Tsum Welfare Community Building, Bhagawanpau, Swayambhu

The design and planning began in 2014 after my home town communities from Tsum, north Gorkha were able to purchase this plot of an area (0-5-0-0) in the prime location of Swayambhu, Kathmandu. The design concept was presented among community members in 2014, revised and new design developed in 2016-2017. I again presented the design among the larger community gathering in Losar. The construction of the building began in 2018 and completed in 2019. The aim of the design was to provide conducive space for community and ritual activities such as gathering during losar, mani chanting by mothers group, administrative works as well as for renting. I had to revise the design at the last moment to take advantage of the change in FAR (Floor Area Ratio) by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. This allowed us to claim 4 and half storey prior to this, the bylaws allowed us to build 3 and half storey for this parcel size. The biggest challenge designing a community center is to incorporate diverse views/opinions on uses, aesthetics, size, scale, materials, costs of the building and finding a reasonable common agenda while making sure the building is earthquake resilient.