1. The document provides information on historical architecture in Asia, including Japan, China, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It discusses traditional building materials, techniques, and notable examples of architecture from these regions. 2. It then discusses the development of modern architecture in Nepal, focusing on important Nepali architects like Shankar Nath Rimal and foreign architects active in Nepal like Carl Purscha. It summarizes some of their notable works that helped establish modern architecture in Nepal. 3. The document examines how modern architecture began evolving in Nepal through the works of early graduate architects and by blending modern and traditional design approaches. It provides examples of some pioneering modern buildings from the post-R

1. 5.1
Asia (Japan, China and
Singapore)

2. Historical architecture of Japan
Resources: Volcanic stone
– Sand and tuff (soft)- not suitable for building
– Excellent quality of timber- suitable for building
– Human: Specialized artisans-guilds
– Stone makers, sawyers, carpenters , tile makers
– Patronage-noble family, shrines and temples
– Famous painters and craftsmen, ornamentation in
relief, lacquer works and metal casting

3. Building techniques and process:
• Post and lintel system
• The basic plan- central core (moya) with one-
way deep (hisashi) placed one, two, three or
four sides.
• Some times second aisle-like addition
(megahishasi)
• Another one –way area with a separate pent
roof (mokashi) either added to the hishasi or
omitting the hishasi placed around the moya.

4. • Timber structures are erected on podia made of hard-
packed earth covered on podia of hard-packed
covered with dressed stone slab or natural stones.
• Bracket complexes-single boat-shaped arm to six
stepped complexes, set on top of the pillars.
• Two methods of roof framing
– First corbelled transverse rainbow-beams with frog
leg struts.
– Second single transverse beams supporting central
struts strengthened by diagonal braces.

5. • The hidden roof framing-using two sets of rafters
– Appropriate pitch, flows of rainwater, removal of
snow, maximum infiltration of day light, ceiling over
the moya.
• Ceiling- planking board and batten most intrecate
forms of coffering.
• Exposed rafters over Hishasi need not ceilings.
• Eaves are either single or double.
• Flying rafters extended from interior to exterior,
increase the overhang of the eaves.

6. • Four types of roof
– Gabled, hipped, pyramidical and hip and
gabled combined.
• Roofing materials – tile, cypress bark, multi
layered thinly cut wood shingles and recently
copper sheeting over a timber base.
• Metal spikes (tightening of rafter and purlin),
various joinery technique including the use of
dowels.

7. Roof

8. • Architecture>>Temples, gardens, Residences
• >>Chinese influence but light
• With minute carving and details with timber
construction
• Dominant roof and curvature
• Interior décor with gold laquer in walls and
ceilings

9. • Temple of Miyo-Jin-Kanda, tokyo: Rectangular
shrine with verandah approached by short flight
of steps. Roof curve and bracketing.
• Shinto shrine of Kamiji-Yama, in Ise: Simple
single storeyed structures renewed every twenty
years. Present shrine in 1993.
• Kurodani temple,Kyoto: three tiered, garden,
cremetary.

10. • Pagodas: Square plan, five of more tiered. Built
as adjacents to temples just as in China. Upto
about 150’ in height. Central pillar/ pendulum-
earthquake protection and bracketing.
– Pagoda at Horyu-ji, five tiered (built 607 AD)
– Pagoda at Yasaka (five tiered)
– Tenno-ji pagoda at Osaka (five stored)
– Pagoda at Samayo-ji (three tiered)
• Torri or gateway to shinto temple
– ‘pai-lou’ style

11. Pagoda transformation

14. Kurudani

15. Horyu-ji

16. Pagoda at Horyu-ji

17. Ichijoki

18. Tenno-ji

19. Yakushi-ji

20. Ise Shrine

21. Shinto Shrine (Ise)

22. Yasaka

23. Hoku-ji

24. Shitenno-ji
pagoda

25. Miyajima

26. Torri

27. Torri

28. Japanese Garden

34. Historical architecture of China
Resources:
• Wood, fire, earth, metal, water (five element)
• Timber, rammed platforms, raised platform floors
• Figured bricks and large hollow clay tiles
• Glazed tiles
• Colored tiles, glazed bricks
• Multi-colored tiled (like mosaic)
• Stone for foundation foundations of wooden
structures

35. • Bridges, tombs and pagodas-stone blocks
• Doors and windows of wooden-fine workmanship
• Paper screen of silk or cotton, thin mica sheets
and shells used for translucent materials
• Metal- ornamental items, gate nails and knockers
and for the spires of pagodas
• Cast iron-to reinforce stone of wooden buildings.

