November 2019: Peace building Memorial and Learning center

1. PBM&LC
November, 2019
Photographic journey
Author: Shirshak Baniya
For Nagarik Aawaz
Nawalpur

2. New journey in my life
Working with abari bamboo and earth initiative for 2
years at dhulikhel, chitwan and surkhet, it was a time
for me to switch to another new team. After 2 month
of vacation from surkhet I was invited by architect
prabal thapa at his studio at Kathmandu to discuss on
possible collaboration that we could initiate as a
I was always a admirer of Architect Thapa’s practice of
employing eco friendly materials into building. I also
could explore his design of kopila valley school being
constructed, when I was working as a project
for abari bamboo at surkhet. Our very first meetup
helped each other to know our individual possibilities
and limitation to join in a team. My intention was not
to be based in Kathmandu. Architect Emil Shrestha
just returned from Nawalpur and he introduced me in
more detail about a peace building memorial and
learning centre (PBM&LC).
© ganga sagar rai

3. Alliance with PTA
Architect Emil Shrestha was on a medical leave so
there was a absence of resource person at site in
Nawalpur to execute kitchen and toilet building. I was
requested to bridge the gap between architect Emil
Shrestha and site worker.
Nagarik aawaz founded in 2001 AD by Rita Thapa to
work for conflict affected and displaced community
was the client of this project.
Together with a meeting with architects and client at
prabal thapa architects (PTA) i decided to work in a
client’s team.
I was designated as Field architect for Nagarik Aawaz
working 15 days a month at Nawalpur site. PTA will be
working on design and I was suppose to create and
coordinate a community mobilization for initial 6
month.
© prabal thapa architects

4. About Client Nagarik Aawaz
Nagarik Aawaz especially works with youths and
women in peacebuilding activity by offering
workshops, training and leadership skill.
Youths who are misused by small groups for their
interest and women who face violence from family to
communal level are the target group of this
organization.
Nagarik aawaz (NA) at first grows a interpersonal
change in the individual of displaced and conflict
affected community. This Ngo has headquarter at
Kathmandu and works at regional level especially in
Nawalpur and Sarlahi. NA owns 1.36 ha land at
Nawalpur.
Nawalpur lies in the midpoint of east west highway.
Prabal thapa Architect in late 2018 conceptualized the
physical master plan for Nagarik Aawaz as Peace
building memorial and learning center (PBM&LC).

5. Understanding the geography
My fact of accepting this new challenge was primarily
the mobility, geography and timeline of this project.
The site is located 200 km away to west from capital
Kathmandu. The site is 1 hour away from Chitwan.
a journey to my hometown Hetauda from the site
would take 3 hour on bus.
Previously when I was employee at surkhet, travel
journey was always exhausting limiting friends and
family visit. It was almost 600 km away from
Kathmandu. It was a full time job where it was hard to
manage vacation and break unless every 3 month.
Nawalpur’s climate reaches to 36 degree Celsius in
summer. The geography is a plain land here. Site is
close to the Narayani River. The mobility and hot
climate of the site attracted me to pursue this project.

6. Programs and user group
Prabal Thapa Architects in the physical development
plan describes the interaction of user and building
two halves.
Active interaction happens between one or two
individuals through workshop, training and seminars.
This finishes building entity like training halls, event
halls, dormitory in a social scale.
Passive interaction arises in individuals themselves
through self practice and interest through reading,
writing, watching and listening. This recruits building
component like library, AV room, research house.
Architects has approach to use materials. skills and
local technology of Indeginous Tharu Inhabitant
around the site. Development of micro climate and
lands within the site are also the essential tactic
adopted by architects.

