Spaces Issue 7

§ P R O F I L E
Touching New
HE IGHTS
take on very little work nowadays although my wife,
Chandralekha, is as busy as ever,” says Matsyendra
Lal Kayastha, Principal Architect of Mr. and Mrs.
M..L.Kayastha & Associates. Sixty-one years old now,
he doesn’t sound particularly tired when he says this,
but possibly, M.L.Kayastha could be more than a little
tired after completing almost 75 large scale projects
during the period 1976 to date. This, of course, in
addition to numerous private works including
residences completed during the same time. The
projects have been of diverse nature to say the least,
as have been the clients. Projects have included
hospitals, health centres, banks, government buildings,
hotels, colleges, industries and commercial complexes.
Clients have included international aid agencies, the
United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank, embassies, metropolises, INGOs,
industrialists, businessmen, doctors and educationists
as well as various corporations and government
ministries. “We were tremendously busy till around
1997,” states Chandralekha Kayastha, Co-Principal
at the firm.
The husband/wife team’s latest achievement has been
the Rs. 22 crore Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh
commercial complex next to the RNAC building in
Sundhara. A joint venture with MEH Consultants,
this project has been in the limelight in recent days.
The firm’s brief included survey, architectural,
structural, electrical and sanitary design besides overall
construction supervision. Started in February 1999,
it was finished in September of this year. “It took us
an inordinately long time to complete this project,”
admits Chandralekha. Matsyendra adds, “This was
by far our most challenging project. There were so
many hassles along the way.”
So, after all said and done, are they satisfied with the
result? Chandralekha smiles ruefully and reveals, “I
went there recently to have a look. I returned
completely disappointed with what the promoters
have done to the inside.” Supposedly, the architects
had been briefed initially that the complex would be
leased only to offices and the design was done
accordingly, but later on, giving first priority to
economical viability, the promoters went about
52 NOV-DEC 2005 SPACES§“I
Text: Amar B Shrestha
Clients have included international aid agencies,
the United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank, embassies, metropolises,
INGOs, industrialists, businessmen, doctors and
educationists as well as various corporations and
government ministries.