36. • Timber framed structure
• Foundations, columns and roof
• Foundation: very shallow, layer of rammed earth
– Columns stood on carved blocks
– Floors were made of rammed earth and paved
with bricks
• Column: timber column (usually of circular section)
‘dougang’ system
Building techniques and process

37. • Roof:purlin supported rafters, which boarded
and covered with tiles fixed in mud
– Ridge tiles
– Jointed by nail
– Nails covered by decorative motives
• Hipped roofs, hipped and gabled, over hanging
gables, double hipped roofs

38. Five main characteristic of groups of
Chinese architecture
1. Unity of structure with architecture art
– Beautifying the structural components
2. Good anti-seismic function
– Joinery -mortises and tenon
– Shallow foundation so can shift when an
earthquake occurred
3. A high degree of standardization

39. Daugang

40. Daugang and Tenon and mortise joint

41. 4. Bright colors
– To prevent weathering and to achieve
decorative effects
– Roof wall yellow
– Blue and green were applied under the eave
5. The systematic grouping of buildings
– Single building around a courtyard
– Courtyard as basic units to form groups of
buildings

42. Examples:
221 BC Chin dynasty
• Chinese Emperor
Great wall- 6000 km
long was built ,
generally 7-8m high
but at strategic point
it was 14m high,
base 6-7m and at
the top 5m.
• Guard house and
armories were built
on the wall and
beacon tower for
communication
purpose.

44. Pagoda at Honan: ca. 523 AD
• Octagonal plan, thirteen blind storeys, brick and
mud pagodas usually within temple precints,
derived from prototypes south of the himalayas,
early ones religious, later mostly secular.
• May be timber construction in early days but
have gone now only mud/brick ones serviving.

45. Pagodas

46. Pagoda at Honan

47. Pagodas

48. Temple of Heaven at Peking (1420 AD)
• Circular plan/triple tiered roof with blue glazed
tiles, triple tiered plinth (marble).
• Circular wooden hall of prayer, 32m high and
24m dia, triple conical roof, deep-blue glazed
tiles topped with a large gold-plated ball, red
column, door and window frames, dark green
dougang and beam.
• It stands three-tiered circular terrace 7m high
and max 90m dia with white balustrades.

49. Panoramic view of temple of heaven

50. Temple of Heaven

51. Pai-lau (Gate)

53. Singapore
• Vernacular architecture is commonly believed to be a
quaint representation of the history and traditions of
culture, built by average.
• People using traditional technologies over a long period
of time but in Singapore there are several indications that
the modernist high rise housing and new towns have
become a new vernacular. The factors that support this
point of view are:

54. Singapore
1. The ubiquity of high rise and new town way of life.
2. A shared value system and culture within the new towns
that is shaped by and reflected in the architecture are
planning of the new towns.
3. The importance of relationships between spaces in the
new towns.
4. The ability of the architecture and planning of new
towns to adapt to changes within Singaporean society.
5. The acceptance, legitimacy and identification of high-
rise way of life Singaporeans.

55. Singapore
• Singapore may be a thriving modern city, but it does try
to preserve building with historical or heritage value.
These often eclectic styles are mainly the result of
adapting period European architecture to the island’s
tropical climate.
• Pre modern architecture in Singapore consists primarily
of colonial civic and commercial structures in European
Neoclassical, Gothic, Palladian and Renaissance styles.
Out of these styles grew the unique ‘black and white’
bungalows that dot the island and traditional
‘shophouses’ found mainly in commercial districts.

56. Singapore
• Singapore’s modern buildings, on the other hand, tend to
be pragmatic affairs, specially the apartment blocks
developed by the housing development board, the
government agency in charge of public housing. tecent
developments have focused on mixed-used buildings that
fully utilize the island’s limited land area.
• Some of these projects have also begun to take
environmental sustainability into consideration, resulting
in a generation of postmodern neo-tropical buildings that
are beginning to change Singapore’s skyline.

57. Singapore
• The Hive, Nanyang Technological University

58. Singapore
• The Interlace, Bukit Merah

59. Singapore
• Skyville@Dawson, Queenstown

60. Singapore
• Skyville@Dawson, Queenstown

61. 5.2
Southeast Asia (India, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh)

62. India

76. Sri lanka

90. Bangladesh

123. 5.3 MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN NEPAL

124. Introduction
▪ Development in Nepal can be visualized since the
period of KIRATAS with their small stone temples and
LICCHHAVI with their golden tired temples .
▪ Malla period can be considered as the period for
development of traditional Nepalese architecture.
▪ Later post Victorian style of architecture also known as
“Neo Classical architecture” had its influence in Nepal
that is after the visit of the then Prime minister Jung
Bahadur Rana to Europe.

