Architect Anju Malla Pradhan, Going Beyond Expectations

Ten-year-old Astha studies in class four at Graded English Medium School (GEMS) in Dhapakhel, Laitpur. Nothing remarkable about that it must be said, but just a minute, this little girl has something special to be proud of – her mother, Architect Anju Malla Pradhan, designed this particular school. And it is no ordinary school. ‘Grand and Eye Catching’ – these were the catchwords used by the school’s founder-director Rajesh Khadga when assigning the design work to Anju Malla and her firm, Design Studio.

Undoubtedly, the finished product has come up to its director’s high expectations. Spread over plentiful land (70 ropanies), and located amongst verdant scenery, the school’s grandeur is very much evident in the majestic conical columns holding up the porticoes of the three main buildings. Equally grand is the expansiveness in the corridors, the terraces and the playing fields which impart an atmosphere of opulent spaciousness to the premises. Certainly, a school where thousands of children like Asha will enjoy days, months and years of youthful academic life.

Anju Malla Pradhan, who herself was educated in another elite school, St. Mary’s in Jawalakhel (batch of ’84), chose GEMS to educate her only daughter although she admits that it was not that her Alma Mater was lacking in any way, but because she wanted a coeducational environment for Astha.  “Maybe it was only me, but I did have a hard time relating to boys because of studying in an all-girls school,” she says. The shyness remains even today, but at the same time it endows Anju Malla with an air of demureness that is quite charming.

Married to Matindra Pradhan, an Executive Engineer with Kantipur Television, and with only the one daughter, Astha, happily spending fruitful time at school, Anju Malla thankfully has enough productive time of her own as a professional architect good at her job. And it is not only GEMS among her works that is so conspicuously outstanding. Others like Himalayan International Model School in Jorpati as well as the ongoing Learning Realm International Boarding School in Kalanki are equally well designed and almost as large projects as GEMS. The Little Flower School in Jhapa and Small Heaven School in Chitwan might not be as large, but these projects are also close to the architect’s heart. As are scores of residential buildings she has worked on in the past and is working on today.

For an unassuming professional who prefers to work from a small office in a comparatively secluded part of the city, near Dhobhighat in Patan, and for an office which does not even have a signboard outside, one must say that Anju Malla Pradhan and Design Studio prove the cliché right : ‘their works speak for themselves’. The architect agrees, “I am lucky that I did not have to search high and low for work. And I must admit that after completing GEMS, a couple of big school projects have come my way: presumably their promoters liked what I had achieved in the making of a modern school.”

Perhaps Anju Malla’s four year stint with Dr. S.B Mathe & Associates (1995-1999) developed her abilities towards excellence in this sector. She believes Dr. Sriram Bhakta Mathema to have undertaken special studies in designing schools. “While working with him I had the chance to be involved in the designs of various schools such as Bhanubhakta Memorial extension, Mary Ward at Lubhu, Little Angels in Hattiban, St. Xavier’s Campus (2^nd academic block) and Brookfield College extension as well as on design proposals for Vrihaspati Vidyasadan and St. Xavier’s School extension.” However, it must be emphasized here that Anju Malla is as good in other sectors including private residences and commercial complexes as she is in designing schools. Just the fact that at present her ongoing works include, besides others, eight residences, extension work at GEMS, a commercial complex at Kalanki, and a rest house at Gangalal Hospital, should establish the point.

Anju Malla received her B.Arch degree (First Class Honours) from Jadavpur University in Kolkata. Nevertheless, after doing her I.Sc from Amrit Science College in 1987, she had won a scholarship to study in Bangladesh. She recollects, “Everything had been finalized, including the visa, but at the last moment there was a big strike in that country and so, fearing loss of time, I applied to Jadavpur.” At Jadvapur, she remembers being specially proud to see Arun Dev Pant, a fellow Nepali, attend an intercollegiate seminar as the designated speaker from Nagpur University. Anju can also smile wryly today when she recalls that she missed a chance to get the gold medal during her I.Sc. “As a student fresh out of school, I didn’t take things too seriously during the first year and got just above average marks. Thus, even after I became the topper in the 2^nd year, the combined results were not enough for me to be awarded the gold medal.”  Even during SLC, Anju Malla missed a chance to be on the board. “Although my percentage was higher than the highest received by anyone the previous year in our school, others from our school got higher marks and two girls from St. Mary’s were on the board for the first time in our school’s history.”

Still, and maybe on a smaller compensatory scale, Anju Malla did win the first prize in the National Design Competition for the central office building of Kathmandu Metropolis in 1995.  She does not forget to add, “Actually it was done jointly by me and Ngwang Karsang Sherpa who was then doing his diploma in Singapore. Since he didn’t yet have his degree, I got the credit.” But, as she says, there was much controversy about the event as well as the project itself. Which could be one reason for her not being too enthusiastic even today about participating in contests although the way she is going, one can assume that she really doesn’t need to.

Indeed, Anju Malla’s bigger problem today seems to be how to give more time to her daughter, now that she is so busy. Still, and all, her journey towards her professional success has been quite a long one – starting from the time she did her internship at M & S Consultants, Pulchowk (July 1991 - Dec 1991), her initial forays into the profession at Vastukala Paramharsha, Putalisadak (Nov 1993 – Aug 1994), as team leader for Ward 10 planning when working for Bagmati Corridor Development Project (Oct 1994 – Apr 1995), as Consulting Architect with Koladi associates, Pulchowk, a long period with Dr. S.B. Mathe & Associates (Apr 1995 – Aug 1999) as well as a short one with Arnico Designers in 1999. Since then, Anju Malla has been mostly working on her own through though her firm, Design Studio, which also includes her cousin, Architect Manish Munankami. “Initially another cousin, Mridyu, an interior designer, was with the firm, but now she is practicing in Los Angeles.”

