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Architecture, space and time will always remain
inseparable with the history of mankind. Time
dictates one’s priorities and requirements, which in
turn defines the period’s space design and
architecture, and this will include at some time
that ‘architecture be the science of developing
unusable spaces’.
However, the development of spaces is increasingly
becoming more demanding and competitive. Design
competitions are becoming popular with promoters
seeking better designs and solutions to their
architectural and engineering requirements. Such
competitions do bring out the best among
competitors, as long as they remain healthy and
transparent. At the same time, besides the winner,
it would be surely encouraging if the efforts put in
by all the participants could be appreciated in some
form or the other by those organizing such events.
This issue features some of the designs submitted
for the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC)
design competition which we believe will be
interesting and informative to all in the
architectural fraternity.
This issue also features the Pashupatinath area, one
of the seven heritage zones of the Valley, which,
under siege from the negative effects of commercial
urbanization, is being gradually transformed through
timely and proper actions of the Pashupati Area
Development Trust. The initial steps towards the
implementation of the proposed master plan must have
been very difficult, considering the sluggish
government policies, inefficient and indifferent
management, unclear vision of decision makers and
the difference in interest of stakeholders. Although
this change and its ensuing process could be viewed
differently by concerned authorities and experts,
nonetheless, Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT)
must be commended for its attempt towards the area’s
development.
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