125. ▪Because of the dictator regime, native graduates, architects and designers didn’t exist in
Nepal during early periods.
▪As development was taking place around the world , it made it moves significant in Nepal
too .
▪Though the whole process started very late in comparison to other countries progress
has been made in the modern architecture of Nepal which is defined by buildings like
Narayanhitti Royal Palace, CEDA building, Airport, General Post Office bldg. Hotel Soltee
etc.

126. ▪It is only after the Rana period that graduate architects started to evolve in Nepal and
Gangadhar Bhatta became the first ever graduate architect of Nepal
▪After him engineers like Shankar Nath Rimal, Gauri Nath Rimal came out during the late
fifties
▪Foreign architects like Carl Purscha, Robert Weise made their entry to Nepal.
▪Women's were also not left behind, lady architects like Chandra Lekha Kayastha, Jyoti
Serchan came up

127. ▪Thus in Nepal, development of modern architecture started with the birth of different
Nepalese architects.
▪It also included some foreign architects who were interested to blow up their concept
in the land of Nepal.
▪Then began the rise of concept of modern buildings in terms of design, material,
layout and function which were applied in almost all type of buildings being
constructed during that period.

128. ARCHITECTS DISCUSSED
Er.
Shankar
Nath
Rimal
Carl Purscha Robert wiese
Gangadhar Bhatta

129. ▪Born on 1st March 1935
▪Completed schooling from Durbar High School in 1950
▪Joined electrical engineering but shifted to civil engineering and completed graduation in
1957 from Calcutta university
▪Started working since 1958 both in architectural and civil engineering field as an assistant
engineer
▪Most of his designs are in modern style and the use of Nepalese traditional style with the
modern style are his key features in his design process
Er. Shankar Nath Rimal
Modern materials could be used in simpler way so that it is much
more easily acceptable for the future generation too

130. • Hotel Everest International
• Hotel Soaltee, Kalimati
• Nepal Smarak Dwar
• Royal Nepal academy
• Amrit Science Campus
• Ministry Of foreign affairs
• Tikapur Township, Tikapur
• Nepal art council
• Reukai training centre ,panipokhari
• Royal palace complex
• Vishnu temple ,Singapore
• Pashupati temple at patan
• Medical hospital, balkhu
• Nepal Temple, USA
• Many residences like shoba sadan etc
His Works

131. Royal Nepal Academy
▪Architectural detailing, use of color and materials, responding both culture and functions
▪The style derived by blending modern and traditional.
▪Constructed during the 60s
▪One of the fabulous creation of
S.N.Rimal
▪Academy more or less ideal in
nature

132. Service block
Main entry
parking
pond
amphitheatre
Site layout
Parking shed
garage
Press
store
Main block
Adminis-
tration and
studio

133. ▪Overall composition laid on cubical form
cantilevered along the sides.
▪Use of modern materials and technology
use of Open girders, pre cast and post
cast girders and the roof structure
made of precuts through slabs.
i.e. Shear walls used for earthquake resistance,

134. ▪Interior simply white and utmost use
of
Perfect use of skylight.
▪Construction using precast
structures
natural light through side and top openings.

135. Hotel Everest
▪The structure reflecting modern
architecture to the extreme point.
▪Elevation wrapped with smooth texture and glass
openings.
▪Volumetric division defined by the variation in
design along the facade.

136. ▪Modern way of construction-diaphragm
wall.
▪Light colour on smooth surface to
symbolise boldness.
▪Interior flanged with modern materials and
various lighting designs.
▪Colour well combined to suit with floor and
furniture.

137. Sahid Gate
▪ Introduction of new type of architecture (i.e.monumental)
▪Form totally newer to the period
▪Marble as the main treatment material.
▪Designed as the Memory of
democracy
◼Four martyrs with king
Tribhuwan are the
symbolic representation
of democratic movement
of 1995 Bikram Sambat
▪Built in 1958

138. Gudne Ghar (Pangre Ghar)
▪One of the experiment of Rimal and a
wonder of the period for nepalese
architecture.
▪Huge cubical mass balanced over two
concrete wheels.
▪An example of cantilevered system
▪Symmetrical facade articulated by corner windows and the design produced by
alternating openings and walls
▪Use of local material in simpler way in an complex design

139. Nepal art council at Babarmahal
Ram-Janaki Dwar at Ramananda
chowk-Janakpur

140. ▪ An Austrian architect
▪ Studied under L.welzen and R.
Rainer at the academy of fine arts
Vienna
▪ Studied town planning at the
Harvard university in 1960-1964
▪ Came to Nepal to prepare the
master plan of kathmandu valley
during the 60’s
Carl Purscha
Every site is beautiful and is a major influence in the design of that
building
▪A great planner and architect who treated architecture as an art