Oh yes, Anju Malla has a lot of cousins. Credit for this goes to the fact that her father had six brothers and four sisters. And, oh yes, not only her cousins, but most of her uncles and aunts are either doctors or engineers. Her father, the late Dr. Y.K.Malla, was himself a professor of Zoology at Tribhuvan University. Of his six brothers, the eldest, Dr. Shanker K Malla, is a retired electrical engineer and was once the president of Nepal Engineers Association, another brother, Laxman K Malla, is a civil engineer, Dr. Om K Malla is a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr. Mahavir K Malla is a surgeon, while Narayan K Malla is also a civil engineer. Of the four sisters, Dr. June Thapa is a gynecologist as are Dr. Moon Shrestha and Dr. Sun Sil.

Anju admits to being influenced mostly by her uncle Engineer Narayan K Malla, who she believes was an engineer of uncommon abilities. “He died young, when he was about forty eight years old,” she says. “He worked with the Japanese on many of the bridges around the Capital. I think the country lost a very good engineer.” She adds, “He encouraged me to pursue engineering studies but I chose to do architecture, a related field in many ways.” About this, Anju Malla says that she is very satisfied with her choice of vocation and discloses that she likes to play with spaces. “Actually, I prefer to plan designs for smaller spaces which are obviously more challenging. In addition, I am quite committed to follow existing bylaws and building codes which make the task harder.” Further, she says that, as is the norm, she doesn’t charge a percentage of costs as fees which has sometimes led to criticisms being thrown her way.

Anju Malla has served as a board member of the Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA), and is happy that now the organization seems to be much more active. She admires the president, Architect Bibhuti Man Singh, for his enthusiasm as well as for his straightforwardness. It is obvious that Anju Malla Pradhan herself seems to be gaining a certain amount of added assertiveness although she admits to still not being as good at expressing herself as she would want to. Nonetheless, the demure architect expresses herself well enough through her many well designed works and perhaps, it is as good a way to express oneself as any. Maybe, at least professionally, even a better way. 

Architect Rajesh Thapa, Heart of Gold

Architect Rajesh Thapa has a heart of gold. At least that is the impression one gets listening to him talk about the various social causes he is involved with. Presently, he holds the high post of Assistant District Governor for Zone 5 of the Rotary Club of Mount Everest. He became a member in the year 2000. Since then, his rise within the ranks has been swift and sure. Thus, he soon became the Chartered Secretary, then the President, later, the District Secretary, followed by the District Grants Coordinator and now, the Assistant Governor of Zone 5 which includes many of the districts within the Bagmati Zone. He is also currently the coordinator of a Euro 70,000 project which includes the training of thirty deserving girls to be auxiliary nurses and midwives besides funding micro credit for grassroots services. Another project dear to Thapa’s heart is the arranging of German sponsorships for each one of seventy five children in the remote district of Manang, whereby they get good, free education and necessary health services. “Recently I, personally, took on the responsibility of rehabilitating eleven young girls who were forced to work in dance restaurants,” he says proudly. “I arranged for them to undergo beautician training and all of them now have started their own parlours.”

Along with Architect Bibhuti Man Singh, Rajesh Thapa is also a founder member and currently, president, of an organization known as Zero Waste Nepal. He is also on the board of the Nepal Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum under the auspices of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The board is in charge of selecting worthy candidates for receiving low interest loans. All this is of course not to say that Thapa neglects his primary duty – that of a leading architect of the country. In fact, the thought had entered his mind a long time back about the need to do something for developing the profession. After the formation of the Society of Consulting Architects and Engineers Federation (SCAEF) in 1990, he took on the duties of General Secretary for almost eight years. He is specially satisfied that the organization has been actively working with the government and playing an important role in policy making, as for instance, in reducing contract tax from 15% to 1.5%. To an unasked question, Rajesh Thapa says, “I always believed that it was more important to play my role as a mover and shaker instead of being just a figurehead.”

An inkling to his nature can be derived from an example. Once, the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation had a large job on offer. Thapa took the initiative of sorting out five of the major consultancy bidders and then inviting them all to participate in a panel discussion regarding the work. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) which also runs the Construction Industry Training Centre (CITC). “Funds for programs like the above are arranged from the revenue collected at the rate of 0.1% from contractors’ bills,” he informs. He also adds, “It is affiliated to the internationally recognized FIDIC (Federation of International Consulting Engineers).” And, in association with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Thapa conducts periodic programs for the development of consultancy services, a program that he says the World Bank is also thinking of organizing. No doubt, these are important programs that will enable consultants to get a better idea about systems followed by these important institutions which have such a significant involvement in developmental activities of the country.

Rajesh Thapa was born in Kathmandu on the 23^rd of June 1955 but lived the better part of his life in Calcutta where his father held a responsible position in a British company that was involved with the jute business. He studied in St. Patrick’s and, later, joined Visveswaraya Regional College of Engineering in Nagpur, from where he received his B. Arch degree in 1978. After passing out from college, Thapa immediately went to Pondicherry and became an inmate at the famous Auroville Ashram where he was responsible for the design and detailing of housing and public buildings on the Salem Steel City Project. “There were many architects and engineers there,” he recalls. “The first batch of these professionals formed an association called ‘Promise’. We, in the second group, formed ‘Aspiration’ with a French architect as our leader.” Thapa stayed in the ashram for a year. “Since there were many from my profession, including some from abroad, I think I learnt a lot from my stay there. You could say it was a sort of continuing education.” Thapa’s educational development has also always included a deep involvement in sports. “Since my early years, I have always been a sports enthusiast,” he reveals. “Here, in Nepal, I was one of the pioneers of the game of cricket.” Football and hockey too were games he participated actively in. And, he confesses , “I love children.” Thapa himself has four children.

