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EARTHQUAKE IN NEPAL

25th April 2015

Nripal Adhikary Architect (Bamboo Specialist) Nepal. 

During my trip to Hands with Hands projects in November 2014 with Kira Kay (International President), Nina Cejinar and Erin Pope we meet and spent time with Nripal. This post is a collection of material previously posted and new.

Kira was in Nepal when the earthquake struck and has since flown to Australia to organize appeals from a range of countries to assist with this devastating tragedy.

Previous post Nov 2015: We visited Nripal Adhikary's manufacturing facility and bamboo plantation.

Ramchandra met us at the next stop which was Nripal's place of business whom we met earlier at 'The Farm' linked to the Annapurna Childrens Home in Pokhara. Nripal is an architect and specializes in buildings linked to rammed earth and bamboo. He has spent time gaining knowledge in Germany, United States of America and Mongolia and has chosen to return to Nepal to apply these principles of architecture. The following images capture aspects of our visit.

Nripal - Explaining the values of rammed earth 

and bamboo as building materials in earthquake zones.

Treated bamboo

Local Employee.

Employee hand carving legs for chair -

part wood part treated bamboo.

The construction of Nripal's new storage showroom is under way and ongoing planting of bamboo. He continues to explore ways to utilize the materials above and continues to develop a range of furniture. 

Additional material:

Later on in our trip we had the opportunity to meet up with Nripal where he is constructing his home in the high country which also provides the opportunity for local employment and the development of skills working with these materials. It was a great opportunity to see and hear first hand his philosophy for building in an earthquake area utilising earth materials of rammed earth and bamboo. 

Other than the cement floor there is no chemicals in the construction components of his home. This is the fourth home Nripal has built since returning to Nepal to promote and innovate with such materials.

This was the plank we accessed to the top floor 
and the view was spectacular. 

Inside view of top floor roof and application
of bamboo that has been treated to strengthen.

View from Nripal's House

When speaking to Krishna an Architect from India (undertaking an internship with Nripal for 6 months) commented that originally they were going to use a window frame from the original house that has been demolished but it was not the right size for the meter box. So it had to be made from scratch by hand.

Krishna - Intern Architect from India

Craftsman constructing meter box 

What the photo's above show is only half of the house being built and it is the intent when completed to utilize it as a lodge.

One walked away with the knowing that this inspiring and visionary young architect has plans. Inspiring to see and spend time with Nripal. There are many hurdles for him to cross but I shall watch this space with a great deal of interest - as will others. 

The following Posts will provide a vignette of Hands with Hands feedback from Kira about Nepal and links where you can donate - from an Australian context.

As an Ambassador for Hands with Hands it enables me to shine a light on Hands with Hands response through this medium.