Remodeled House, Kopan

The design of this remodeling project involves taking over an incomplete two-storey building in the foothills of Kopan. The land parcel (0-16-0-0) is perhaps the largest plot I have ever remodeled in Kathmandu. The client had a few sketches from other designers, but he was not satisfied. Thanks to my contractor who connected me with the client. I carefully examined the sketches he had and listened attentively to his spatial needs and aspirations.

The first priority was to provide maximum spatial comfort and facilitate easy circulation on each floor. I redesigned the building by relocating the stairs in the new floor plans, utilizing part of the projection spaces, and creating a more open connection between the living room, dining area, and kitchen. The front pergola was designed to offer semi-outdoor spaces facing the southeast.

The theme of the facade integrates a large front elevation while breaking the monotony of mass and voids. The client desired to incorporate design elements from the existing building while introducing a modernist approach. To achieve this, I incorporated contemporary design elements such as horizontal and vertical stripes that unify the entire facade in an organic manner.

One notable highlight of the design was the introduction of the main entrance to the upper floor, which required a stronger visual cue. To address this, I added a Buddhist carving called "pema chyoltsa" above the entrance. The carving, known as "Tukar," depicts a kalachakra symbol and represents the client's affiliation and attachment to Buddhism.