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Traditional building inventory: Nepal. An initiative to document traditional buildings to facilitate culturally sensitive rebuilding process in post-earthquake recovery process in Nepal

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(2015) Traditional building inventory: Nepal. An initiative to document traditional buildings to facilitate culturally sensitive rebuilding process in post-earthquake recovery process in Nepal. Documentation. UNESCO Office in Kathmandu, Kathmandu, 162p. [Book]

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Abstract (in English)

In the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Nepal, the immediate rescue and relief operations are almost completed and the operations to provide temporary shelter have begun. Very soon, the rebuilding process will begin. In this process, the demolition of risky buildings will also begin, if they are not already pulled down - to pave way for reconstruction and rebuilding the settlements and communities. A quick assessment of the damaged areas reveal that in such demolition, cleaning and rebuilding process, many of the traditional buildings, building elements and overall cultural ambience may be lost forever. While the urgency of humanitarian needs still prevails, it is also equally important to ensure that cultural reconnection and restoration is maintained in the rebuilding process. It is heartbreaking to see many traditional buildings - a significant source of community pride and heritage, are in the verge of collapsing and being erased from many traditional streetscapes consciously or unconsciously. It is, therefore, very important that we help communities in dire need of rebuilding their homes and communities in sensitive ways by complimenting their long term cultural restoration and communal strengthening. In this regard, we believe that the connection and restoration of traditional housing elements may serve as an important vehicle for rebuilding process. An emergency documentation and preparing inventory of such traditional buildings and elements is urgently needed. ICOMOS Nepal, Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust and many other organizations along with a group of volunteers dedicated to the documentation of traditional built environments, are taking initiatives to ensure that the traditional buildings in almost 40 settlements across the Kathmandu valley are visually documented before they are lost in the cleaning and rebuilding process after the earthquake. This is equivalent to an emergency operation and we are building a network of volunteers to complete the task in a short span of time. Most of the volunteers are freelance architects, architecture and engineering students as well as other energetic youth from different places. The initiative is taken as an urgent action in post-earthquake scenario, but is envisaged to continue as an important pretext for rebuilding and recovery process in near future.

Item Type: Book (Documentation)
Corporate Authors: ICOMOS Nepal
Languages: English
Keywords: post-disaster situation; earthquakes; destruction of cultural heritage; recovery; rescue inventories; inventory systems; methodology; rescue operations; emergency measures; rescue archaeology; traditional architecture; historic buildings; historic monuments; values; cultural significance; local community; documentation; collection of data; volunteer work; Records; Nepal
Subjects: E.CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 08. Monitoring
E.CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 09. Social and economic aspects of conservation
G.DETERIORATION > 04. Effects of deterioration
K.LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES > 07. Inventories
National Committee: Nepal
Number of Pages: 162
Depositing User: ICOMOS DocCentre
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2019 17:31
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2019 17:31
References: Gutschow, N., 2011, Architecture of the Newars, Serindia Publications, Chicago, ISBN 978-1-932476-54-5.

Pruscha, C., 1975, KATHMANDU VALLEY. THE PRESERVATION OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTIVE INVENTORY, Anton Schroll & Co.

Publishers, Vienna, Australia, ISBN 3-7031-0402-3.

Slusser, M.S., 1982, NEPAL MANDALA, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, United Kingdom, Reprint 1998, Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, Kathmandu , Nepal.

Tiwari, S.R., 2001, The Ancient Settlements of the Kathmandu Valley, Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, ISBN 99933-52-07-1.

Tiwari, S.R., 2002, The Brick and the Bull, Himal Books, Patandhoka, Lalitpur, Nepal, ISBN 99933-52-07-1.

Selected Articles from Business Architecture, 2011, A publication of the Rich Architectures Company, Format Printing Press, Hadigaon, Kathmandu, ISSN 2091-072X.
URI: https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2274

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