KBJ House, Chagal, Dallu

This is the smallest plot (0-2-0-0) that I have ever designed for a family. The family property subdivision (ansha banda) allowed the legitimation of this plot into such a small unit. My client KBJ bought this plot a few years ago. KBJ is in a tourism business in Thamel, he runs a successful restaurant business so he wanted to promote Nepal’s traditional art and architecture which is slowly disappearing. However, he wants me to design a traditional Newari looking building in the most cost-effective way. Because oftentimes, continuing traditional architecture has bearing on cost repercussions. The challenges were also to achieve a dream house cum cafe in such a tight space, bring the traditional architectural character without much amplifying the costs and this was made possible only through rigorous planning and design. I took advantage of lights from the north and west side while being extremely careful about the required spaces, the newly adopted FAR allowed me to design in vertical up to five and half storey without introducing a lift. The ground floor has two shutters, bath room and staircase for vertical communication. The ground and first floor are dedicated for cafes and upper floors are dedicated for family living purposes. The third floor has living room cum kitchen, bath room, while the fourth floor has bedrooms for family members as well as guests. Major construction was completed during the first web of pandemic in 2018. The roof top offers views of Swayambhu Stupa, surrounding hills in the backdrop of majestic Himalayan range.