History of Architecture
The day man created shelter – the architect prevailed. To every space created to live, work, or play, a man created a design. Centuries have gone and architecture has influenced one another and in every part of the world.
The Neolithic period around 10,000 BC is recognized as the origin of Architecture in history where human beings stopped living in the caves and had ways with the look and feel they want in their living spaces. In the subject of architecture, De Architectura is the first earliest written book by Roman architect Vitruvius during the 1st century. That book includes the centuries’ designs of forms, purposes, and most importantly its revolution. Ancient architectures observed and recorded in these books had enabled us the understanding of those societies and cultures.
Architectural History of Nepal
Nepalese traditional architecture is highly influenced by familiar symbolic forms of a particular culture of a particular people in a particular place. Here, the classical and vernacular are described as the two ends of every single design spectrum that are strongly rooted in history.
It is believed that utilizing traditional architectural styles and elements in new buildings and structures provides a sense of calm and consistency throughout the community. These forms and designs provide meaning and important sources of information that connects people to the traditions, ideas, views, customs, belief systems, need for relationships with family and community. In Nepal, even the official and monumental buildings are independent of local architecture.
During the Rana regime, Nepal received the first graduated architects with major contributions – Gangadhar Bhhata, Bed Prasad Lohani, Bivuti Man Singhm Biresh Shah, Chandra Lekha Kayastha, Jyoti Sherchan, etc. Engineers like Shankar Nath Rimal, Gauri Nath Rimal came later on.
Different Traditional Architectures Found in Nepal
Nepal, Kathmandu valley’s three medieval cities - Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur exhibit the world's most spectacular ancient architecture of history on its temples, palaces, monasteries, and houses. The Lichhavi and Malla periods during the 5 – 7th century created the architectural fundamentals that you find today as well. These architectures are hugely influenced by Hindu and Buddhist cultures and are a strong symbol of the country’s heritage. These world-renowned architectures are divided into 3 different styles.
a. The Pagoda Style
The word “Pagoda” is originally referenced from Japanese architectural styles. In a literal sense, the Pagoda means structure made like pyramids stacked/piled one or more above the other. It is a four-sided, tiered tower with multiples attics commonly found in South Asian countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Most pagodas were built for religious function by Buddhist and sometimes Taoist near and in Viharas. It is a temple in a pyramidal tower or cone-shaped structure with an upward curving roof made of bricks, stone, or wood.
In 68 CE, the first pagoda was built by Emperor Ming to spread the Buddha’s teachings. The pagoda had many levels and roofs with a steeple, shaped in the traditional shape of a stupa.
Arniko, one of the key figures of Nepalese Art and the Yuan dynasty of China developed and unfurled pagoda architecture from China to Nepal. The style was introduced to Nepal much earlier, but the style flourished during the Malla period.
In this style, the most striking architectural feature is the series of huge roof sets projecting one above another. Usually, they are in square shapes and proportionally diminish in size from the bottom to the top. In Kathmandu valley only, one can find thousands of 1 to 5 tiered pagodas at every stop. This pagoda protects walls from heavy monsoon rain and strong sunlight. In residential pagoda styled buildings, the roof overhang up to 1 meter and in temples up to 4 meters.
The main Hindu temple Pashupatinath is built pagoda style. This style is the most important and significant feature of Nepali Architecture. In the 7th-century Chinese traveler, Huang Tsang dairy has mentions these Pagoda-styled buildings during the time of his visit.
b. Stupa Style
A tomb-like structure to house sacred relics are Stupas. They are gound across Asia and in Nepal evolved in different forms over centuries and incorporating specific elements at different regions. The shape of a Stupa is representative of a Buddha, with the top of the spire symbolizing the Crown, the spire in a square shape as head, and his body shaped in a hemispherical dome. The legs are the four steps on the lower terrace at the base of the throne. The four sides of the base “Harmika” are painted with pairs of All-Seeing eyes of the Buddha.
A Stupa Style also represents the 5 Buddhist elements – Earth (the square base), Water (the hemispherical dome), Fire (the conical spire), Air (the upper lotus parasol), and Space (the sun at the dissolving point). Nepal’s Swayambhu and Boudha Stupas are the finest examples of Stupa style. They are the most sacred pilgrimage site built on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley for Nepali Buddhists especially for the Himalayan and Newar Buddhists. King Ashoka of Patan built these historic Stupas – to mark the four corners of the City around 250 BC.
Most Popular Stupa Style Temples of Nepal
- Swoyambhunath
- Boudhanath
- Lumbini
- Namo Buddha
- Kathmandu Valley Chaityas and Gumbas
c. Shikhar Style
Shikhara is derived from a Sanskrit word, meaning “Mountain Peak”. It refers to the rising tower of Hindu temples of North India and Jain temples. During the 6th century, the Shikhara style was introduced first by the Guptas and then introduced to Nepal by the Lichhavi dynasty in both Hindu and Buddhist temples. Shikhar styled temples are made out of brick and square cells with tapering towers, symbolizing caves and mountains. They are usually set on stepped platforms followed by molded courses to protect them from the damp and to make them appear more respectable. Almost all of these temples have a wooden frame of posts and beams enclosed within the walls to give structural strength and resilience.
During the end of the Malla regime, the Shikhara shrines adopted different outlines of popular inverted flower bud shapes. Krishna Mandir of the Patan Durbar Square built by Malla King Siddhi Narsingh in the 16th century is one of the masterpieces of Shikhar Style Temples in Nepal. The temple has 21 golden pinnacles and 3 storeys.
Most Popular Shikhara Style Temple of Nepal
- Krishna Mandir
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Janaki Mandir
- Taleju Mandir
- Rato Macchindranath
Today, Nepalese modern architecture uses steel and concrete structural framework. This practice is generally not considered robust as traditional construction as the constituent parts of the building is not integral. These aspects allow water penetration that ultimately weakens the structure over time.