After a short stint with the renowned Kothari & Associates in Calcutta, he came to Kathmandu and worked with Weize Consulting Architectural and Engineering for a year during which time he was involved in the Russian Embassy and Hotel Annapurna extension projects. Simultaneously, he also started teaching at the Institute of Engineering as a lecturer. “I’m still a lecturer there,” he says. “I never became a professor since I didn’t have the requisite degree. But I believe I have something equally, if not more so, important to give students. Experience.” Since 2001, Thapa is also a visiting lecturer at the Kathmandu Engineering College as well as at the Khwopa Engineering College. He teaches Professional Practice, Construction Management and Building Technology/Construction to final year students. Thapa has himself undertaken a four-months training in Construction Management & Computer Aided Designs at the Paisley College of Technology in Glasgow, England.

In 1980, he was one of the partners who established Architects Collaborate (Nepal). Thapa considers himself fortunate to have had good architects like Srinivas Bir Singh Kansakar, Dan Heera Kansakar and Suman Nanda Vaidya as his associates. The firm’s first work was won through a design competition in which, interestingly, the late Robert Weize’s firm came in second. This was the Central Administrative Complex of Tribhuvan University. “We had submitted three design proposals,” recalls Thapa. Here, he hastens to add, “I admired Robert Weize tremendously. He was one architect who had mastered pagodas. His sense of proportions was excellent.” The firm went on to become a private limited company in 1982 (of which Thapa is Managing Director today) and embarked on a long journey marked by one milestone after another in the landscape of the country. Early works included a developmental project of KHARDEP/British Embassy in Dhankuta and Ilam; the redevelopment of the housing colony and factory area of Birgunj Sugar Factory; the ADB financed Butwal - Nepalgunj transmission line project to set up 132 KV substations at four locations; the factory and housing colony project of Lumbini Sugar Mills and the Surya Tobbaco Factory in Simra (in which Thapa says he received a good lesson in professionalism).

Thapa and his firm were (as is evident from the above examples) and still are, involved in numerous projects throughout the length and breadth of the country. Too many to be described in detail, suffice it to say that they have completed as well as done feasibility works in Bharatpur (feeds factory), Surkhet (a 60 metres clock tower), Bhairawa (Mahendra Sabagriha, Nirdhan Utthan Bank), Biratnagar (multifuel diesel power plant), Tatopani (hydropower), Bardiya (resort), Gorkha (conservation area development), Lukla (hotel), Pokhara (lakeside development works, commercial complex), Rupandehi (teachers’ training centre), Sindupalchowk (Impact Assessment of Cracked Houses), Lumbini (Hotel New Crystal), Nuwakot (International Mountaineering Memorial Park) and Solukhumbu (Basic Shelter Study Project). An interesting aside about the last mentioned is that Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai was the team leader of the project in Salleri, later to be a Maoist stronghold, and Thapa admits, “I remember that he gave a really very good report on the project.”

The firm also built eye hospitals in Birgunj, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Bhadrapur and Gaur as also the Mithila Cultural Centre in Janakpur. Thapa says he learnt a lot from working with Reliable Builders in many of the projects. “They were really very seasoned contractors - systematic and well organized,” he says admiringly. Architects Collaborate’s works in the Valley include those in Kathmandu (two SOS Tibetan Schools, Hotel Florida Complex, Mercedes Benz Workshop, a gem cutting polishing plant, two resort complexes, ADB’s Resident Mission office, Hotel Sita, Hotel Sherpa swimming pool extension, TIA departure area and duty free shop, Coca Cola factory, World Bank country office, Nepal Investment Bank, an apartment complex), Lalitpur (Karmacharya Sanchaya Kosh, Gyanodaya HS School, Khajuri Food Industry), Kirtipur (Tribhuvan University master plan) and Bhaktapur (Siddhi Memorial and Dr. Iwamura hospitals). Thapa lets us know, “Professor Sudarshan Tiwari was the principal architect for the TU and Pokhara lakeside projects.”

Thapa was the project director in 1989 for the Sixth Power Project. In 2000 – 2002 he was project manager for different construction works of Nepal Agriculture Research Council all over Nepal. Similarly, he was responsible for the electrical audit study under the Hotel Efficiency Lighting Project in five different regions. Thapa has also been the advisor in the team of experts from March International (UK). From 1998 to 2000, Thapa was project director of a low cost housing project in Pokhara. Collaborating with Architect Bhubaneshwar Lal Shrestha, they constructed 127 houses built at a paltry cost of just Rs. 38 million.. Thapa was also the planning expert for the Tourism Development Support Project Team consisting of experts from the UK and the USA in which Gorkha, Pokhara and Kathmandu were the cities under purview. He also overlooked the Birgunj and Janakpur Stormwater Drainage Projects and was team leader in the making of Rapti Technical School in which many consultancy firms were involved.

From 2004 to 2007, Thapa was the principal architect in the Primary Schools Improvement Project which envisaged the construction of 40 primary schools each in Parsa, Kapilvastu and Saptari Districts. Thapa remembers, “This was a most challenging project. Because it was supposed to be a so-called ‘Joyful Learning’ mission, it was upto us to motivate and involve the locals right from the conceptual stage to the running and future maintenance of these schools.” He adds, “In fact, during the initial meetings -  ‘vision workshops’ - our question to them was, “What type of school do you want?’” Another difficulty was that there were no contractors involved, so the consultants had to do everything themselves. Thapa is also a technical committee member of the Employees Provident Fund and advises on, as well as supervises,  all technical matters related to site, design and construction of its many ventures. He is firm in the conviction that, “Technology helps in cutting costs,”  and he adds, “Clients should pay architects more for saving undue expenses rather than a percentage of the project cost as is the norm now.”