141. ▪ Modern residential buildings with
the essence of traditional built
environment.
▪ Translation of rules i.e. physical
and cultural symbiosis of the valley
into a more meaningful modern
and technological context.
His Works
“While technology and science are subject to rationally perceptible
progress, architecture has never undergone any substantial changes”
▪Helped in preparing a detailed inventory of kathmandu ‘s
monuments and cultural sites
▪Worked as an architect and
physical planner in the UNDP
▪Taragaon resort
▪Ceda building, tribhuvan
university

142. ▪ Ceda also can be called as group of three blocks
with geometrically regular form (i.e. the main block, the
administrative block and the auditorium seminar hall block)
▪ This building was designed as a dormitory
considering the sun angle.
Ceda Building
▪Ceda is one of the main wing of Tribhuvan University.
▪Designed by Purscha during his thesis work with its
individual identification and job priority

143. ▪ Use of passive solar system meaning more use of solar energy
▪The building well resembles with the terracing
landscape of the site
▪Interconnection of various masses
through multilevel pavements as per
ground nature.
▪Brick volumes with interesting skyline and
appealing façade grabbing attention

144. Interpretation of geometrical forms

145. ▪Building as an example for good use of
shading devices.
▪Elevations well articulated by brick texture
and rectangular openings.
▪Additional designs to harmonize the
building with the site.

146. • Massiveness of auditorium, seminar hall and the
administrative block reduced by good use of contours.
▪Well maintained ventilation and utmost use of
daylight.
▪Interior flanged with modern
designs

147. Taragaon Resort
Now known
as
Hyatt Regency
▪Mixed style of architecture.
▪Here architect Purscha has skillfully handled the terracing landscape of the site.
▪Building organized around open to sky courts and
are interconnected through multilevel pavements
as per ground nature.

148. ▪Originally planned as a resort.
▪Brick volumes with interesting skyline and appealing façade.
▪Courts punctured at places to entertain views, breeze and sunlight.
▪The interpenetration of geometric forms like cylindervault
into a cuboid and balance in massing of blocks are done.
▪The scale and proportions
of the building are
maintained according to
the Nepali context.

149. ▪ The cottage blocks are
made on modular concept
▪ 15 modular cottage unit
organized in five blocks
each consisting of 2 to 4
units
▪ Wide open and interactive spaces with
seating benches are made in the natural
slope of the site
▪ The hierarchy of spaces, their
interconnection and circulation on them are
efficiently coordinated.

150. ▪ First man in Nepal to obtain an architectural degree.
▪ Winner of the first prize (Rs.5000) in design
competition for the Rastriya Panchayat Bhavan.
▪ Man who can be considered as “The Founder Of
Modern Architecture In Nepal.”
Gangadhar Bhatta ‘Halabe’
A milestone in the context of Nepalese Architecture
▪Born on 30th April 1936
▪S.L.C. in 1952 from Padmodaya High School.
▪I.S.C. in 1955 from Tri-Chandra College.
▪Graduated from Bengal engineering college, Calcutta university in
1961.

151. His Works
To live a good life you need three things – right life, strong mind and spirituality.
▪Preparation of master plan
with designs i.e. Dasarath
Rangasala and the secretariat
building.
•Residence of Gajananda
Vaidya at Maharajgunj and
that of Madan Chiranjilal in
Kamaladi.
▪ Rastriya Panchayat
Bhavan.
▪ The first “City Hall”
▪ 1st police club
▪ Glass house at Godavari
▪ “Hotel Hermitage” resort
in Sauraha-Chitwan

152. ▪ A landmark in the
history of modern
architecture of Nepal
• A introduction of new
design and technology
in Nepal during that
period
The City Hall
▪Space provided for national and international conference, meetings, dramas, speech ,screen
shows, restaurants, with projection room and four language translator booth.
Also known as the “Rastriya sabha griha”

153. ▪ Abstract design
reflected by Precast-
open riser stair
▪Modern concrete shell structure used
for entrance emphasis
Huge openings on the façade supporting
the modernity

154. ▪Interpenetration of different forms
and the newer type of treatment on
the elevation.
▪Modern concept applied to the interior as
well
Additive designs on the roof

155. Dasharath Stadium
The only biggest sport complex of Nepal constructed between 2026-2034
Swimming pool Covered hall
Adminstration block
Tennis court
Football ground
Marshall art hall below

