Research On Rebuild Kasthamandap Based On Public Emotion And Participation

Kasthamandap,a heritage building,which was a part of Kathmandu Durbar Square collapsed in a major earthquake on 25^th April 2015.Kathmandu Durbar Square,a UNESCO world heritage site,is located in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal.Kasthamandap was an integral part of society that served different purposes throughout its history.Kasthamandap had high emotional values.So much so that Nepal’s capital,Kathmandu,has been named after it for thousands of years,a testament to its historical significance.Many researches have been done on the conservation of cultural heritage.Many nations have special guidance on the conservation and restoration of heritages which ensures public participation.But in practice,the local community is avoided in decision making,especially in a post-disaster scenario.Nepal government also has guidelines regarding the heritage reconstruction in which it is well articulated to include the public in the process but clearly,that did not happen in the case of kasthamandap.Understanding the reasons,researching the possible solutions,incorporating the public view on how the reconstruction of kasthamandap should be executed are the purposes of this research.After the earthquake,different initiatives were started to rebuild Kasthamandap.The Public was not involved in the rebuilding process which leads to the suspension of restoration.It became battlegrounds between stakeholders,seeking to restore control.It disrupted the balance between heritage and a sense of belonging.Finally,responsible parties understood the importance of public participation which lead to the collaboration of locals in planning and rebuilding Kasthamandap.This thesis provides research on the duty,responsibility,and relation between the local community and their cultural heritage.It demonstrates the power of the public and the importance of their participation in rebuilding heritage.This research provides a practical example for historians,architects,planners,and engineers to learn something from.It was important to find detailed literature and information about kasthamandap.There are few researches done by some locals and foreign professionals.Historical,architectural,and communal values of the kasthamandap are researched here.The main methodology used here is the survey to analyze public views on how the kasthamandap should be rebuild.A comprehensive questionnaire is prepared and then a survey is conducted.The survey included both online survey and interviews with the locals.The conclusions are that public emotions are as important as the building materials themselves.Heritage is only because of the emotions and contributions of the community.So,is important to include the public in decision-making and rebuilding the kasthamandap.From the survey,it is clear that the four pillars of heritage are local participation,local material and technology,local management,and local funding.The materials used to rebuild heritage should not be modern.The final architecture,shape,and size of the rebuilt monument should be the same as the original.