Rajesh Thapa, as expected, is active in professional bodies and, besides SCAEF and Zero Waste, is also a member of Nepal Engineers Association and  Society of Nepalese Architects. He is a life member and the general secretary of Shelter & Local Technology Development Centre (SLTDC) under whose auspices he, along with Bhubaneshwari L Shrestha, are building one hundred low cost houses in Saptari district. Thapa also informs that he has proposed, under SCAEF and SONA’s patronage, to give away annual architectural awards beginning this year to those who have contributed significantly to the profession. Thapa has also been an important participant in many seminars. In 1990, he was a member of the government task force committee on domestic consulting services. He was chairman and convener of SCAEF Technical Forum which, beside others, also conducted the technical seminar on Hydropower Projects and Development in 1999. In the same year, Thapa was the team leader of SCAEF to the FIDIC and ONRI (Association of Netherlands Consulting Engineers) FIDIC Annual General Meeting and International Conference at the Hague. In 2002, Thapa was appointed coordinator of the SAARC Conference Management Committee for conducting a conference for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation of Architects.

The list of works he has done and the list of organizations he is involved in could go on and on. It is by any yardstick, an admirable professional achievement, and therefore, Rajesh Thapa’s experience should be a major plus point to students fortunate enough to avail of his tutelage. Simultaneously, Thapa’s initiative and active participation in the social sector also makes for a commendable list – an enviable personal achievement. One has to marvel at his resolve to make himself more accountable to society than by what he has already done in the field of architecture. Perhaps the truth is that Rajesh Thapa is a man who wishes to live a more holistic life. – one that will satisfy as many of his spiritual and physical needs as is humanely possible. This, as everyone knows, can only come about by the act of giving, and we have to agree, Rajesh Thapa seems to be doing just that.

The Man from Harvard

Harvard University

At Cambridge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The President of Fellows of Harvard College, acting on the recommendation of the Faculty of Design and with the consent of the Honorable and Reverend the Board of Overseers, have conferred on

                                                 Bharat Prasad Sharma

                             The degree of Master in Landscape Architecture

In witness thereof, by authority duly committed to us, we have hereunder placed our names and the University Seal on this fifth day of June in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty and of Harvard College the three hundred and forty fourth.

President                                                                                                 Dean of Faculty

The number of persons in this country who have received a degree from the above mentioned university can be counted on the fingers. Bharat P Sharma is one of them. But that’s not all. He is also one of only two landscape architects in Nepal, the other being Ananda Siddhi Bajracharya. So, certainly, Bharat Sharma is somebody who is in a unique position professionally. And the question does arise as to what this uniquely positioned man has been able to contribute towards a better architectural scene in the country. When faced with this question he becomes a little uncomfortable but at the same time admits readily, “I have tried to make my views known to all who will listen but unfortunately, in this country, there is very little that can be done.” From his demeanor it is not hard to fathom that even a degree from the most prestigious university in the world was not enough to elevate him on such a plateau as would be justified and from where his words would be given due weight. In fact one comes to the conclusion that this country has made pitifully little efforts to utilize Bharat Sharma’s expertise. How true this is can be deduced from the fact that when the dynamic mayor, Keshab Sthapit, went ahead with his ambitious plans to beautify the Capital, it was not one of the only two landscape architects who was asked to advise and implement. Rather, the so called beautification involved but a few traffic islands where a bit of gardening was done by some people who were really not professionals. No doubt, Bharat Sharma must have felt a bit put off then not to have been consulted in his capacity. This example, more than anything else,­ should lay to rest any thoughts that here, expertise and wisdom are not as valued as they should be.

And so, the degree from Harvard hangs but as a fond memory in Bharat Sharma’s room in his house in 178, Char Narayan Marg in Maligaon which he shares with his wife, Kusum, who has been a teacher all her life and teaches at Shivpuri H.S School in Maharajgunj. The son, Vision, a mechanical engineer, and his wife, Nitin, an electrical engineer, live in Toronto while a daughter, Kuntal, along with her husband, Prajwol, have migrated to Sydney with their two daughters. And so, Bharat Sharma has worked for most of his life at the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, where he was once the Deputy Director General. And so, today he is a free lance Environmental Planner as well as a Professor of Architecture in Nepal Engineering College in Changu Narayan, Bhaktapur. And so, when you ask him about what can be done about the laxity in implementing building laws, he has no answer really. And so, when you ask him about what should be done to ensure safety and safe practices in construction, he has no real answer. Perhaps he has seen and heard it all and the long years in a corrupt and floundering bureaucratic set up has made him into a lifelong cynic.

Which is of course not to say that he is not mindful of what is happening and one cannot say that he is not concerned. For instance he points out the need to discourage large constructions in places where the infrastructure is flimsy. For example, “I think the government should stop putting in so much money in further developing the Dasrath Stadium. It is in a commercial location and right next to a very busy street where even in normal times the traffic is quite chaotic.” Also, “The large business complexes that we see coming up in congested areas will pose grave threat to public safety and will only contribute to more traffic traumas.”

Even the Tundhikhel grounds which he says are the lungs of the city hasn’t made him happy as far its further beautification is concerned. “Just imagine, this large public place is surrounded by a fence that is ten feet high! Where is the consideration to public safety? I call it a jailed environment.” Similarly, Bharat Sharma has a very valid point to make about the real problems with the mass housing developments that seem to be the flavour of the day. “You know, this city lacks most of the basic infrastructural facilities. For instance even if Melamchi were to supply water to Kathmandu, it is certain that scarcity will again be felt ten years down the line. The less said about drainage and sewerage, the better. And what to say about our narrow roads? Under such circumstances, it is difficult to imagine how big apartment complexes will be able to fulfill basic demands to a large number of residents.”

