Architectural portfolio- DIA

PORTFOLIO

| KAMAL KRISHNA MAHARJAN | Dessau International Architecture Graduate School (DIA) | Anhalt University of Applied Sciences

CONTENTS 1. MADAN PURASKAR PUSTAKALAYA

THE NATIONAL ACHIVE 2. HIMALAYAN GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD

CORPORATE BUILDING 3. HOUSE IN FOREST- 2019

TINY HOUSE

MADAN PURASKAR PUSTAKALAYA

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVE CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES

PLAN

ELEVATION

SECTION

Sketches that turned ‘ideas’ to ‘physical reality’. Conceptual sketches play a vital role in bringing any ideas into reality, no matter how rough it may be.

POST EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION The Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya (MPP) is the principal archive of books, periodicals, ephemera, including many other collections in the Nepali language. Since over five decades of establishment, it has been continuously engaged in collection and archiving of published materials in Nepali language.

It was gravely damaged in the earthquake of 7.8 rectors in April 2015. We were advised by the structural engineers that the structure wasn’t viable and was structurally weak and so we had to pull it down. Since this building is a repository of over 40,000 books of historical importance for the country and is the only archive of the Nepali World in and beyond Nepal, it was important to choose materials which will be most appropriate.

We decided to use vernacular style of architecture and largely used locally available and indigenous bamboo resource and mud tiles. Bamboo has unique properties making it extremely versatile and thus a preferred resource in construction, it is due to these range of properties that bamboo is also considered highly safe in buildings lying in high seismic zone. Bamboo has not been used enough in architecture in Nepal, particularly with some modern day innovation, so we did this.

PROGRAM National Archive

SCOPE Comission [Project Architect- Site Supervisor]

ACHIEVEMENT Nominated for Emerging Architecture Awards 2018 (Arch Daily click here) (ABARI click here) (SPACES Magazine click here)

LOCATION

SIZE

DATE

Kathmandu, Nepal 300 Sq.M PHOTO COURTESY: @SPACES Nepal Magazine

March, 2016

director

office space reception

PUBLIC ACCESS

digital recording

W/C

archive

pantry

SEMI PUBLIC

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

PUBLIC ACCESS

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECTION AT A-A

PRIVATE

STRUCTURAL PANORAMA

KS

PHOTO COURTESY: @SPACES Nepal Magazine

B7

B3

B4

B2

STRUCTIONAL ELEVATION SHOWING METAL BRACKETS AND ITS

We experimented with a lot of different types of connections along with different species of bamboos. But, we found this connection to be most reliable among the rest. The species of bamboo used are called “harauti -baash”, and are found localy in the southern part of Nepal.

B6

The theme of the building was to filer light into these archives and set a stage (mezzanine floor) for visitors to admire the sheer numbers of books and artefacts they’ve conserved over the past decades. It was surely to be earthquake friendly and took a revolutionary new turn when we decided to have separate structure to support the roof and have self-supporting light weight walls.

Initially, when I started to design, in the conceptual phase I imagined the collection of books and other documents housed under the canopy of bamboo structure.

The “Head Mason� dusting off his work right after the removal of formwork, like an artist giving final touches to his painting

HIMALAYAN GENERAL INSURANCE

A CORPORATE BUILDING PROGRAM Corporate Building

SCOPE ACHIEVEMENT Competition (Team Leader) Winner/ First Prize (click here)

LOCATION

SIZE

DATE

Kathmandu, Nepal

4000 Sq.M

March, 2018

SITE

Sunlight and wind plays a vital role in determining the overall presence of a structure in architecture. These two natural forces, combined with vegetation, creates a working space filled with natural energies which reflects in the day-to-day activities of the residents as well. In turn, using these natural energies, effecting the comfort and work efficiency of the people living inside.

LOCATION PLAN

As seen in the illustration, instead of enveloping the lives in a single box, the building is divided into 2 different wings interconnected with bridges. This created an opportunity for an indoor green vertical space, which creates a visual stimulation and a mental rejuvenation for the people working 10-5 jobs inside this building.

The existing trees on site have not been touched, including the trees at the on the front face. This presented us with an opportunity to approach this project differently regarding the building faces. The building face is semi hidden with a veil of tree branches and leaves. It doesn’t demand attention like any other corporate building would. But, its beauty lies within itself, a space which breathes, comes alive and rejoice with the natural energies from the sky and earth.

surrounding buildings

CONCEPT SKETCH

existing tree

existing tree

GROUND FLOOR PLAN/SITE

EAST ELEVATION

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

NORTH ELEVATION

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

SOUTH ELEVATION

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

FIFTH FLOOR PLAN

WEST ELEVATION

SECTION AT A-A

The stepped design on the southern side lets the sun energies into the building through openings, vertical and horizontal surfaces. The solar screens on the western and southern faces of the building will block summer sun but lets in the precious winter sun into the interior. This will help in reducing the overall energy consumption through different mechanical heating and cooling methods.

HOUSE IN FOREST 2019

TINY HOUSE

Why would anyone go to a forest to live?

Within

As the most intellectual species in this planet, we are always exploring. Through science and technology we have understood a portion of the universe that we live in. But, when a man ventures into the forest and lives there, he is not only curious about the making of the world. He wants to travel within himself as well. So, we have proposed a house where he/she can do both, belong in the nature and also venture within himself.

In eastern culture, all the sages who travelled for higher understanding travelled into the forest. Why did they choose a rest space especially caves to meditate for days on end. The proposed house is in an altitude of above 4000m in Nepal. The inspiration was taken from “Jhong caves� from upper Mustang.

The cave acts as sensory deprivation space where no light or sound shall pass. The human shall only hear his/ her heartbeat and his/ her pineal gland frequency. This sounds extreme, but, we as a human race are slowly opening up to the idea of self guided meditation. May be, through modern lifestyle we have been detached from our roots, the modern day materialistic lifestyle takes a toll on human mind and body.

PROGRAM House in a Forest

SCOPE ACHIEVEMENT Competition (Team Leader) Awating Result

LOCATION

SIZE

DATE

Alpine Region, Nepal

30 Sq.M

March, 2019

Without

FRONT ELEVATION

Nepal is known for its natural beauty and spiritual tourism. These houses can act as destination for extreme spiritual tourists. The building cantilevers off of the cliff, overlooking the amazing mountain range of Nepal. The building, and the extreme location it is in, signifies the step one has to take in order to venture into the unknown. One may explore self with self guided meditation.

He/she may spend days, gazing at the natural beauty of the mountains or star gazing or spend weeks or even months self gazing in his/her own private little cave.

Conceptual Sketch

WALK TO THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST, NO HOPES OF A SAFE RETURN. IT’S JUST THE ROAR OF THE PINE FOREST AND I HERE, TRYING TO TELL EACHOTHER STORIES OF OUR OWN.

ENTRY

KITCHEN

MEDITATION SPACE

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

spaces

UPPER PLAN UPPERFLOOR FLOOR PLAN

UPPER FLOOR PLAN

MY SKETCHES (click here)

Kamal Krishna Maharjan Architect Dipawali Marg, Satdobato Lalitpur Nepal +977 9851172839 +977 015541372 kamal.k.maharjan@gmail.com