OPINION were negotiating collaboration), Royal Nepal Army barracks in Chauni, Bhaktapur, Kharipati and the Head Quarters, Sikkim House in Delhi, all the Sikkim government projects during my stay as resident representative in Sikkim which included the new Secretariat ( which was approved by the Chogyal but never constructed), Government of Sikkim Standard Housing Schemes for various calssifications of government employees, Sikkim Jewels, etc. Mr. Weise was like a true guru for me and he taught me all aspects of professional practice and ideology which I follow to this day. I am truly grateful. 1976: BDA in collaboration with Mr. K.L.Shrestha and UDA ( Ram Bahadur Shrestha) was awarded the prestigious USAID project, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science ( IAAS) in Rampur. M/S Kanvinde and Rai were also appointed as advisors by USAID for the project. As the principal architect for the project, I had various interactions with Mr. Achyut Kanvinde, Mr. Shaukat Rai and Mr. Morad Chaudhuri and I got to know Mr. Kanvinde quite well. I also had the opportunity to understand the various processes of design formulation, land use and physical planning prior to finalisation of the master plan from him. During my subsequent visits to Delhi, I was invited to meet him in his office and join him for lunch at the Volga restaurant, his usual haunt. 1985-87: During my masters program in USC, Los Angeles, I was employed by DMJM (Daniel Mann Johnson and Mendenhall), which was at that time, one of the largest technical consulting firms in USA. I was put in the Design department the head of which were Ceasar Pelli and Anthony Lumpsden (both worked with Eorro Sarranen earlier). Pelli left the office to start his own practice four months after I joined but I got to work with him (especially on weekends) on various projects such as Marriot Hotel in San Francisco, Mercy Hospital of Sacramento, Ojai Country Club in Ojai and San Bernardino International Airport. Although it was a very big office with thousands of staff, we, the design team, were encouraged to formulate our own ideas in the projects by both Pelli and Lumpsden. Both Pelli and Lumpsden are known as the “fathers of curtain wall” as they introduced this technology in many of their projects. 1984-87: My thesis guide appointed by the department in USC ( University of Southern California) was Frank Gehry (also an alumni). Although he is known for his eccentric contemporary designs, he was very sympathetic and positively helpful in guiding me on my thesis program which was a traditional housing project in Kathmandu. He also defended and supported me vigorously during all my reviews and final presentation. We used to meet regularly in his studio and every weekend, at the Saturday Club, an exclusive architects’ gathering to which he and my sponsor, Kurt Meyer, had sponsored me as a temporary member. BMS: I have only interacted with them, never worked with, under or above them. KW: No, other than when I did my practical training in my father’s office. I presume this does not count. Do you feel that the society/ architectural society of Nepal, is sensitive towards the works and involvement of these International Architects? Please elaborate. NP: NO ! Unfortunately all professional societies and organisations have been very indifferent to the international architects and their works in Nepal. They have been viewed as encroachers into the exclusive profession within our country. Very few interactions have been made with them and they have not been given their dues for their contributions to our country. BMS: Society in general is indifferent to their presence, for they know not, bless them. Architectural society, however, are sensitive and rightly so, as it affects their dal and bhat. A little foreign input now and then is certainly healthy, but the presence of certain architectural fiefdoms, complete with globe trotting absentee architect-lords and local tillers doing the donkey work churning out dull stuff, is something we should all be concerned about. KW: International architects are seen as a threat and not as competition. There are very few architects who like competition. I remember even my father had problems after working here for 30 years since he was a foreigner. There are times when I myself feel the bad vibes, though no one can say anything directly since I am a Nepali citizen Have you identified any ideological differences between Nepali and international architects? What, in your opinion is the reason for these differences, if any? NP: Yes. There have been ideological differences. The fact remains that the expat architects have taken the pains to carry out thorough research and studies on all aspects of our traditional buildings and have successfully incorporated the same in their works here. They have also published their works as reference for our future professionals. They have not been given due credits and appreciations by our fraternity. BMS: Taking it down to ‘we’ and ‘they’ in general: we are drifting towards them, and they are wandering around towards us, in terms of world views and perceived destinies. Witness the rush towards ‘modern’ in our midst, and the preference for restoration/ renewal/ renaissance/ regionalism from those looking in. Excluded from this equation are the neighbours, none of whose local works have really inspired us. So between ‘we’ and ‘they’ there is mutual contempt most times. They tend to be patronizing and prescriptive, as if they possess the wisdom of the ages. Having been through a lot they well might, but we refuse to believe that one size can fit all and would prefer experiment/experience/ excitement, in keeping with the new found freedoms. Like deep, deep sea tides, suffice it to say that these trends exist. But there is a shared feeling of despair and disillusionment on both sides. I just found a perfect word for this mental state : ‘huzun’, a Sufi word to describe a devotee’s despair at his distance from his ideals, or God if you lilke. KW: There are good architects and no-so-good architects. One should not categorize between whether they are Nepali or not. www.spacesnepal.com 90 <strong>September</strong>-<strong>October</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
<strong>September</strong>-<strong>October</strong> <strong>2010</strong> 91 www.spacesnepal.com
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