Nepal

Nepal is a key member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the newest democracy to enter the fore, where a new vision for a constitution and a nation is being created within the 21st Century. The country has in the past century transitioned from an absolute monarchy, to a constitutional monarchy, a Panchayat system, to finally a democracy, and suffered years of civil unrest. The architecture and built form within the country has also transitioned through these periods of political, economic, and societal shifts. Although Nepal was never colonized we see influences of colonial architecture and planning in the later years when the ruling elite traveled the world and came back with western influences. Like much of South Asia, the precolonial logics of space making in Nepal has much to tell us about forms of inhabitation. In the 60s and 70s Nepal also saw international modern architects traveling to the country and bringing with them modern influences albeit trying to develop a critical regional approach that was more contextual. Due to its unique geography Nepal is earthquake prone and has seen periodical earthquakes and rebuilding. Post 90s Nepal has also seen more global influences that have come from demands due to internal migrations but also circulation of aid money. At the same time Nepal sees architects trying to learn from indigenous spatial responses and construction methods, attempting to build new imaginations for contemporary architecture.