Ever imagined that such a statement could be true?
Well it seems so, as I came to find out while
reading an article in one of the national daily
newspapers. The article was about the author’s
‘petrifi ed situation’ as he lived through the
recent 6.8 magnitude earthquake on September 18 and
his consequent realization of how we have been
wasting time on futile issues rather than being
aware of what is happening with our lives. Yes, if
taken positively, we definitely have been
forewarned, as this earthquake, although of a larger
magnitude than the one at Dharan in 1988 which took
138 lives, was not as catastrophic. And as the
author of the article lived to write his tale, we
too are lucky to have been able to read it.
In such a backdrop, I was invited to present my
views on an interesting and unusual program, ‘Pecha
Kucha Night, Kathmandu, Vol. 4’, with the theme,
‘ENVISIONING NEPAL IN 2020’ – unusual in the sense
that one had to put forward his/her presentation
within twenty slides, each lasting not more than
twenty seconds! Interesting, as the twelve speakers
from different walks of life presented how they saw
the year 2020. And more so since each speaker based
their vision on their individual fi eld of interest
approaching the subject either in a negative or
positive perspective, but all with a common ground
of concern - a hope for a better future.
Good to dream, no doubt, but then the dream becomes
meaningless if we leave out the word ‘faith’ –
something that we are fast losing to false promises,
assurances, mismanagement and practicality. At the
same time, we must realize that to do something
right, we have to analyze where we have gone wrong.
Widening of roads by pulling down structures and
dismantling pedestrian footpaths may be the
immediate solution, but will it solve the ever
increasing traffic jams in the city? Or is the
recent announcement of the government’s plan for an
underground / overhead passenger train in the city,
a constructive long term vision towards its
solution? Defi nitely not, as this will not only
invite more traffi c, but will also be economically
unfeasible simply due to the seismic vulnerability
of the Valley. Such glaring examples of impractical
visions abound all around us since we prefer to look
through coloured glasses and opt for easy and
immediate solutions - failing to realize that we
ourselves are also a part of the system and that
tomorrow, if not the day after, our misguided
visions will definitely get back to us…
Editor's Note :
Looking For A Platform?
• To publish your Architectural / Interior Design /
Research Works.
• To explore your writing abilities on Architecture
and Interior Design.
• To voice your opinion on Planning, Environment and
Design Issues.
Write to
editor@spacesnepal.com
Madan Chitrakar,
a regular contributor to SPACES, is an
artist, art critic, writer, and holds a
masters degree in History and Culture
besides a degree in Applied Art from J. J.
School of Arts in Mumbai, India
and Iconographic Design from the
Netherlands. His writings on art include the
book on his late father Tej
B. Chitrakar, ‘Icon of a Transition’,
published in 2004. He is presently
associated as visiting faculty in the KU
Centre for Art & Design. (madanc@ntc.net.np)
Bibhuti Raj Pradhan
is an architectural graduate from ‘Sushant
School of Art and Architecture’, Gurgaon,
Haryana in India and he has been working in
John Sanday Associates Pvt. Ltd. for last
eight years. Currently he is the senior
architect and associates of John Sanday
Associates Pvt. Ltd. Some of his prominent
projects include ‘Patan Hospital Maternity
Ward – Nick Simons Block’ at Lagankhel, ‘Sel-In
Pvt. Ltd.’ at Panipokhari and ‘Gurkha
Welfare Scheme Residential Home’, an old age
home for ex-British Gurkha Servicemen at
Pokhara.
Swati
Pujari
graduated in architecture form Kathmandu
Engineering College in 2009. Since then she
has been involved in research, design and
publication. She was an Editorial Assistant
at SPACES and is currently working in the
establishment of Devi Trust, a conservation
organization dedicated towards preservation
of not just monuments but also the
intangible tradition and skills of society.
(swati.pujari1@gmail.com)
Shivendra Patrabansh,
runs his design studio ‘Seed’ and is
involved in architecture and interiors.
Rather than random concepts and forms, he
believes in working with human experience in
his designs. His inclination towards green
architecture interests him in experimenting
with building materials as well as climatic
elements of design.
Mr.
Trilokesh SJB Rana, an
accomplished individual in
the field of furniture
design. Beginning from his
school days where he won the
‘Best Craftsman’ award in
1992, Mr. Rana has since
gathered several awards
including winner at the
woodworking show at Olney
Central College in 1997, ... + more
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