Spaces_is 9

ARCHITECTURE
first floor are a Seminar Hall with a
capacity for more than 150 people, a
stage, and an access to the terrace on the
front of the building overlooking the
garden. The garden created by Ram
Govinda Shrestha incorporating the
script SSB designed from plants on the
slope of the garden, and the statue of
Late Siddhi Sundar Dhaubadel facing the
Bridyashram building, are examples of
good workmanship which has to be
appreciated. The carved windows of the
front façade gives a traditional look to
this hall’s interior. Considering the size
of the hall, the architect has thoughtfully
given two separate entrances, one
accessing to the front of the hall and one
to the back. The same staircases
Above: A large inner courtyard ensures a spacious
environment conducive to healthy living.
Left: A Site Plan of the Siddhi Shaligram
Bridyashram.
continuing from the ground floor to the first floor
goes to the cellar which will be used mainly for
storage.
The roof was originally designed to be covered with
traditional tiles but for some reason the client later
settled for C.G.I sheet. The truss design and the
fabrication work were done by Balaju Yantra Shala.
Transparent corrugated fibre glass sheets have been
used on the cellar roof so as to absorb natural light.
All exterior walls are constructed of machine made
bricks, a very smooth and sharp edged brick used
on more elaborate buildings, and interior walls are
of plastered local brickwork. Due consideration has
been given to the seismic factor while constructing.
The structure design was accomplished by a team
of experienced engineers with a big helping hand
from renowned structural engineer N.N. Maharjan.
The building consists of three structure blocks with
construction joints and the design has incorporated
different combinations of footings such as matt,
raft and isolated footings. Stone boulders have been
also been used, considering the land condition.
According to project supervisor Jaya Gopal Lakol,
there were no obstacles during the construction
period and the only minor difficulty they faced was
in pumping out three to four hundred litres of
38 MAR-APR 2006 SPACES