7. Collaborative process
The scope of this project is to create and expand
communal ownership. The centre is located at Sehari
village of Nawalpur. In the physical development
Prabal thapa architects quotes that this centre is a
home for communal interaction and participation
where the stories of civil war, ethnic intolerance,
gender inequality and social disputes are shared and
discussed.
Architect prabal thapa cited that general public and
neighbourhood of the Sehari village has to be
in various stage of project implementation. The
physical construction of the building will be facilitated
by the local people through participation and
collaboration.
Identification of local workers, labourers, craftsmen at
village will be followed with pairing of expert and
technicians of city. This cross collaboration will
relationship and trust to achieve our common goal.

8. New identity for Nawalpur
Working in a project at village always entices me.
are a lot of things that we can learn from the culture
and technology of village.
The rural technology were contributed by our
ancestors and abandoned by the modern generation.
believe the village culture and tradition in art, craft,
agriculture and architecture are the subject where we
can extemporize a lot to update the legacy of village.
Here in the conceptual physical plan by prabal thapa
architects, the team exquisitely composes a new
identity for architecture of Nawalpur.
The fundamentals of human scale, building geometry,
micro climate, local materials are the basics for the
continuation of village character. At the same time
addition of contemporary amenities and service adds
rudiments of distinctness from the existing village.
© prabal thapa architects

9. Timeline/Challenge/Opportunity
The project seems highly collaborative. In my
experience the project would take minimum 5 years
finish all the infrastructure if everything goes well with
budget and manpower.
In precedent analysis of kopila valley school, surkhet
the project was tied up with strong preparation and
direction from client team. The client team had
employed their own full time site engineers and
architects who used to monitor daily construction
as per the drawings and guidelines.
The most challenging part in any project
implementation is the coordination between the
stakeholders and consultants. To balance and
the thought of artisans, designers, advisors and
is a dare task I believe which if executed with passion
and purpose, it results collective products from
individual talents.
© prabal thapa architects

11. Meet up with client
After attending series of meetup with architects it was
time for me to understand the client background and
their organizational structure.
Founded in 2001 AD by Rita thapa Nagarik Aawaz
born in the crises of forceful conflicts to establish non
violent campaign for economic and psychosocial
wellbeing of conflict affected individuals.
The team has set of more than 28 human resources
working in the field of peace building. I was delighted
to know that Rita Thapa who is the prominent role
model for women empowerment and peace was also
in the team.
Rita Thapa is also recognized for her pioneering work
in founding Tewa in 1995 AD. Tewa works for
empowerment of emerging women's groups in
Tewa works with a vision where all women enjoy their
rights, freedom and peace.
© ganga sagar rai

12. Precedent Tour
Nagarik aawaz shares a office space inside the TEWA
complex. Back in 2017 AD while I was doing
architecture thesis I was came to know about TEWA.
was made possible through design competition.
Sarosh Pradhan architect was the wining designer.
TEWA houses office space, accommodation, training
halls, amphitheatre for various events and
programmes.
It was always my dream to visit TEWA one day. And
finally after 2 years it actually happened. Founder Rita
thapa shared me her story in coordinating and
realizing TEWA in a physical form. Ganga sagar rai
is a Communication manager at Nagarik aawaz
me to tour the TEWA complex. The amphitheatre
complex was phenomenal. I didn’t knew these kind of
space exists in Kathmandu valley. All materials were
baked bricks and stones. This shows the inclination of
client team towards rawness and truth to material. I
was glad to see client have been living in this kind of
natural texture and form which wont be new to them
proposed in future.

13. Precedent Tour
Fair faced brick were exposed in their original texture.
The conventional practice in Nepal is to plaster the
brick wall and again to paint the surface which I feel
odd.
The shallow recess in the wall for lights and storage
were derivates from temple architecture. The high
sense of detail was played in typography to
communicate with the user.
These small details are actually the one which
completes the wonder of building. I could actually
learn possibilities in the material and color through
tour.

14. Precedent Tour
Even the interiors were remarkable. The partition wall
were very organic. The thin bamboo were weaved
through metal frames.
This again portrayed my devotion toward the
of client with local materials. They have been a part
this design and they are using these feature interiors
their daily office life.
The more I was moving in and out of the room, I was
subjected to new dimension on the creativity level of
the building.

