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SWAY a fall of a feather, captured in the essence of space
An event occurs in nature daily, amongst others, the drift of wind gently carrying a feather fallen from a winged body. If one were consciously aware to notice such an event at any time, they were to know the character of such a motion in space. We ask for a few seconds of your time to trace through your memory and remember the motion of a light feather gently gliding with the support of wind in the space. We would call that a serene and silent display of ballet in mid-air. And this almost-poetic movement of a feather in space, that sways, and dances in a fluid rhythm until it touches the ground is the core philosophy of our design for this academic and multi-functional institution. In the physicalizing of this design idea; the variations of connectivity in a space at a moment in time is what the swaying behavior of a falling feather resembles. Fluidity under the guidance of a space is how the design captures the essence of a learner&rsquo;s journey under the guidance of an institution. This core idea has been an inspiration for developing a place that allows interactive and collaborative spaces for the exchange of ideas among the learners and professionals of today and tomorrow. In Nepal where traditional academia is defined by functionality, hierarchy, and, indoctrinated discipline our design approach challenges it with a futuristic idea of academia that values individuality, physical and mental well-being, and subtle order through diverse interactive spaces, common forums for the students, faculty, and professionals, and architecture that ignites lightness, curiosity, and ease.
We have proposed the ground level, the corresponding underground and upper level as well as the pre-existing outdoor ground of the Xavier Academy as an inter-connected public forum we have named the combination as &lsquo;The Xavier Forum&rsquo;. This variety of interactive spaces along with the renovated landscape is designed as a place for recluse and relationship-building for students and faculty. We have vertically punctured the ground to create a multi-functional hall that can be used as a gallery, discussion hall, library, or exhibition space with an ample amount of ambient natural light and ventilation using a series of voids and skylights. All the indoor and outdoor spaces in the forum are visually connected. Furthermore, identifying the individuals&rsquo; need for a private learning place where they can enjoy being on their own amongst the crowd, we have designed a pavilion within the lush green landscape of the Xavier Forum.
Physically, the sturdy mass of the Xavier forum composes the base of the building, which looks distinct from the rest of its facade; mimicking the feather&rsquo;s final resting state on the ground with this monolithic presence. However, what looks bold and heavy on the exterior is fluid inside with carefully positioned skylights and openings representing a sense of elegant movement within the enclosure. With the Forum, we have tried to address the current narrowness and lack of openness in the existing XA building.
We have limited vehicular access towards the eastern section with surface bus parking however, there is a defined landscape connection for walkways and emergency exits. The western section is designed as the main connecting walkway with generous space dedicated to outdoor circulation. In both internal and external planning and circulation, we have given special attention to designing connecting spaces that feel open, safe, and interactive for individuals of all abilities on each level. We have proposed a separate, but equally inviting, entry point on the ground floor for the rentable spaces that connect directly to their floors.
We realize that the forum and the labs on the upper floors will be used by the entire academy, including students in the pre-existing building. Thus, to manage smooth mass gathering and mass circulation during peak hours, we have created multiple break-out spaces outside labs that can be used as recess lounges for students/teachers or can be used as VIVA examination areas, or simply as a space for a brief interaction with classmates and teachers before or after lab hours. These little spaces truly uplift the user experience in the building. Classrooms on each level have the flexibility to become one big interactive hall allowing more possibilities for joint learning. We have added more semi-open spaces around the classroom premises that will have the students get out of their classes and interact more, brainstorm ideas, read, and relax, in a well-ventilated well-lit space. To ensure that the teaching and non-teaching faculty also get the same user experience as the students, we have created semi-outdoor well-being and leisurely spaces for them on the fifth level with their own pantry facility and interactive lounge. We have designed the board meeting hall that provides an interactive layout for meetings, gatherings, or discussions and offers extra spaces for new means of communication and delivery.