Bharat Sharma seems to be a deep admirer of Malla period architecture, at least in the context of the particular geological and topographical aspects of the valley. This is why he admires them so: “Many of the habitats were built on ‘tars’, meaning ‘uplands’. They appreciated the importance of preserving agricultural land. The communities were compact and since many of the infrastructural facilities like water spouts and squares were shared, they were enough. The ‘guthi’ system was another excellent idea to cater to community needs.”

The landscape architect was born in Janakpur on 15^th January 1945. He did his Diploma in Civil Engineering from Lucknow, received his Architectural Diploma from Kaulalumpur, Malaysia, and B.Arch degree from Baroda, India. In 1980 he passed out from Harvard with a Masters in Landscape Architecture. He has spent about 35 years at the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction where he first started his service in 1964 and from where he retired on July 25, 2001. At the Institute of Engineering, Bharat Sharma has taught M.Sc students of Urban Planning, landscape and environmental planning since the beginning of the course.

The architect seems to prefer a low key life but at the same time he claims, “I have very strong convictions.” Still, it is obvious that the Harvard graduate does not want to go out of his way to rock the boat. However, he does admit that earlier, he was known for his outspokenness and as a man who did not flinch from voicing opinions which men with lesser convictions would have found impossible to. He reveals that he was the first one to go to court in an attempt to preserve Louis Kahn’s design of the Ministry of Health in Thapathali. If asked for, Bharat Sharma, even today, doesn’t mind being forthright and to the point. Therefore, when asked to speak his mind on ways to utilize the remaining open spaces of Kathmandu, he says, “I don’t see why there should be police quarters around Ranipokhari and Kamalpokhari areas. It just doesn’t make sense.  As far as the green belt around the ring road is concerned it should, first and foremost, be safeguarded. As for Tinkune, it should be approached with a total landscape solution where both hard and soft landscaping ought to be implemented and in which, a natural setting will predominate.”

The architect has been a past president of the Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA) as well as of Nepal Environmental Group (NECG) and also General Secretary of the Harvard Club in Nepal. He has been a member of various NGOs and other bodies associated with environmental work and is at present, the president of Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD). He is also an elected member of the Nepal Engineering Council. ­Bharat Sharma believes architecture to be a ‘social art’ which is ‘the ­biggest indicator of human civilization’. But, he says, “In this context we seem to be taking architecture very lightly.”

About his particular specialty he explains, “The basis of all architecture is landscaping.” Explaining further, he adds, “External and internal spaces should blend well. If external space is fluid and dynamic then it will flow into the interior space and vice versa.” The architect has been responsible for the environmental planning and landscaping of the Nagarjun Palace as well as for the landscape design work in the back quadrangle of the Royal Palace. He has also done the landscaping for the Prime Minister’s residence and was involved in the conceptual master plan of a park on the Ring Road in Maharajgunj. He was responsible for the environmental planning of the Canadian Health Project in Dhankuta, and in Biratnagar, for the landscape design for Rastra Bank Complex. In Pokhara, he was assigned the work of conceptual environmental master plan of the Western Region Campus and was the coordinator for the draft master plan of Devghat in Chitwan.

One of his greatest achievements has been as Master Planner to work out the conceptual master plan for the Pashupati Development Trust. Another feat has been this work in the environmental, enhancement and design aspects of Bhrikutimandap garden in context to the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu. Bharat Sharma appears to be passionate about his calling and says, “Landscape is external architecture, which, if done in a creative way, is really exciting.” He adds, “My work focuses around built environments.” He has co-authored a book - Historic City of Asia, Kathmandu - and written a number of articles on architecture, urbanization, environmental planning and ecology. About architectural trends in the country, he believes, “The Malla period architecture is Nepal’s own. After that there was a period in which designs and ideas were imported from abroad. Modern Nepalese architecture started with Gangadhar Bhatta Halbe’s designs.” Bharat Sharma also has the highest regard for professionals like Shanker Nath Rimal (with whose firm he was associated for some time), Bibhuti Man Singh and Deepak Sherchan besides others. Among the younger architects, Bharat Sharma admires works by many of the newer generation, including Arun Dev Pant and Sarosh Pradhan.

According to the landscape architect, “Architects should embrace architecture in its totality and keep in mind factors like the soil where they come from, as well as the prevailing culture, when designing. Besides, good architecture should not only be a prerogative of the rich, but of all classes of society.” About the overhead bridges being constructed all over the city, Sharma says, “Their visual quality is horrible.” He should know. As a man who has aesthetics at the top of his mind when on the job as an environmental planner and landscape architect, Bharat Sharma’s words have to be given due thought. 

The Man who would be Monk

He has an impressive lineage. One of the so-called three diamonds of Nepal, the great litterateur, Paras Mani Pradhan, was his grandfather. His father, Kalu Pradhan, was the first Nepali to become Superintendent of Police of Darjeeling District. Both are no more today and now it is upto Architect Narendra Pradhan to keep the impressive family history going. Will he be able to add another chapter, as illustrious, to his family line?

Time will tell no doubt, but the way he has been making a name for himself in the field of architecture, foretells great things for the near future. Narendra was born on March 15^th 1947, which makes him 57 years of age. In all these years he has attained a wealth of experience in his chosen field of work and today can be said to be especially renowned for his work in building monasteries. Oh yes, Narendra Pradhan has built so many monasteries that he admits, "I have lost count."

