The reign of Ranas (1846-1951) had a significant influence on Nepal's art and architecture. Known as the 'Rana Architecture,' these designs were an amalgamation of European and Asian forms that became a new signification of modernity in Nepal during this era. 

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An important example of this Rana Architecture is the Babar Mahal, built in 1913. Surrounded by a mix of residential, commercial, and government buildings in the bustling neighbourhood of Kathmandu, this palace was constructed by Rana Prime Minister Maharaja Chandra Shumsher for his son, Babar Shumsher. However, around the 1960s, most of the Rana palaces were nationalised by the government due to lack of maintenance. While they displayed the cultural heritage of the Rana era, the palaces were preserved and converted either into government offices or heritage hotels to restore this significance. The government repurposed the Babar Mahal in 1966, which had been home to Gautam Rana, the great-great-grandson of Babar Shumsher, to house the offices of the Ministry of Roads. The family was given the adjacent carriage houses, cow sheds, and stables, but they were in ruins till the 1990s. With a view to restore the Rana grandeur, Gautam Rana involved Eric Theophile, an American architect along with Rohit Ranjitkar, a Nepali architect in 1994 to remodel the palace buildings, keeping the essence of the Rana architecture intact. The project, known as the 'Babar Mahal Revisited,' was an adaptive reuse of the carriage houses and stables within the palace complex into a shopping complex that could be open to all - locals as well as tourists. 

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The program of the Babar Mahal is simple - with five courtyards surrounded by different shops, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants, connected through pathways. In contrast to this, the palace exhibits revived elements of Rana pastiche such as columns, porticos, cornices, and other decorative elements. The entrance itself is a grand portico with neoclassical columns and a decorative double staircase. The verandahs and balconies become transitional spaces connecting the indoors to the outdoor courtyards and gardens. The large courtyards host public events, gatherings, and service functions, which have been carried on since the time of the Ranas. The old buildings were given a new look by adding pitched roofs to it. The foundations were kept intact and new structures were built considering the old patterns of the courtyards and the alleys found in Nepal. Additionally windows from old Newari houses were brought from Patan and reused here. 

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Babar Mahal Revisited can be considered a precedent of adaptive reuse and public programming. 

 

References

• Shimkhada, Deepak. 2011. Nepal: Nostalgia and Modernity. Marg Publications.

• Tuladhar, Sujata. 2001. “Rana Renaissance - Nepali Times.” n.d. https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=9501 

• Singha, Veneeta. 2015. “A Storyteller at Babar Mahal Revisited in Kathmandu.” Sharing4Good. July 2015. Accessed October 30, 2024.https://sharing4good.org/article/storyteller-babar-mahal-revisited-kathmandu-veneeta-singha 

• Longtail-e-media. n.d. “Baber Mahal Vilas.” https://babermahalvilas.com/about-us