Spaces_is 9

ARCHITECTURE
IN LINE WITH BHAKTAPUR’S
RENOWNED TRADITIONAL
ARCHITECTURE, THE ARCHITECT,
WHILE DESIGNING THE
BRIDYASHRAM, HAS TRIED TO
COMPOSE A TRADITIONAL LOOK
REFLECTING THE CITY’S NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT.
Text: Sakar Shrestha, Architect
AGE-OLD
AMBIENCE FOR THE AGED
SIDDHI SHALIGRAM BRIDYASHRAM,
a senior citizen home, is located on the
peaceful banks of Hanumante River, away
from Bhaktapur, in a quiet and pollution
free area of Bhimsensthan. A community
development welfare work funded by
German citizen Karl Reblee, chairman of
Nepal Hilfe Organization, it is also a
dream-come-true effort for the founder of
Siddhi Memorial Foundation, Shyam
Sundar Dhaubadel. In line with
Bhaktapur’s renowned traditional
architecture, the architect, while designing
the Bridyashram, has tried to compose a
traditional look reflecting the city’s natural
environment. He has accomplished the
design according to the norms and
standards of Bhaktapur Municipality
regulations such as odd numbers of
window panels and the use of traditional
materials in the building façade.
To meet senior citizens’ needs, the building
has been planned for multipurpose
activities. The total built up area of the
building is 21,774 sq ft. The ground floor
occupies approximately 8,130 sq ft, while
the first floor and the cellar occupy 6,822
sq ft of the built up area. The planning
and designing shows a great approach
based on good teamwork between client
and architect. The architect has tried to
fulfill all the needed conditions and tried
to understand the theme of the project
given by the client. The architect and the
client went through as many ideas and
options as possible before reaching an
agreement. Thought has also been given
to the making of a paying ward section
which would help raise money to develop
the foundation fund for further
requirements but this idea, although in the
drawing plan, has not been implemented
for the time being.
Entrances and exits on all four sides of
the building ensure good circulation and
this is all the more to be appreciated
32 MAR-APR 2006 SPACES