15. Precedent Tour
Art were echoed in the wall with countless details of
figure. The training halls looked like a fictional space.
All the handwork of craftsmen and artist were
to observe.
Distinction of black and white colour were interplayed
in the inside space. The roof beams were not just the
structural beam only, they were the canvass for artist
to fill up the surface with the organic motif.

16. Precedent Tour
TEWA was a benchmark for me to think ahead on
what level of finishing and aesthetic a building has to
stance.
The maintenance strategy were well equipped with
active team. Now a days I find the effort and passion
client to maintain the built fabric and structure very
less. With out proper maintenance every one targets
achieve wonder in their building for years and years.
Tour at TEWA guided me to changeround on
ambience of interior office space, the fusion of natural
and modern material, the organic expression and
to material.
This tour has helped me a lot to know the inclination
of client towards minimalism and preservation of the
built structure.

17. Nawalpur arrival
Finally it was the time to head towards Nawalpur site.
Communication manager Ganga Sagar Rai at
Kathmandu had coordinated the information of my
arrival to Nawalpur Nagarik aawaz. The five hour bus
drive from Kathmandu to Nawalpur was pleasant.
I had a night stay at the hotel of Chormara, Nawalpur.
Chormara is a small city which is a gate way towards
the southern village and Narayani river.
The next day I headed to Panauti, Nawalpur with
Sovakant Lamsal. Mr. Lamsal is a local residing in
Nawalpur who is a programme coordinator at
Aawaz. I joined the community ward level orientation
and interaction programme conducted by Nagarik
aawaz at Bhandara, Nawalpur.

18. Nawalpur Friends
One of the interesting part of this event was to see
youth presenting content of the event through A1
paper and pen. In the village where resources like
limited, the medium of technique was fascinating for
me to see for the first time.
We had a round of introduction session to get us
each other. I became familiar with the friends and
family of Nagarik aawaz Nawalpur.

20. Village study
The anterior veranda space is the heart of every
The essential movement of the user happens here.
plays in this semi covered space. This also acts as a
barrier for direct sun and rain exposure. The bright
colours are used to highlight the house. Corrugated
iron sheet is most practiced in roof construction.

21. Village study
Sun basking in the winter is a culture here. The
minimum temperature reaches to 7.4 degree Celsius
during winter. These are followed by low clouds of
which last for a week sometime.
The space for drying clothes and crops are adjusted
every house.

22. Village study
Primitive house at village are found with character of
minimalism. Small window to block sunlight and heat
creates low light in the interior. The door panels are
masculine and symmetrical in size and pattern.
The walls are made up of mud and bamboo frame.
Structural dampness from the ground floor is the
major problem for these wall.

23. Village study
The built structure in the village are always in human
scale to the surrounding. Raised platform on the
of the building are used as a seating space. The
is used frequently as a mobility standard here in
village. Everyone pursuit for the shaded structure in
this tropical hot climate. The landscape are usually
with rain permeable layer.

24. Village study
Here in the village 1 day house campaign is a very
famous. In this technique precast concrete pole are
fixed as a vertical structural member and cgi sheet
attached to the metal rafter. Mostly these were used
create animal shade where as now a days this is
replicated to two storey residence construction too.

25. Village study
Picture in left shows the ongoing shift of the
here in village. Brick wall are practiced by people here
to minimize dampness of ground floor. Cgi is still
running its regime.

27. PBM&LC Utility block
Govinda ji guided me reached at the PBM&LC site.
The site is located at Sehari village of Nawalpur.
Recently a 5 room utility block was designed by
thapa architects and built by contractor AM
construction. This utility block has two guest room for
visitors, two meeting room, one store and two
washroom.
I was the first guest at this utility house and this will
my home now onwards.
The building was raised in pilotis and it is completely
load bearing structure with exposed brick wall.
Raising the building with pilotis in this climate helps to
prevent from flood water and dampness. The care
taker had made a vegetable garden underneath the
structure.

