MADAN PURASKAR PUSTAKALAYA

Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya, located in the dense residential locality of Lalitpur, is one of the largest archives of Nepali history and literature in the country, with a wide range of books, periodicals, and historical documents. Originally established in 1955, the library was a part of the Shree Durbar Palace Complex. A major chunk of land was sold by the royal family later, and the library became a part of the bustling neighbourhood in the heart of the Old Patan city. However, the space that housed thousands of old manuscripts was damaged in the Gorkha Earthquake of 2015. Even though not much damage was visible, the building became structurally weak due to the impact of the earthquake and was deemed unfit for use. The construction of the new library building was given to ABARI, an architecture and design firm that focused on vernacular techniques of building, especially bamboo. Keeping the foundations intact, the new structure is constructed with rammed earth, with multiple bamboos anchored to steel joints. 

 

The library is divided into three zones - the first is a public space from the entrance that accommodates the reception and the waiting area. The second zone is a semi-private space that houses the reading areas and offices. These reading areas extend to the mezzanine floor as well. The third and largest zone is the double-height archives section which is a private space containing all the important archival documents. The mezzanine, accessible via stairs, becomes a transitional space overlooking the archives. While the zoning of spaces is done as per the old structure, the use of vernacular materials and construction techniques brings a significant transformation in the spatial configuration of the library. 

 

The rammed earth walls are made with the wattle and daub technique with steel rods embedded inside to keep them lightweight, thus creating a suitable environment to protect the old documents. The steel joints that hold the bamboo together are customised for each intersection, where in times of failure, each bamboo can be removed easily without disturbing the rest of the structure. While the structure has multiple windows for ample light and ventilation, the double-height spaces create a play of smaller and larger openings, creating interesting light patterns in the interiors. 

 

Madan Puraskar Pustakalay is the first large-scale public building in Nepal to be built in bamboo and rammed earth, proving to be an excellent example of seismic-responsive design.