On the ninth floor is a general cafeteria that can cater to a mass of 128 individuals at a given time. This semi-open area is for activities of common dining, and group gathering, and a place for the students and faculty to have a good time all while enjoying the serene view of the majestic hills and views of the bustling urban core of Kathmandu. Furthermore, this space can function as a spill-out zone for events hosted at the large multi-purpose conference hall above which holds a capacity of 225 pax. The multipurpose hall is an iconic skylit hall with angular ribs running perpendicular through the entire length of the hall. We have planned adequate spaces for backstage functions, services, maintenance, VIP seating lounges, and circulation in and outside the hall. For the rented floors, we have designed open floor plans that vertically connect through a single spine of an open circular staircase- offering the rental spaces the same user experience of fluidity and movement as the rest of the building. The plans are flexible to be rented out by a single organization or by multiple.
While the core design concept carries the &lsquo;sway&rsquo; of a feather falling, the feather's physical features conceptualize the building's facade. We have taken the strands of fiber within the feather as an inspiration for vertical metal louvers of varying sizes. These aren't just attractive elements but help control the building temperature from the harsh southern daylight. Furthermore, we have planned for these louvers to be dynamic by adding ball-bearing at joints which help the louvers sway with the wind casting dynamic shadows inside the building during daytime. This character also provides a sense of enclosure from the external surroundings in the semi-open terraces. The building adopts passive and active sustainability features with the provision of natural daylight seeping in and airflow circulating throughout for passive cooling of common spaces utilizing the rooftop to house large solar panels for clean energy.

Sway

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In today&rsquo;s fast-paced society, art can allow a brief slowness to the haste. Just as how the cultural practices of Nepal exhibit one or a group of people allowing a moment of slowness at a place of worship, the example here being stone slabs (carved and inscribed) and religiously significant plants (that lie in various routes throughout neighborhoods), urban spaces also need such characterizing places in the form of parks, squares, rest pavilions, and transit stations of daily commute to sustain art and daily life.
Here, two solid monoliths positioned in different perspectives represent the stone slabs and stone artifacts present in open public spaces as a place of worship in Nepali society while the long flat slab of roof has a lattice-patterned puncture resembling the traditional lattice windows namely, &ldquo;Aankhi-Jhya&rdquo;, as a poetic connection of light and shadow that a tree holds with ground. The structure has a bold white presence amongst the hustle of urban commute stating a context like nowhere else as a subject of identity and sense rather than replicability. The monoliths are textured with a rough plaster pattern to symbolize the randomness of life moving around a single static object, directly relating to the daily urban movement. Information boards and panels arranged vertically showcase transit and network information with a digitized system for future integration along with braille signs for accessibility. These panels allow advertisements and public notices to be displayed in an appropriate scale and location in urban bus stops thus setting an example for the exaggerated presence of advertisements that we see today. Furthermore, few seating arrangements around the monolith and safely buffered public seating arrangements recessed inside SankhaDhar Park provide multiple seating choices in the area.
The proposal simply presents an idea of translating the connection of rich practicing and existing heritage of plants and stones that are JUST PRESENT and SERVING LIFE, as a shelter and as a company in public spaces, here presented in an urban bus stop near SankhaDhar Park in Kathmandu.

Life Trail

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INSPIRATION FROM BIRENDRANAGAR/ SURKHET VALLEY
Birendranagar, the vibrant heart of Surkhet Valley, is a city where tradition and modernity coexist in harmony. Our design for the Ghantaghar Park draws inspiration from the city&rsquo;s rich cultural and natural heritage, reflecting its unique characteristics. Birendranagar is steeped in traditions, such as the captivating Deuda dance, a significant cultural expression that fosters community bonding and celebration. The city is home to revered temples like Kakrebihar, Sidhapaila, Lati Koili, and Deuti Bajai temples, which are vital to the city&rsquo;s spiritual landscape. Birendranagar&rsquo;s local urban biodiversity includes native flora such as Sal trees (Shorea robusta), Asna (Terminalia alata), and Khair (Acacia catechu), alongside birds like House sparrow, Common Myna, Spotted Dove, Bulbul, Robin, Rufous Treepie, etc offering a sanctuary for both people and urban biodiversity. The annual Sidha Paila Mela is a festival that brings the community together and encourages communal activities and festivities. Our design for Ghantaghar Park is a tribute to Birendranagar&rsquo;s cultural richness, spiritual depth, and natural beauty, creating a space where the community can gather, celebrate, and thrive.
