An idea is taking shape - 12 March 2016
Ten months and and seven visits later, the germ of an idea that started in May 2015 - soon after the earthquakes struck - is taking shape on ground. Constructed almost entirely by the villagers themselves except for constant supervision guidance by our architects, the prototype is seeing the light of day in the manner it has been visualised.
Local in flavour but strong to deal with earthquakes.
My recent trip to Kathmandu - from where I returned yesterday - was undertaken to respond to a request from the DUDBC (Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Nepal) for structural calculations for our design. With help from my friend Sanjay Thapa, an architect practicing in Nepal, we had the good fortune of meeting Dr. P. N. Maskey, Professor of Civil Engineering at the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Dr. Maskey has agreed to guide us to help provide the structural calculations and information required by the DUDBC for including our design as a part of a set of designs recommended by them to the people of Nepal.
Owning to the unconventional material we are using in the design, it is a difficult task, but we are confident the process embarked upon yesterday will yield results and our design will soon feature in the DUDBC Design Catalogue Volume II.
Here are a few photographs of the idea and some from the site as of today:
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| The re-constructed house as designed |
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| The stone work is complete and the bamboo posts have been fixed inside the room. The verandah frame is also done |
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| The door leading to the kitchen to the East |
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| The bamboo post and ties inside the room |
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| Bhuval, the master carpenter from the village, shaped this wonderful 'lotus' knob to finish the top of an attic timber post |
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| Local bamboo under test - 195 kilograms and ready for more! |
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| The posts and ties ate tied together using 'fita' a cotton-nylon tape that is strong and resists stretching. This joint will now be wrapped around with more of the same. |
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| The window frames for the upper floor is ready - along with 'lakhashi' - the corner bead that hides the joint between the frame and the mud mortar that is to come later |
