Spaces_is 9

PROFILE§
“What the architect did cannot be said to
be restoration. Conservation sites are
supposed to be conserved by restoring
authentically. What he has done is that he
has laid most of the emphasis on designing
rather than on restoring.” He asserts, “As
far as the designing of a museum is
concerned, no doubt it has been done well
but from a conservation point of view, the
Patan Museum is a disaster. It is specially
tragic because such a grievous mistake has
been done in one of the most important
heritage sites in the country –the one and
only royal palace of Lalitpur.”
Professor Tiwari is also quite distressed at
the so-called post modern architecture
being practiced today, and mourns, “This
Architecture is culture forming and
architects have no choice on cultured
behavior.”
PROVOKING THOUGHTS
Professor Sudarshan Tiwari can go on and
on when talking about a subject that
interests him, but surprisingly, and perhaps
because of the sparks of wisdom that seem
to accompany his words, most listeners
come away with the feeling of having spent
the time well. And of having learnt much
in the way of history, culture, preservation,
and of course, architecture.
Consider this, “Our traditional architecture
was all inclusive. For example, even if
roofing tiles could have been made
“HAVE YOU EVER SEEN YOUR OWN FACE? IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
MIRROR THAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE. YOU WILL NEVER REALLY BE ABLE TO
SEE YOUR OWN FACE. ALL YOU WILL EVER SEE IS A REFLECTION. BUT WHAT
IF THE MIRROR IS MISCHIEVOUS? IN THE REALM OF KNOWLEDGE, THE
KNOWER HAS NO SPACE FOR DOUBT TOO.”
only shows how culturally deranged we
are.” He is also not too enthusiastic about
the Rana palaces in the Valley, “Yes, they
may be opulent, but they are certainly not
great. There are much more important sites
that deserve to be conserved. And anyway,
we mustn’t give undue weightage to size.
Good architecture includes so many other
things besides size. Nepali traditional
architecture is something that is as great
as it is humble.”
About the recently observed neo-classical
revival in the city, Professor Tiwari declares
contemptuously, “This illustrates
architectural bankruptcy.” He adds, “At
least in the 70’s and 80’s when brick
exposed buildings were being built, one
could relate them to our traditional style.”
Much of the blame for architectural
derangement he lays on the shoulders of
architects and states emphatically, “It is the
architects’ responsibility to give a conscious
choice to their clients. And one must
always remember that ‘modern’ does not
necessarily have to mean ‘western’.
impervious, we let them be because we
wished the rains to soak into our roofs and
let nature prevail. We built systems, such
as a layer of mud over the timbers, to
prevent seeping water from rotting the
wood. Modern architecture is totally water
exclusive and we are now making
environments that are desert-like.”
Consider also this, “We all know that stone
is harder and better for flooring than are
bricks. But we built brick courtyards
because we wanted to ensure that water
was retained in our soil and so that our
underground reservoirs were replenished
continuously.”
The listener also comes out a lot wiser on
the philosophical aspects of much that
concerns our everyday lives. Consider this
for instance, “Have you ever seen your own
face? It is only because of the mirror that
you think you have. You will never really
be able to see your own face. All you will
ever see is a reflection. But what if the
mirror is mischievous? In the realm of
knowledge, the knower has no space for
doubt too.” S
SPACES MAR-APR 2006 65