He has designed and built monasteries in many cities around the globe: New York, Hamburg, Sydney and Taipei as well as in Himachal Pradesh and Bodhgaya in India besides of course quite a few all over Sikkim. There are no statistics as yet but it is probable that Narendra Pradhan could be one of the world's leaders in designing and building monasteries. To a query about whether he is a Buddhist, Narendra had something interesting to reveal, " Actually we are Shakyas and our origins are in Patan but you know how it was in those days, the minute you crossed Mechi river, you became a Pradhan!" He is of course referring to the well-known fact that there are many in Darjeeling who use the surname of 'Pradhan' although they might not strictly be 'Pradhans' in the real sense.

Narendra Pradhan was born in Darjeeling and went to St. Joseph's School. He passed out in 1962 along with famous classmates like His Majesty the Late King Birendra, ex-minister Keshav Budhathoki and the Bhutanese Regent, the present King's uncle, Paro Penlop. From 1964 to 1969 he studied architecture in Maulana Azad College of Technology in Bhopal from where he received his Bachelor's.

In the beginning Narendra had the opportunity of working with renowned Architect Weise and was involved in the design and construction of the Chauni barracks, the Annapurna Hotel and SOS Children's Home in Sano Thimi. "Weise was a very good teacher," remembers Narendra. " I learnt a lot from him." In 1975 he, along with Rajaram Bhandari, Ashish Giri and Tom Crees established the consulting firm BDA. "I brought in Tom Crees. He was working as an overseer, but he had such talent in freehand drawings and sketches that I knew he would be a good asset." Time has proven Narendra right as Tom Crees has gone on to become a famous name in the field. Narendra himself went to America in 1984 and completed his Master's from the University of Southern California in 1987.

Narendra Pradhan's visiting card describes him as a Chartered Architect. He explains, " One has to be a member of the Council of Architects of India to be a Chartered Architect. I think there are only two or three more besides myself in Nepal." According to him, becoming a member of this prestigious council means that one has to abide by certain codes of conduct as befitting such a noble profession. Narendra Pradhan is also a member of the Indian Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Architects (Los Angeles Chapter). He was also a founding member of the Royal Art Council of Nepal. It would be of interest also to know that in 1977, Narendra had started work on establishing what was to be called the Royal Institute of Nepal Architects. So, what happened? " The first meeting was well attended. The second had fewer attendees and by the third meeting there were hardly any people present!"  Small wonder then that the plan fizzled out in no time at all.

It is not that Narendra Pradhan only makes monasteries. Far from it. Architectural achievments like the Haathiban Resort, the Shangrila Hotel, the Malla Hotel, the Lukla Resort and the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, are only a few of his outstanding works. It is only in recent years that Narendra has been specializing in monasteries. One cannot really blame him because his fame goes before him and anyone who thinks of building a monastery, first thinks of him.

While remembering some of his projects, he has fond memories of Haathiban Resort that was started in 1987. " The project was initially started by SriRam Mathema and Associates. I was called in only after four columns had already been built," he reminisces. "I had to work around these columns and digging up the bar area was a difficult task. In addition, since there was no road, we had to do with local materials and that is why you will find that we have used mostly quarry stone and mud mortar. And of course, being a forest reservation, no trees could be felled."

Another problem that put Narendra in a dilemma was deciding whether to have the rooms face south (to catch the sun), or to have them face north (because the view was, and is, mind boggling). " We finally decided that it was worth catching a little cold for the magnificent view and so had the rooms face north." Narendra also let us know that he was the one to bring in Desmond Doig to do the landscaping and interior designs of Shangrila Hotel in 1978. He adds, " Of course now I think there is precious little left of the original interiors in Shangrila."

Narendra is much in demand in Sikkim where his wife, Om, is an instructor in a teacher's training institute in Gangtok. Doesn't he find it a bit difficult to live here while his wife is in Gangtok? To this he says half jokingly," The secret of staying young is to live far from your wife, to have young people around you and to think young." No doubt the last two can be agreed to but we hope that the first is only a joke! Narendra's brother Jivan is a retired tea planter; one sister, Chandra runs the Shishu Niketan School while another sister, Rupa, lives in Kalimpong. He has one daughter who is an architect herself.

The Sikkim pavilions designed by Narendra were recipients of the gold medal in the Delhi International Trade Fairs in 1977 and 1981. At the moment he is involved in the Government of Sikkim's plans to build a Bhanubhakta Memorial Cultural Academy that will serve as an academy for research of the Nepali language. "It's a huge project and will be spread over 18 hectares in Kyongsa, Geyzing in west Sikkim," says Narendra. " At first they were thinking of erecting a massive statue as a memorial to Bhanubhakta. I suggested the idea to have an academy instead."

Back in Nepal, Narendra has designed the Nepal Amitabha Buddha Society Project in Sitapaila, of which the main building has been completed. A 165 feet tall statue of Amitabha Buddha will be the high point of the project. Similarly, another big project on which he is busy is the Amitabha Foundation Retreat Center in Kopan that he believes will be finished in three years. The Kathmandu Temple Project in Jyatha is going on at the moment, " It is very traditional and no expense is being spared. A single traditional window can cost above Rs. 2 Lakhs!" 

Besides these, Narendra is also designing the Lumbini Mikasa Hotel in Lumbini that will have 30 rooms in the first phase and 30 more in the next. One project that had to be shelved, and one he was really excited about, was the Gurkha Village Resort in Pokhara, "It would have spread over 300 ropanies and would have had six villages of different ethnic groups, such as Newars, Gurungs, Tharus and so on. Besides, we also had plans to have a 'Hatiya Bazaar' in the resort just like a village 'haat bazaar'.

