www.thehimalayantimes.com The Himalayan Times, Thursday, May 28, 2015 Megharaj Adhikari Lesson of the earthquake Remodelling Kathmandu The devastating earth- quake claimed more, than 8500 lives and affected one fourth Nepalese popu- lation. Most of the affected places contain the heap of debris that the government is trying to clear. In some of r the places the dilapidated ; houses are waiting to be de- molished but owing to nar- row lanes the work is impossible in the areas like Gongabu Bus park. One can . only be shocked at the hap- hazard urbanization in ; Kathmandu. It is because of the lack of awareness of open space planning in the mega city. Kathmandu City, where varieties of'dream chasers' ramble with mission, is a .spate of significance for me. ■ This historic city consists of j unique arts and architecture amidst vibrant culture, r tradition and ritual practices. Every space has its traditional understandings j and history; nonetheless Kathmandu has more to tell regarding its own unique habitation. On the one hand the city is tapering day by day in the name-of making it modern because the cultural her- itage and the historical art and craft are not seen to be prioritized in the plethora of new concretized sites. It is the time to rethink about Lesson of the earthquake Remodelling Kathmandu JmWS^^WJ the issues of historical art and craft along with seismic resisting technologies. Probably the urban rede- velopment will be seen even more rampant in Kathman- du now. New urbanism should be a civilizing pro- ject. The practices must be sustainable: the city cannot consume land and re- sources at rates impossible to replenish, and far beyond the amount reasonably re- quired for good living con- ditions as it is now. The urban developments in Kathmandu seemed less committed to traditional or classical urban forms. De- signers in this context con- tinue to experiment with contemporary forms and building materials, - al- though generally at high densities and with a modem mix of uses. The traditional compact planning was appropriate earlier. However, along with population growth and dense migration to the city it has been fundamental to re- design the spatial planning. The process of redesign must not manipulate the "memory" of the city, which encapsulates the entire his- tory behind it Hence a city will have its preponderance only if it resists the unwant- ed intervention, so far as its heritage is concerned, and if it has preserved the beauty nf rnntiniiitvnf thenattprn The new planning must encourage compact and higher densities; and facilitating public transportation and walking options. Specific architectural styles and street pattern should highlight the importance of diversity and mix that reflect typical Nepalese identity along with planned modem but innocuous design and architecture. The sustain- able practice is the urgency of time in the context of Kathmandu city. Visionary planners are needed for remaking Kath- mandu city. Considering the historic space at large a competent management and clear legal framework are required for the emerg- ing challenges of new ur- banism. This should resolve every challenge that we faced/are facing because of myopic planning strategies and planning problems. A planned city must address a good community, i.e. it must meet the complete range of attributes of good communities. This time the designers cannot manipulate the space that should generate a belief that their actions are effective both in a social and an aesthetic sense. The planners must prove a cau- tious role. There should be a design that can create con- texts that support positive social environments along with environmental affor- dance that may come in near future. The new plan should, in general, adopt participatory involvement from the stakeholders in the development process. This new urbanism should rep- resent 'social synthesis' which includes traditional and modern tradition har- moniously in terms of buildings and architectures. The people need a public realm of streets, squares and parks to meet their relatives and Mends or spend leisure. In this regard community shaping social interaction occurs primarily in the pub- lic realm rather than in places of work or domestic engagement and in context of difference rather than similarity. The new planning must encourage compact and higher densities; and fa- cilitating public transporta- tion and walking options. Specific architectural styles and street pattern should highlight the importance of diversity and mix that reflect typical Nepalese identity. It must be inclusive in terms of the street, the square, the green as formal elements of urban structure to create open environ- ments fnr civic activity The new planning must not put aside the subject of ecology to legitimate solutions. The city, therefore, may generate a beautiful place with planned roads and spaces of leisure with sustainable, smart, livable community. There might be difficul- ties tolerating opposing views about the form of ur- ban environment. During the project several complex- ities and obstacles are al- ways at hand since some y V'l yested interests are active for regressive act. At this juncture a true participatory planning should not be con- fused with occasional legal- ly mandated public hear- • ings; rather it should in- clude community design workshops, citizen's adviso- ry committees, constant media coverage and other ongoing feedback process. Sometimes complete de- mocratic practices may un- dermine the planned ur- banism and it maybe mas- sive environmental blunder. The government should en- act master plans as quickly as possible to prevent the status quo. Educating and engaging the public seems to be an /"v. important component of V/ new Kathmandu. Good communities will become places that help to create good supportive citizens, and obviously good citizens will siinnnrt npwnrhaniam