1. Jan-Feb 2011
ARCHITECTURE First concrete building in Jomsom in 1995 © Kai Weise The palace at Lo Manthang The wood used is most often pine, though in the older buildings the main structural elements were constructed of juniper. The forests that supposedly covered certain parts of the slopes of Upper Mustang are no more, and wood has to be carried up from the community forests of Lower Mustang. Metal bridge over the Mustang Khola CHANGE Upper Mustang is accessed easier from the Tibetan Plateau than from the rugged terrain to the south. A road is being constructed along the Kali Gandaki River, to connect the road-head at Beni with the Tibetan border. In the meantime a road has been built from the border in the north up to the walls of Lo Manthang and on towards Tsarang. From the south, the road has been built practically to Kagbeni with various bridges missing along the way. Motorcycles and tractors are being used for local transportation. Transportation used to be restricted to pack mules or porters taking 7 to 10 days from Pokhara, the nearest city. Transportation was expensive and prices of materials brought in from Pokhara become 3 to 4 times more expensive. The closest airport is in Jomsom with regular flights to Pokhara. The main impact on the region is caused by tourism. In Jomsom, luxury resorts have already been constructed using reinforced concrete. Nevertheless, the local people are only able to upgrade their traditional buildings to cater to the tourists. The main reason for rooms to be added to the courtyard houses seems to be for tourist accommodations. These extensions were either as an additional block added to the building (such as the example in Tsarang) or an additional floor (such as the example in Gemi). These new additions are constructed in similar construction techniques and materials. However the major change seems to be that the openings are larger. This is of course possible since the windows can be glazed, in contrast to the traditional openings. The greatest developments to the courtyard houses are found in Jomsom which has been a tourist area for several decades. In an example from Jomsom, one can see the stages in the evolution of the building. First the courtyard was covered for it to be used as a hall. Further extensions were constructed towards the front and back. Phase-wise expansion of a courtyard building in Jomsom IMPROVEMENTS The traditional buildings of Upper Mustang are ideal for the place. The materials are locally available, and are cheap. Construction can be done without very skilled labour. The thick earthen walls and the packed earth on the roofs are good for insulation. www.spacesnepal.com 54 January-February 2011
ARCHITECTURE These same buildings can be adapted for the accommodation of tourists, especially the beautiful courtyard houses. There are nevertheless various points that would need to be looked into. Wood needs to be used efficiently and the wooden elements need to be minimised. Community forestry geared for the building sector needs to be supported. It would be possible to look into improving the earth used for construction. The harnessing of passive solar energy needs to be studied. Solutions are needed for the appropriate installation of sanitary facilities and disposal systems. When seismic forces act on rammed earth walls, one usually finds the formation of cracks and separation along construction joints. All wall joints need to be reinforced. The flat roofs, which are covered with earth, are heavy, and the wooden structural elements need to be securely anchored into the walls. The posts should have proper foundations with spread footings. Flat roofed buildings give the freedom for irregular shaped buildings and easy extension. The various parts of the buildings should be separated using crush joints. CONCLUSION The rough, rugged landscape of Upper Mustang cradles a very delicate environment and an even more fragile culture. It was preserved over decades due to the restrictions set on foreigners to visit the area due to the political sensitivity during and after the Kampa resistance skirmishes. This however also led to the neglect of numerous monuments. People started moving away as the cross-border trade dwindled. Restricted numbers of tourists were allowed to enter Upper Mustang from 1991 onwards with the objective of ensuring a minimum impact on the area. At the same time roads were being planned up the Kali Gandaki River to Jomsom and from the border through Lo Manthang on down the valley. These conflicted approaches for the planning of Upper Mustang have not allowed an appropriate development strategy to take root. Upper Mustang has a lot to offer to tourism. It is clear that there is also a need to develop the area to allow for better living standards and to ensure that the villages are not left to those that are too old or too young to migrate away from the hardships of living in this forgotten area. Considering the importance of a long-term sustainable strategy for the development of this region, the various sectors of the government need to coordinate their visions and find an approach which is appropriate for the inherent identity and characteristics of the place. Till now, focus has been given to restoring the major monuments in and around Lo Manthang. The wall around Lo Manthang was overlooked until it was too late to preserve. Even till 1993 there were only two entrances to the city: the main gate to the north and a winter gate to the south. Today the wall has been poker-marked with openings, losing the very identity of the walled settlement. It must be clearly stated that even less efforts have been undertaken to preserve the traditional dwellings. The earthen courtyard houses are the very fabric of the settlements in Upper Mustang. Should these be replaced by the concrete frame structures that have multiplied wherever there are roads, Upper Mustang will have lost its most treasured and unique quality. View up the Kali Gandaki with Kagbeni in the foreground January-February 2011 55 www.spacesnepal.com