Outside Nepal, Narendra will soon be starting work on an interesting project, the Amitabha Foundation Meditation Center in Bodhgaya that is designed on what he says is a 'Dharmachakra concept', "From above, the site will look like a prayer wheel". And in Taipei he will be doing the Shien Shah Complex that will have conference facilities for 10000 people. " I haven't as yet worked in Japan," he says. The day is not far off is what an observer might respond with!

Narendra has the highest regard for the works of Architect Dipak Sherchan, and thinks that the architecture of Heritage Plaza is just great. And of course he is all admiration for Tom Crees, "His Springside Resort is fantastic." Narendra also adds, " And oh yes, those Nagpurias in Design Cell are also doing a great job. I like their work"

Narendra himself is of course as great a source of admiration and inspiration for others in the field. His office has four young architects whom he terms associates and whom he encourages to try out new ideas without fear of failure. His advice to new architects and students is that they should use freehand more often and not be too dependent on only computers, "I myself sketch out my concepts using freehand first when approaching a project."

Narendra is also unhappy at the present state of affairs and says wistfully, "I wish I could employ a lot more young architects in my firm, there are so many looking for a job. But what to do, times are bad."

The Fountainhead

Preparing for Disaster

On Earthquake Safety Day, 14 January 2005, Bibhuti Man Singh, Chief Architect of Technical Interface, Thamel, was awarded a certificate of appreciation signed by the Prime Minister. The certificate lauds the eminent architect's contribution towards increasing awareness in society about disaster management in case an earthquake occurs. As the silvered haired, 54 year old architect says, “We cannot know exactly when an earthquake of immense magnitude will strike us, but it is certain that one is due soon. The law of averages point towards this fact.”

As he says this, one is struck by the conviction in his manner at such a stark statement. He continues, “For the last five years I have been obsessed with the subject of disaster management. Since there is not much one can do or expect from authorities in case of a huge earthquake, it is only logical that we should prepare ourselves to the best of our capacities.” He is the president of Ward Number 13 Disaster Management Committee and they conduct periodic ‘earthquake fairs’ in their locality where community members are made aware about ways and means to prevent greater loss of life in case of an earthquake.

Among other things, ward members are told about higher safety zones in their localities where they are asked to seek safety. As the architect says, “Every buildings have certain spots where the structures are relatively stronger. In case of an earthquake, people usually tend to panic and seek shelter in places like, for example, below the staircases, which in fact are quite unsafe. As an architect I consider it my duty to inform them about such things.”  And when a learned man like Bibhuti Man is so worried about an earthquake of great magnitude striking the country any time soon, it is but natural that others should take serious notice. At the same time, the architect hopes, “No doubt an earthquake might strike us any moment, but I do pray that we have another ten years time before the next big one occurs.” He believes that if given this amount of time, disaster management programs in all wards of the Capital would be in place and most people would be able to react with greater efficiency due to the increased awareness. He adds, “It is people like us whom the community look up to, who have to be leaders on this issue.”

The Man from Chaksibari

Not only does his status as a leading architect make him a natural leader, but the very fact that his address says, 147/65 Chaksibari Marg, should further reinforce the fact. Born on 6th April 1950 to Shanker Man Singh and Narayani Devi Shrestha, Bibhuti Man is the nephew of the late Ganesh Man Singh whose son, Prakash Man, currently a Minister, is Bibhuti Man's first cousin. He has two elder brothers, Trailokya and Mahendra, who are both into politics. Bibhuti Man has two sisters, Nirmala Malla, who is a medical doctor and Prafulla Rajbhandari, a freelance artist.

Taking into consideration the fact that the architect is so closely related to one of the leading political families in Nepal, it is surprising to know that Bibhuti Man himself is least interested in politics. In fact he seems positively disdainful towards politics and politicians in general. He reveals, “I have seen politics from close quarters and have therefore no illusions about the level of both politics and politicians.”

Bibhuti Man did his SLC from JP High School in 1965 and college from Amrit Science Campus. He then won a scholarship to study architecture in Lahore and passed out in 1972 with a B.Arch degree from West Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology. As he says, “I always liked to sketch and make models and I guess that is why I chose architecture.” In 1978, Bibhuti Man went to Japan to do a Post Graduate training through a JICA sponsored program under the auspices of the Housing Corporation of Japan.

Life and Love

Today, after more than thirty years in the profession, this is what the eminent architect has to say about his vocation, “I think architecture is the best profession in the world because it involves and affects every section of society. Architecture is life itself!” When asked to give three reasons for his belief, he says, “Firstly, architecture is one of the most creative among all other professions fields. Secondly, there is immense diversity and scope in this line of work. And thirdly, architecture is a profession that can be said to be a about life itself.”

A poem written by him hangs on a wall in his office in which the first stanza reads, ‘Could not find You / Looked instead / At Art and Architecture / For Eternity itself.’ Doubtless, Bibhuti Man Singh is deeply in love with his vocation. Perhaps only his love for his nine-month old grand daughter, Yeshaswi, is greater than that towards his work. “I look forward to each Saturday when my daughter, Varsha, visits me along with my grand daughter. I am sometimes amazed at how fast time passes on such Saturdays.”

Bibhuti Man and his wife, Usha, also have a son, Barun, who works as an IT programmer in Singapore. Varsha has studied interior design although she has never practiced it professionally. It does seem that Bibhuti Man is a blessed man, both professionally as well as personally. Even if so, the second stanza of the aforementioned poem does say, ‘Do Not Find You / Lost instead / In Man and Community / As Eternity itself.’ Perhaps an unfortunate emotional experience in his younger days could have made him write these words. Only he himself knows.

