Spaces Vol 1 Is 6

About one and a half kilometres
from the ring road, in
Dholahity- on the way to
Sunagothi- is a simple looking
house on the left side of the road.
Besides the wooden gates is a copper
plaque on which is engraved, ‘Lumanti
Chen’. These are Newari words that
translated means, ‘A House of
Remembrance’. After spending some
time inside the house, it becomes pretty
clear that the name holds true for this
two and a half storied building.
[ ]
INTERIORS
Stepping inside the doors, unto dark polished
parquet floors, one is immediately treated to
a thoughtful review of a bountiful assortment
of details in the living room.
Four years ago, Kewal and Sunita
Shrestha moved into Lumanti Chen
from their old residence in Bhedasingh
and they seem to have spent the time
well. At least as far as creating a home
that anybody would be proud of. A well
tended garden with a miniature
Swayambhu atop a rock mound with
tree-like shrubs, and green beer bottles
lining the flower beds at the perimeters,
is early evidence that some amount of
creativity has been given free reign. This
is substantiated by the loving care and
dedicated effort that has been obviously
endowed in doing the interiors. And one
has to give real credit for this to the
homeowners. “After we bought the house
we have almost completely redone the
interiors,” says Sunita. “As far as the
exteriors are concerned we haven’t
changed much except to add a few
extensions such as the car port on the
right side.” The porch leading into the
house has been decorated in such a way
as to make a visitor expectant of better
things to come. The carved wooden
doors are flanked by brass lions and
from the porch ceiling hang a few clay
traditional handicrafts. Adjoining the
porch is a tile-roofed space open on three
sides and supported by carved wooden
columns. More functional use of this
space has been food for thought for
Kewal who says, “I think I’ll make this a
glass enclosed bar.”
Stepping inside the doors, unto dark
polished parquet floors, one is
Facing Page: The garden in front of this
interesting house is well maintained and
offers refreshing open space.
Below: The homeowner is making plans
to have this space converted into a glass
enclosed bar.
SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 79