- Page 12: INBOX C ongratulations on a wonderf
- Page 16 and 17: CONTRIBUTORS Ar. Kai Weise Ar. Yatr
- Page 18 and 19: www.spacesnepal.com 18 January-Febr
- Page 20 and 21: NEWS and HAPPENINGS Chagall in Nepa
- Page 22: NEWS and HAPPENINGS Upcoming Exhibi
- Page 26: INFOCUS • Required certificates a
- Page 29 and 30: SOLUTIONS Despite a high level of g
- Page 31 and 32: SOLUTIONS Hand pump Gutter Down Pip
- Page 33 and 34: SOLUTIONS (B) Complete solar, with
- Page 36 and 37: SOLUTIONS Reduce your by30% Buildin
- Page 38 and 39: ARCHITECTURE The sun does not just
- Page 40 and 41: ARCHITECTURE From the flood plains
- Page 42 and 43: ARCHITECTURE The warmth at the entr
- Page 44 and 45: ARCHITECTURE The panorama of Thasan
- Page 48 and 49: ARCHITECTURE THE COURTYARD HOUSES O
- Page 50 and 51: ARCHITECTURE In the ancient kingdom
- Page 52 and 53: ARCHITECTURE VARIATIONS IN LAYOUTS
- Page 56 and 57: INTERNATIONAL Resort World Sentosa
- Page 58 and 59: INTERNATIONAL Resorts World TM Sent
- Page 60 and 61: INTERNATIONAL The interiors of the
- Page 62 and 63: INTERIOR Where Context Meets Contex
- Page 64 and 65: INTERIOR The staircase, guided by f
- Page 66 and 67: INTERIOR Details and details The id
- Page 68: The three storey building envelope
- Page 71 and 72: HERITAGE The Area of Maru, with Mar
- Page 73 and 74: HERITAGE SITE PLAN: Kathmandu Darba
- Page 75 and 76: HERITAGE The Kumari Bahal built in
- Page 77: HERITAGE The royal thrones used for
- Page 80 and 81: ANALYSIS This time around the propo
- Page 82 and 83: OPINION Kathmandu Sustainable Urban
- Page 84 and 85: OPINION Kathmandu Sustainable Urban
- Page 86 and 87: ART © Siddhartha Art Gallery Syed
- Page 88 and 89: ART personal guts and attitudes tow
- Page 90 and 91: www.spacesnepal.com 90 January-Febr
- Page 92 and 93: www.spacesnepal.com 92 January-Febr
- Page 96: www.spacesnepal.com 96 January-Febr
ARCHITECTURE<br />
First concrete building in Jomsom in 1995<br />
© Kai Weise<br />
The palace at Lo Manthang<br />
The wood used is most often pine, though in the older buildings<br />
the main structural elements were constructed of juniper. The<br />
forests that supposedly covered certain parts of the slopes of<br />
Upper Mustang are no more, and wood has to be carried up from<br />
the community forests of Lower Mustang.<br />
Metal bridge over the Mustang Khola<br />
CHANGE<br />
Upper Mustang is accessed easier from the Tibetan Plateau than<br />
from the rugged terrain to the south. A road is being constructed<br />
along the Kali Gandaki River, to connect the road-head at Beni<br />
with the Tibetan border. In the meantime a road has been built<br />
from the border in the north up to the walls of Lo Manthang<br />
and on towards Tsarang. From the south, the road has been<br />
built practically to Kagbeni with various bridges missing along<br />
the way. Motorcycles and tractors are being used for local<br />
transportation. Transportation used to be restricted to pack<br />
mules or porters taking 7 to 10 days from Pokhara, the nearest<br />
city. Transportation was expensive and prices of materials<br />
brought in from Pokhara become 3 to 4 times more expensive.<br />
The closest airport is in Jomsom with regular flights to Pokhara.<br />
The main impact on the region is caused by tourism. In Jomsom,<br />
luxury resorts have already been constructed using reinforced<br />
concrete. Nevertheless, the local people are only able to upgrade<br />
their traditional buildings to cater to the tourists. The main<br />
reason for rooms to be added to the courtyard houses seems to<br />
be for tourist accommodations. These extensions were either as<br />
an additional block added to the building (such as the example<br />
in Tsarang) or an additional floor (such as the example in Gemi).<br />
These new additions are constructed in similar construction<br />
techniques and materials. However the major change seems<br />
to be that the openings are larger. This is of course possible<br />
since the windows can be glazed, in contrast to the traditional<br />
openings. The greatest developments to the courtyard houses<br />
are found in Jomsom which has been a tourist area for several<br />
decades. In an example from Jomsom, one can see the stages<br />
in the evolution of the building. First the courtyard was covered<br />
for it to be used as a hall. Further extensions were constructed<br />
towards the front and back.<br />
Phase-wise expansion of a courtyard building in Jomsom<br />
IMPROVEMENTS<br />
The traditional buildings of Upper Mustang are ideal for the place.<br />
The materials are locally available, and are cheap. Construction<br />
can be done without very skilled labour. The thick earthen walls<br />
and the packed earth on the roofs are good for insulation.<br />
www.spacesnepal.com 54<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary-<strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2011</strong>