28. PBM&LC Utility block
This building was a steeping stone towards the
initiation of development of physical infrastructure for
pbm&lc project. This was built with contractor
bidding process.
The building faces towards north. The front anterior
space is about 5 feet wide which acts a living corridor.
the finished floor is a cement punning with a square
pattern box.
The roofing is cgi sheet with cement board as a
insulation material. These roof structure are
by metal frame.
The skirting was provided on the lower part of brick
wall. Since the brick are porous the windy rain and
daily floor cleaning can generate dampness. So this
cement punning skirting were very useful to minimize
wetness of brick wall during monsoon and cleaning.

29. PBM&LC Utility block
I had only heard that prabal thapa architects usually
doesn’t prefer wall tiles and floor tiles in bathroom.
This was true to experience with cement punning
surface here at Sehari.
This punning surface works decent against water. The
patch of the cement was creating its own texture
looked raw. The bathroom has a functional niche to
put soap and shampoo.
We actually do not care these kind of simple details
that adds practical function to the space. Hot water
and cold water was both made possible in this utility
bathroom.

30. PBM&LC Utility block
There was the provision of outdoor washing station.
future this building will function as a housekeeping
unit. All the rain water were drained to the ground
gutters and upvc pipe. The red bricks were
with yellow sill and lintel bands.
The whole thing looked raw and minimalist. The
and electrical pipeline were exposed. This opens up
comprehensive flexibility to the repair and
maintenance of the building in future.
The roof were all made slope of about 30 degree. But
the toilet block in middle was flat roof to
accommodate the water service element like water
tank, solar heater and pipelines. This really helped to
break the monotony of linear slope roof. The building
is approximately 70 feet long. The 18 feet by 8 feet
roof above toilet block was ideal to hold service
element in this utility block.

31. PBM&LC Utility block
I feel honoured to be a first guest at the guest room.
There are two existing room well equipped with
furniture's and accessories.
The furniture are all pure wood and is very heavy.
These were fabricated by team of artisan at Gaidakot
which is 50 km away from Sehari.
Each of the room looks modular which has interior
of 12 feet by 9 feet.
The ceiling height is about 15 feet from floor to top of
the slope roof. The ventilation are provided in two
opposite north and south walls. The interior of three
wall are brick exposed where as one wall is painted
yellow colour over cement plastered surface. This
approach would break the flatness of brick wall and
highlights one wall for visual stability.

32. PBM&LC future kitchen block
This foundation is a spot for future kitchen. The
foundation work were designed and supervised by
architect Emil Shrestha from prabal thapa architects.
Architect Shrestha is on a medical leave so I will be
responsible for design and construction of super
structure of kitchen and toilet.
This kitchen and dining will serve for the future
construction workers and caretaker of the pbm&lc.
The foundation are load bearing brick wall. the area
foundation is 9 feet by 18 feet. My first phase of work
would be interacting with the users of this kitchen
revise the drawing provided by Architect Emil
After we prepare with manpower and material we
begin the construction work.

33. PBM&LC future toilet block
The toilet block has two unit of toilet with Indian pan
type. One unit is dedicated to shower. These three
shares a washing station at entrance of the toilet
the reason behind incorporating the Indian pan toilet
is to adjust with the lifestyle of village. They are not
familiar with commode. The Indian pan toilet are cost
effective and easy to install in village.
The shower unit will help the future construction
workers who will be part of pbm&lc infrastructure
development project.
The washing station will have sink for toilet and
as a whole which will facilitate the mass dish washing
during small events and training programme.

35. Life in village
Agriculture is the major source of livelihood here at
Sehari village. Sugarcane was the major cash crops
before. But now a days farmers has stopped
farming due to weak market. Mustard grows annually.
Most of the household has kitchen garden. The
has its own sustainable cycle of farming and
consuming their own agricultural product.
The buffer zone of Chitwan national is close to the
The Narayani river system has rich flora and fauna.
villager finds very hard to safeguard the agriculture
crops from rhino, deer and wild elephants.

