Spaces Vol 1 Is 6

HOTEL WITH A HISTORY Nov/Dec 2004
The Shanker Hotel has a hundred year history behind
it. Neo-classical in design, this ancient building is an
architectural monument . Credit has to be given to
the owners who have taken good care to make sure
that the original facade is preserved for eternity. It
has specially been a creditworthy achievment since
even when much of the interiors had to be
reconstructed for commercial viability, the exteriors
were kept unchanged.
it highlights,
PROTECTOR OF MONUMENTS Nov/Dec 2004
The Kathmandu Valley Development Trust Office in
Patan Durbar Square befits perfectly, its function-the
preservation of traditional monuments in the Valley. It
is not really surprising since the Nepal Program
Director of this international body is the well known
architect Dr. Rohit Ranjitkar who has a couple of
interesting works to his credit such as the renovated
Baber Mahal Revisited. He is fond of propagating, “It
is not necessary to destroy traditional structures in
order to provide comfortable living and working
difference with
space.” The KVPT office proves the point.
the area and is
AMIDST ENCHANTED FORESTS Jan/Feb 2005
Haatiban Resort stands some 400 metres above
Kathmandu Valley and appropriately enough, has lovely
invigorating weather all year around. Set in 2 hectares of
lush green forest, the resort, designed by Narendra
Pradhan, well known maker of monasteries, is only 15
kms from the Capital. Constructed with stone masonry
and mud mortar, the architect faced some unusual
challenges such as the difficult decision to have the cottages
face west to take advantage of the perennial view of
Kathmandu Valley, rather than east to catch the sun.
SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 57