city.
The feature on Art in the time of Chaos explores a creative as well as abstract journey seeking the chaos as a means
to reflect our place in time. Walking to Basantapur is never the same without Kasthamandap or the missing temples on
top of the pyramidal plateau of steps. Artists see and question the unfamiliarity of chaos as a means to understand the
familiarity of the missing past. When anything is destroyed – it is also a time for the creative vision to take seed.
Some of the interesting events that have happened and featured in this issue are the Photo Kathmandu, Nepal’s first
international photo-festival, which was a real treat for the general public as well as the professional photographers
within the inner city of Patan; Siddhartha Arts Foundation’s Education Initiative (SAFEI) workshop on Curating Public
Spaces - at Yalamaya Kendra and the Yantra 4.0 which successfully sparked the creative eye and participant.
We also remember and bid farewell to well-known Architect Charles Correa who fortunately we were able to see and
interact during the Arc-Asia Conference gathering here in Kathmandu a year back. I remember him then as the keynote
speaker where besides his voluminous writings and works also had a presence of mind to say - when suddenly the
audio and visuals blanked out for a while... – ‘This is what I like of mysterious Nepal!’ He further went on to share “We
need to look at the place where we build a building. The climate and the soil where the building is to be built must be
respected”, as he truly believed that architecture for every place is unique according to its people and culture.
Namaste!
Sarosh Pradhan / Editor in Chief
10 / SPACES FEBRUARY 2016