SPACES Sept issue 2017

ARCHITECTURE
“OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURAL INHERITANCE IS A PLATFORM ON WHICH WE
SHOULD BUILD. THIS POINT-OF-VIEW DEFINITELY GUIDED OUR COMMITMENT TO
THIS RESTORATION PROJECT. BUT WE WERE ALSO CLEAR THAT THE PAST SHOULD
NOT BE A PRISON THAT CONSTRAINS US. WE WERE NOT INTERESTED IN BUILDING A
MUSEUM TO THE WAY OUR GRANDFATHER DID THINGS. WE HAVE BETTER MATERIALS,
NEW AESTHETICS AND DIFFERENT FUNCTIONAL NEEDS TODAY. WE WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING WHILE HAVING IT MAKE SENSE
FOR YOUNG NEPALIS, WHO HAVE 21ST CENTURY ASPIRATIONS AND TASTES, TO
USE AS AN OFFICE SPACE. IT IS APPROPRIATE TO SAY THAT OUR DESIRE WAS NOT
PRESERVATION BUT REBIRTH.”
- SAKAR & SURABHI PUDASAINI: THE BROTHER SISTER TEAM THAT SUPERVISED AND
LED THE RETROFIT.
SEPTEMBER 2017 SPACES / 33