36. Life in village
Joint family gathers in the open space to process
agricultural product. Sun drying are carried out for
curing of crops and seeds. All these harvested crops
with seed are stacked temporarily in the veranda of
house.

37. Life in village
This is the permanent store for agricultural product.
These are made with wooden plank with cgi roof at
with large overhang. It is raised from ground level to
protect from dampness. This underbelly space acts as
shade for pet animals like duck, hen, cat and dog.
Under the roof is a open storage for household and
agricultural tools.

38. Life in village
Sehari village is close to the Narayani river. During
monsoon the annual flood in Narayani river shifts the
village resident temporarily. During monsoon villagers
had to stay alert day and night to prepare and
flood. The provincial government now a days are
working for embankment and flood mitigating
measures.

39. Life in village
Fishing in Narayani river is a religion here. The river
open to public for fishing. Mostly women joins in
group for fishing at Narayani river. Men usually look
after the animals in the field. Men and women shares
these animal husbandry works each other. I find them
very hard working.
They do not fully depend upon city markets. They
vegetables, rice for livelihood. All of the family
members joins in the field. The village rate of working
in the field is Rs 100 per hour.
The system of working in Perma also exist here. In this
Perma system, a group of farmers joins in a team and
they focus to finish the field work of one farmer at
And later on second, third farmers and so on. Instead
of cash system for working in others field, they unites
and finishes every field turn by turn.

40. Life in village
Hand dressed stones silauto are used to grind the
spices for cooking foods. To maintain a working
these silauto are mounted over timber log.

41. Life in village
For mobility and transporting materials these bullock
carts are still functioning in village. These are pulled
ox.

43. Construction Material
I started to emphasize on the search for suitable
construction material for the kitchen and toilet block.
For this I explored the details of construction material
that were used by the people of village.
The indigenous house used extensive bamboo and
natural fibre frames to create a wattle and daub wall.
Wattle is a frame structure which is usually bamboo
here.
The daub is a sticky material that gets attached to
wattle. Mud mixed with water, cowdung and straw
fibre are used as a daub here in village.

44. Construction Material
These mud wattle and daub wall are locally sourced.
takes a moisture from exterior. These are not water
proof.
This problem of moisture and non water repellent is
the main drawbacks of the wattle and daub walls of
this village.
These wall are light weight with thickness of 3-4 inch
total. People generally applies new layer of mud
to this wall on festival like tihar and maghi.

45. Construction Material
The trend of aluminium opening are being
acknowledged by the people in village due to its
cost and easy availability.
In indigenous house we can find doors and window
made from timber. Where as in one of the house we
could see use of timber frame for opening which was
followed by aluminium opening panel. The owner of
house used this timber frame from his old house.
The reason behind the use of wooden opening frame
is this can with stand the brick load at its lintel level. If
we have to use aluminium frame then we need
additional concrete band at top of the window. I
appreciate this iteration of window opening
by villager. The cost of aluminium window with 4 mm
glass is Rs 550 per square feet in this village.

46. Construction Material
In one of the house we could see another
improvisation of door and window. The people in
village are very brilliant in creation of new module of
construction system.
Here they used 2 inch square metal pipe for window
frame. The availability of good seasoned timber is the
problem in the village now a days. For those who
doesn’t have accessibility to timber, one can adopt
practice.

47. Construction Material
To fix glass into metal frame is a crazy task. One can
see the fine example of metal frame door and
with glass in taragaon museum Kathmandu. And I
could witness the next authentic version here at this
Sehari village.
The owner designed this window. To fix glass he had
used 7mm rebar at exterior and silicon solution at its
interior. Glass allows light to enter inside room.