DESIGN DIRECTION
If buildings and roads are the body of a city; parks and open spaces are its soul. One can judge how equitable a city is by judging the status of its parks and sidewalks; judging how tolerant a city is towards its informal vendors and by how sensitive it is about the wellbeing of its grassroots population- the socially marginalized and the economically disadvantaged. This is exactly what we have tried to achieve with our proposal of the Greater Ghantaghar Park; a prototype for a truly inclusive and sustainable urban park in Nepal. Each of our design decisions has been guided by these two core principles, which don't just take an Anthropocene approach to design but also consider the well-being of the ecology and the urban biodiversity. Now what does it mean to be &lsquo;inclusive&rsquo; and &lsquo;sustainable&rsquo;? And how does a planner/architect translate it into a public park/plaza? Below, we have identified subtopics under our core principles that go into the detail of the physicalization of our design principles.
1. MOBILITY To promote sustainable, inclusive, and active modes of mobility, we have given the best access to walking, cycling, and buses/rickshaws with protected cycle lanes, wide designated walkways, and tactical urbanism to separate modes of mobility on site. Furthermore, we have prioritized bicycle parking over motorbikes and car parks (design cycle parking at better proximity inside the park compared to motorized vehicles). Similarly, we have designed a bus stop that opens up into the park and a designated rickshaw parking stop next to the plaza.
2. FLEXIBILITY We want our public spaces to be fluid. We have designed multiuse spaces that can transform between uses seamlessly and can simultaneously host a range of activities. Ex: Our public forum is an open canvas for leisure, physical activities, social interactions, public exhibition, activism, art, and expression.
3. ECOLOGY We have saved all the existing roadside trees in the proposed design. Furthermore, all the new plantations are local to the area and are home to the local urban biodiversity. This is an intent we have replicated in the selection of grasses, shrubs, and trees. To mimic the natural environment, we have used the layering technique in the plantation. Finally, we have the legacy of the existing Gulmohar trees on-site (that have established an identity of their own among the locals) and thus proposed plantation of flowering trees such as Gulmohar and Jacaranda throughout the site that will add a touch of color all to the park all year long.
4. SUSTAINABILITY We have practiced sustainability by using native plants that need minimum care, prioritizing active modes of mobility and mass transit systems, use of locally sourced materials where possible, and promoting the local economy by providing a designated space for the local haat bazaar. Finally, we have carefully mapped the trees about the seating spaces, walkways, and bike lanes about the sun path for temperature control. Economic sustainability: We have proposed paid parking areas for cars and motorbikes, fixed stalls, and rentable areas that will be a generous revenue source for the city. We also envision the temporary stall spaces for informal vendors to be formalized with a permit system.
5. INCLUSIVITY As our core design principle, our design is Inclusive, Gender friendly, and Age-friendly. We have actualized this by designing wide walkways, bollards, and green barriers to protect walkways along road corridors, designing non-slip walkways and smooth pathways suitable for walking canes and wheelchairs, placing tactile paving, ample gender-friendly washrooms with breastfeeding and childcare areas, designing handrails and backrest for the elderly and designing wheelchair-friendly park seating.
6. SAFETY/SECURITY We have actualized this by Planning ample lighting for the dark, user-friendly navigation through the site, avoiding dark hidden spaces, placing emergency poles throughout the site, placing security booths at major intersections, and placing surveillance cameras where needed.