156. ▪The modern style of the
building blended with traditional
slope roof.
▪Use of pergolas to symbolize the deviation
towards modern design.
▪Building composed of interpenetration of
simple geometrical forms

157. ▪Various halls well managed under the
parapett of stadium.
▪horizontal fenestration balanced by vertical
column like structures.
Cantilevered parapet

158. Hotel Soaltee at
Kalimati
Hotel Hermitage
resort in Sauraha-
Chitwan

159. Robert Weise
▪ Gave birth to “A Modern Era of Hybrid Nepalese
Traditional Architecture” (use of pagoda style in modern
buildings)
▪ First Swiss architect in Nepal
▪ Completed graduation from the college of architecture and
engineering of kt of Zurich ,Switzerland.
▪ Studied tropical architecture from the building research
station at Watford, U.K.
“Foreign lands are not all foreign to me, for it is there that I hope to
be able to express the personal freedom in me.”

160. ▪ He was the first architect to practice in Nepal after 1960s.
▪ Contributed to the contemporary architecture in Nepal by
achieving a blend between the traditional and the modern.
▪ Worked as an architect and construction manager under
contract with Balso mission from 1954-57
• Made an effort on making all government offices roof capped
off with pagoda style
▪ Worked under the contract with “sata” (Swiss association for
technical assistant)
▪ Introduced the design of double flight stairs for the 1st time.
▪ Worked as an architect-in-chief under the contract with HMG
Weise in Nepal
▪1957- There were two choices: either to forget about the traditional
architecture and follow what at that time locally was referred to as “Bombay
Box Style” or “House Without Hats” or else to blend the new with the
traditional.

161. ▪ Made the original master plan of T.U.
▪ Designed the Library building of T.U.
and several other building of the
campus.
▪ Hotel Malla
▪ Hotel del’ Annapurna
▪ The fish tail lodge
His Works
▪The royal Nepal army barrack at
Chhauni, Bhaktapur, Pokhara
▪Yellow pagoda hotel (now Nabil
bank at kanthipath)
▪SOS children village (Bhaktapur)
▪German embassy (Gyaneshwor)
▪Japanese embassy staff quarter
(Jawalakhel)

162. ▪ 1st modern tourist
hotel opened in july
1965
De l’Annapurna
▪A name that celebrates
Nepalese culture in many forms
“Annapurna”
▪Blended traditional architecture with modern style
▪Use of pagoda roof with the implementation of modern technology

163. ▪ Use of carved struts
and ac box to give a
traditional look.
▪Simple rectangular plan with elevation
articulated by rhythmic rectangular windows.
▪Windows are of modern style in the façade
facing the road
▪Sky line well maintained to create a
sound effect

164. Fishtail Lodge
▪Another experiment of Weise.
▪Architecture more organic in nature, and
resembling with the surroundings.
▪Circular plan layout with circular shell
roof.
▪Elevation articulated by rhythmic doors
and French windows.
▪Use of local materials

165. Samajik Sewa Mandir
▪Experiment on forms, finishes, elevation and landscaping practiced by Robert Weise in 1980s.
▪Elevation- combination of exposed bricks and white plaster and
▪Play with cubical forms, flat roof and the huge openings in front facade.
▪Introduction of semi covered spaces (path ways).

166. Residence
( Prince Basundahara’s residence )
▪ A revolutionary experiment
and a master piece of
modern residential bldg.in
Nepal.
▪Transformation of forms and well balance of
mass and void
Modernity reflected through plane texture, modern materials, dynamic forms, louvered
openings, flat roof and the shading devices of various forms.

167. Royal Hotel
Hotel
Malla
T.U.
Library
Block

168. Hotel Yellow Pagoda
Residence for Aaditya Sumsher
Babarmahal
SOS Children village-Sanothimi

169. General Post Office
Ministry Of Health And Population
Royal Palace Complex
T.U. Girls Hostel Res. Of A Rana kernel
RONAST Building
Malpi In’t School
ABldg. At L.A.School
Ashiyana
Commercial Buildings At Baneswore
Shear Market
Commercial Complex
Compicated Shell Roofs
Commercial Complex
Commercial Complex At Harihar Bhawan
PAST TO PRESENT

170. ▪significant development in the context of modern architecture in Nepal since 1950s.
▪Both Nepalese and foreign architects played vital role to lay the foundation of modern
architecture in Nepal.
▪Outcome were the various modern buildings which stands till today as an example.
▪From past to present we have many modern buildings erected though in steady manner
but its sure in future that we can see more modern bldgs like Guggenheim museum,
Bauhaus, Villa Savoye etc in the land of Nepal.
CONCLUSION

171. The End…