Architectural Role for City Modernization

Ar. Bishnu Pantee, Architech, Cage Consult Vice President SONA

A t CAGE Consult Pvt. Ltd., an architectural consulting firm, post-modernism meets ancient development principles. Holding the distinction of consulting and designing a host of commercial buildings, colleges and housing projects, the firm, headed by Ar. Bishnu Panthee, is on the roll with such admired buildings like United World Trade Centre, Himalayan White House College and Kantipur Dental College & Hospital as the feathers on its cap. Coming up next are an illustrious fifteen-storey commercial building at Lazimpat, Lumbini Mikasa Hotel in Lumbini, Trade Tower Nepal at Thapathali and Lumbini Udayana Mahachaitya, again in Lumbini.

Lumbini Mikasa Hotel, Lumbini Lumbini Udayana Mahachaitya' Lumbini, Rupandehi Conceptual 3-D view for 15 storey Commercial Building @ Lazimpat

“Post-modernism in architecture means environment-centric structures,” says Panthee, who holds a Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Belarus and has been practising his educational expertise in Nepal for a decade now. “Use of processed raw materials to construct high-rise buildings that involve low maintenance cost is the current architectural trend,” he adds. Also serving as the Vice President of SONA (Society of Nepalese Architects), member of Nepal Engineering Council, Nepal Engineers’ Association and President of Lions Club of Kathmandu Galaxy, Panthee believes that to bring about the best architectural designs and structures, the ancient practices like Vaastu (Hindu principle of architecture) and Feng Shui (traditional Chinese principle of architecture) should be put together with modern concepts and techniques. “Incorporating these principles doesn’t raise the construction cost of a structure but helps in generating an environment in sync with nature around it,” he adds. “Countries like China have been increasingly adopting these principles and with the advent of ‘New Nepal’, we need to bring the tradition under our attention as well.”

Panthee believes in designing multifunctional buildings, keeping as much open space as possible to avoid congestion and letting people enjoy free and wide environment. So, he prefers to keep the number of pillars as fewer as possible. He rues about the government policies regarding land zoning. He thinks it’s better and beneficial to divide land in systemic manner, like mapping one particular area as a commercial zone, another as residential and next as conservation zone. He is not happy with the current trend among the architects under which they assume as commercial area any land that is by the side of a wide road.

Besides acclaimed commercial buildings, colleges, hospitals and industries, Panthee has also lent his ideas and expertise in Kirtipur Cricket Stadium, Birgunj International Standard Swimming Pool, Tennis and Squash Complex (Satdobato), Clay Tennis Court at British Embassy, Dharan Clock Tower and scores of other dynamic development projects.

Panthee cites Indian city Noida as a model for Nepal to follow in its future town development plans and suggests developing satellite townships around Kathmandu. For this, he thinks areas like Sankhu, Lele and Dahachowk are ideal. He further thinks constructing vertical commercial buildings is the best way to avoid congestion in the city centres. The geology might not allow much of his ideas to reach fruition but Panthee says that’s where technology comes in. Impossible is nothing!