7. IDENTITY The design is a reflection of the identity of Birendranagar. The use of carved Stones throughout the site reflects the heritage of craft from monuments like the Kakre Bihar temple. The use of urban social spaces along the street promotes the local street food culture. Similarly, allowing for a wide cycle path that is designed to fit push carts and planning for a rickshaw stand are some techniques we have used to protect the identity of the city.
8. CONTEXT SENSITIVE We realize that our site doesn&rsquo;t function in a vacuum. Thus, we have carefully identified the surrounding context, usage, and how these functions interact with our site and designed the park functions and features accordingly as can be seen in the zoning map and the masterplan.
9. PHYSICAL FITNESS Our park is designed to promote cultures of walking and biking as mentioned before. Furthermore, we have also planned for multifunctional activity spaces like a Sports ground, outdoor gym, open spaces for yoga and group exercise events, and children's play area.
10. MENTAL WELL-BEING Some specific interventions to achieve this design principle: Natural sound barriers using greenery and green mounds, ample green spaces, temperature control with shading, layering plantation to mimic a natural green environment, use of organic shapes, calming colors, placing water elements, and soothing ambient sound of birds and waterbody throughout the site.
11. EXPRESSION The Urban Forum is designed to welcome any form of expression be it art, philosophy, skill, or ideology. Thus, we have strategically placed it at the busiest intersection that interacts simultaneously with the commuters from the bus stand, the plaza, the city corridor, and the university. Such spaces are an essential requirement for a democratic society where every individual has a right to express themselves. We have also placed multifunctional open-air theatres, and interactive group seatings throughout the site. Furthermore, our wide walkways and open spaces throughout the site can be an interesting place for art exhibits and performances.
12. LOCAL ECONOMY We want to ensure that the park benefits the economically marginalized by providing a designated market for the local farmers and producers, by providing space for informal vendors who promote local food culture, and by designing wide cycle lanes that accommodate push carts to recognize these vendors as an integral part of of the city&rsquo;s local economy. Furthermore, we have strategically placed the local produce Haat Bazaar next to the car and bike parking zones and major city walking and traffic corridors to ensure that their business gets the maximum traction and footfall.

Linear Play

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Today, professionals in science and technology are no longer limited to a workspace of their own. Competitive technology has reached mass diversity globally and these workspaces should offer a space that promotes healthy collaboration between professionals and learners. Furthermore, interaction with the space is equally important as the environmental aspects shape one's behavior at any given time. A well-lit, ventilated, and comfortable place to think and relax can bring about cognitive enhancements in the workspace, whether for an individual or a group. This proposal follows a similar concept in the form of a cafe. The space is not just a cafe outdoors encapsulated within the landscape but also an arrangement of multi-functional indoor and outdoor workspace and creative dots that offer users the choice to be free on how they choose to interact.
The design revolves around a central co-working hall that connects visually and functionally with the surrounding outer workspaces in cases of mass collaboration. The design of the central hall is such that upon movement of the exterior panels, each outdoor workspace becomes one private table for activities catering to isolated working space, having a coffee with a book from the library, a quick pod session, or simply sitting back and observing. Locally available Nepali fabrics used as screens, blinds, and ceiling covers have been used for interior privacy, light control, and heat control from the metal roofing. A few steps away the space offers a semi-open pantry with a library for users to interact with. The planning incorporates a restroom accessible to users without any physical discomfort. The same goes for accessibility of all amenities within the cafe where even the landscape has been leveled with the built area for ease of access to all.
Outdoor space has been left as open in significant amount compared to the built-form allowing more breathable and visually clear contexts for the users. Rather than approaching with a big scale of mass for the cafe, the design has a balance with the greater void. This has resulted in the interior feeling light and connected with nature outside. Selective species of vegetation available locally in the region will enhance the overall look and feel of the place all of which respond to the design, functionality, and climatic features throughout the year. With planning comprising circulations that connect with all the amenities and greeneries, users can experience a sense of community working together in a common space within the caf&eacute;.