6. Nov-Dec 2010

Architecture
The berms in front of each
cabin creates privacy as
well as ‘wind deflecting’
120Km / hr gusts that
funnel up the valley
occasionally that would
otherwise lift the thatch off
the roofs of the cabins.
© Tom Crees
A ‘conventional’ pool would be out of scale and improper to the
context. It had to be as big as the site would allow.
The bamboo from my home took many months of cajoling to take
root and establish in this hot environment. We collected coloured
pebbles from the beach and laid them as a mosaic in this feature
pool. As the beer took effect, I set five, ’pebble’ fish into the mosaic;
one for each of the directors who made Riverside Springs possible. A
few ceramic figures completed the finishing touches to watch over
this little fantasy world. Then we planted trees and flowering shrubs
on the barren landscape and shaped it around the buildings.
© Tom Crees
Swimming in the Formwork
The swimming pool has its own story. The expanse of the valley is
large; your arms reach out to embrace it, as the gigantic ‘hills’ rise
high on either side. A ‘conventional’ pool would be out of scale and
improper to the context. It had to be as big as the site would allow
as I dreamed and sketched. The left hand, river facing, concave
‘edge’ was formed around a magnificent Bair tree that stood there.
It had a big branch that I envisioned stretching over the pool. I could
imagine little kids splashing into the pool from it. The quick sketch
was estimated at Rs 18 million.
Back in Kathmandu, Kishore’s eyes sparkled as all complimented
the proposal. My partners enthusiastically instructed me to have
it built immediately but we could only afford half the budget! The
knee jerk suggestion to make it smaller was met with a firm, “
.... Tom, we want it exactly as you have drawn it .... please find a
way .... .” Back at my studio, a brain storming session pointed to an
‘in-between’ scenario, which could be achieved for around 8 million
if we could ‘temporarily’ forego the inner concrete lining of the pool
for a few years. Without the ‘lining’, we could brick line the retaining
wall's edges and finish with render and paint which would be good
for about five to eight years! The funds would eventually have to be
found for the concrete lining. I personally took charge of the footing
consolidation and the waterproofing, and fourteen years later, all
are still swimming in the form work!
The design of the swimming pool considers all genres of
swimmers. While the colonnades delineate the changes
of levels, the baby pool has its own water supply and
drain off so that ‘accidents’ from littlies does not mix with
the main pool water.
The design considered all genres of swimmers. The baby pool has
its own water supply and drain off so that ‘accidents’ from littlies
does not mix with the main pool water. The pool precincts are
www.spacesnepal.com 50
November-December 2010