Flowering after Fifty

Bibhuti Man's professional life began in the Bhavan Bibhag where he worked for seven years and was in the Surkhet Valley Physical Planning Team under a person he really admires, Madhav Bhakta Mathema. “Yes, you can say that he had a great influence on my life and was in fact an inspiration to me,” admits Bibhuti Man. “He was one of the most dedicated men I have ever known, and was driven by the desire to excel in his work.  He later settled down in Japan, maybe after seeing that here, in Nepal, his efforts were not as well recognized or rewarded as they deserved to be.”

The silver haired architect is of the opinion that an architect starts to flower only after he is fifty although he does have immense admiration for the works of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatriva who presently practices in Switzerland. “He is in his late forties and is both an architect and a structural engineer. His designs, including the main structure of the last Greek Olympic Games, are indeed outstanding.” Similarly, Bibhuti Man shows great respect for Frank Lloyd Wright whose works, he says, ‘touches the heart’.

Unfortunately, the architect doesn't have any great opinions about Nepalese architects and their works while at the same time is extremely self critical of his own work and believes that “The best is yet to come.” However, he concedes that the Health Ministry building in Ram Shah Path, designed by Louis Kahn, is worthy of mention specially since, “Some of the architecture in this building is both aesthetically pleasing and at the same time, functionally effective.” The Lumbini Development Trust designed by Kenzo Tanga is another work that Bibhuti Man thinks is exceptional. About newer architects in the country, Bibhuti Man thinks that some of them are indulging in 'post modern excesses' and are designing buildings with no regard to logic nor rationale.

Bibhuti Man himself does not consider any of his numerous works to be perfect, and referring to traditional designs associated with him, like Dwarika's Hotel, says, “I didn't really do anything. All I did was fit in the ancient pieces, collected over the years, in appropriate places, so that the hotel would have all required modern facilities, while at the same time retain traditional exteriors.” He further adds, “Working with traditional designs is a humbling experience.” He is obviously referring to the fact that in the ancient days craftsmen and builders could come up with such exquisite works even without the knowledge and technology available today. Maybe that is why he says, “Architecture is an ‘umbrella’ term and one doesn't really need a formal qualification to be an architect.”

The Knowledge Gatherer

Listening to him, one gets the impression that this eminent architect is quite the learned man and when one gets to know that he is a voracious reader of speculative science fiction, philosophy and new age literature, then one will certainly not doubt it. He has been reading science fiction since he was a kid and his favourite authors include Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Paul Anderson, Ray Bradbury and Carl Sagan, all science fiction writers. Small wonder then, that the third stanza of his poem reads, 'Will not find you / Drawn instead / To Science and Technology / Through Eternity itself'. 

“And yes, I also love Woody Allen's writings. They're really funny,” he laughs. He has read ‘The Fountainhead’ by Ayn Rand, three times. “That Howard Roark, he's something else, right?” he exclaims. At the moment he is reading ‘Concepts of Space-Ancient and Modern’ by Kapila Vatsyayan. And it is only to be expected that the final stanza of Bibhuti Man's poem should read thus, ‘Cannot find you / Content instead / With Knowledge and Wisdom / Of Eternity itself.’

Designed to Impress

Bibhuti Man's first work as an architect was designing a campus for health workers in Surkhet. Since then, among his innumerable works are the Park Village Resort in Budanilkantha, the Club Himalayan in Nagarkot, the Himalayan Bank building in Birganj and some large commercial buildings in Biratnagar. One of his more recent designs was  the residential complex for Dinesh Lal Shrestha of ICTC in Bhainsepati. “It is a ten thousand square feet building, built within ten ropanies of land and involved extensive landscaping as well. Can you imagine, it was designed and constructed in just fourteen months!” One of Bibhuti Man's magnum opuses has been the award winning Himalayan Pavilion in Hanover during the Expo 2000 in Germany. “For the five months that it was held, our pavilion was always placed among the top five every month as the 'most favored pavilion'.”

No wonder then, that the renowned architect was commemorated with a plaque from the Society of Consulting Architectural and Engineering Firms (SCAEF) on January,10, 2001 for his ‘…outstanding works in the International and National arena for the promotion of Traditional Heritage.’ Bibhuti Man informs that among his current projects are several pavilion design proposals for exhibitions in European countries and "there are several speculative projects that I cannot mention as it is all confidential." However, he does reveal that he is involved in designing truly affordable housing projects, the complete designs of which he is planning to bring out in a book form in the near future. In fact, Bibhuti Man is quite enamoured with this project as he is rather critical of the housing projects at present and says, “The current designs of the housing settlements are too low in density with no communal areas. Besides, most of them have only linear planning.” He blames the architects involved for this and thinks that it is their responsibility to keep in view overall concepts while designing such settlements. “They must realize that architecture is much more than just building houses. Architecture involves and affects life itself so a much wider conceptualisation as well as its impact on society as a whole has to be kept in mind while designing.”

Back to Basics-Disaster Management

The architect’s obsession with disaster management has lead him to play a pivotal role in shaping guidelines and government policies on construction in general. Besides this, at community level, he has initiated design clinics in his ward, where once a week, free advice is given on ways and means to build or make existing houses safer. He believes that it is quite expensive to reinforce existing structures but that, “some minimal steps can be taken to retro-fit them. This will hardly cost Rs.20000 to Rs.25000 for a normal sized house - which can be done in phases costing about Rs.5000.00 - but will make houses fairly safe against earthquakes.”

Of course, at the end of it all, he does admit, “There are so many old houses in the city that in the event of a major earthquake, there is little that can be done except to prepare residents beforehand so that less lives are lost.”