48. Construction Material
The doors of toilet were made from metal frame and
plain corrugated iron sheet were used as a panel.
small opening in indigenous house to large window
with glass and timber I perceived how the people in
village are developing and improvising the new door
and window system.

50. Construction Material
The art of weaving is a ritual in this village. This is
talent transferred from one generation to another. In
the picture left we can see a weaving at a timber
This bed is mobile and can be transferred from one
place to another. Usually this bed are used for old
people to sun bask.

51. Construction Material
I found this false ceiling made up of natural fibre at
one of the hotel. Here also the thick piece of bamboo
are weaved through rope and fixed to the rafter of
cgi sheet.
This gives natural finish. The bulb are widely used in
village because these are easy to replace and repair.
Unlike in city we prefer more panel light and fixed
light, the villagers uses CFL and LED bulb.

54. Construction Material
These are cement tiles made in village. I had a
interaction with owner of the house about the
production and preference of this tile.
These cement tile were widely famous at one
in village when cgi were expensive. Here the owner
makes this tile using own local tools and cement
imported from the city. The tile are made on the site.
This reduces the transportation cost to import from
city. These tile are sound proof then CGI sheet during
rain and hailstorm.

55. Construction Material
The puncture in the top as shown in the picture helps
the two cement tile to make a tongue and groove
joint. The two pointed mass helps to hold the tile
timber or bamboo rafter.
The tile is 1 inch thick. Each tile size Is 14 inch by 10
inch which makes a small section while staggering.
That's why the chance of leakage of water is high in
this roofing system than the CGI. The production and
use of this cement tile is no more now in village.
People are friendly with CGI due to its cost, size and
colour choice.

57. Design development
Village tour and study helped me to understand
the form, proportion and ground relation of
building with the landscape.
A brief consultation were done with the user
of the building (Nagarik aawaz Nawalpur). The
contextual needs of the building was addressed in
the revised design by connecting utility block,
kitchen and toilet with a stairs and bridge.
Together all these three unit will act rationally
with each other allowing users to exchange the
function.
These ideas and graphics were communicated to
team of prabal thapa architects and Nagarik
Kathmandu team.

58. Design development
1. Locally treated Bamboo will be used as vertical post
which will be connected by 10mm thread rod and
metal joints
2. 1 inch square pipe of metal will be used as
horizontal connection to support two vertical
post
3. bottom wall will be wattle and daub made by
cement plaster and wire mesh reinforcement
4. Upper half will be hand rendered wattle and daub
made by adobe earth and wire mesh reinforcement
5. Ventilation will be made up of chicken wire mesh
heat and air
6. Gable end will be made from local thin bamboo.
7. Roofs will be made from Ferro cement locally
manufactured at site with cement and wire mesh

59. Design development
For toilet we choose metal frame with cement wattle
and daub so that the structure can with stand the
moisture and water.
The materials were selected so that we could equally
divide work volume into three artisan team. Our idea
was to distribute responsibility to all the teams since
the inception to the end of the project. At the same
time we could employ metal welding team, bamboo
team and civil team.
Normally in the construction, civil team starts the
project which is followed by metal welding team in
end.
Here the bamboo team will start preparing bamboo
kitchen block. The metal welding team will start
building metal bridge and staircase. And the civil
will start preparing for the backfilling and floor slab.

60. Design development
The kitchen block had 70 percent outdoor space to
allow users to shape this unprogrammed space in
own way. The closed kitchen would house a sink, gas
stove and a medium refrigerator. The veranda at east
were developed as a buffer space between the
and outdoor.
The design development were reviewed by team of
prabal thapa architects from Kathmandu with
feedbacks and suggestion.
We will move towards construction after a final
permission from Nagarik aawaz Kathmandu team.
From December first week we will be starting the
structure work.
I account these drawing as a guidelines. The daily
meetup and interaction with users at site during the
construction process will update this design
development process. Most of the things will happen
on construction site with communication
and collaborative decision making.

61. Thank you