The aim of the project is the restoration and requalification of the Tripureshwor Mahadev building and the surrounding area in order to boost the development of Kathmandu city centre, according to standards of social and environmental sustainability. The project calls for the restoration of the main temple, the adaptive reuse of the perimeter buildings or sattals and the possible expansion of the complex southward towards the river. The restoration and adaptive reuse of the Tripureshwor Mahadev Temple complex will help revitalize a beautiful temple with a new use and be a catalyst for the regeneration of the neigborhood. The proposal involves the conservation of the temple, adaptive resue of the sattal or perimeter buildings and a new addition to the south to convert the complex into a center which street children can call home. Passive cooling, solar energy, earth tubes, living machine technology and rainwater harvesting will reduce the dependence on the city systems. Grey water will be cleaned to tertiary levels and recycled in the building for miscellaneous water use. Solid waste will be composted on site.
A brick construction technique for the new walls will be emplyed that will provide enhanced insulating qualities that the existing walls. Vegetable gardens in the south will provide some of the raw materials for the kitchen.
The proposal will conserve and restore the main temple. The north and south wings of the sattal are in a relatively better condition. These two wings will be restored, cleaned and repointed. The east and west wings are in a poor condition. The inner wall will be widened and rebuilt. This will enable the four sides of the sattal to be of the same width. The roof structure is in a similar state of degradation. The roof will be rebuilt with an inverted profile. It enables the roof to become an extension of the courtyard at a higher elevation. The sedum roof will keep the top floor cool. The inversion allows light into the building on either side by raising the edge of the roof above the brick elevation. Clerestory windows are introduced to let natural light flood the resting spaces. Rainwater collection on the roof can be controlled and directed to the water tank. The north east corner of the building facing the main road has been opened up to enable passersby and children to view the beautiful temple from the outside. Street children will feel comfortable in any space within the main complex as there is a visual connection with the main street and the south side.The multiplicity of spaces will allow kids to move between private, semi private, semi open and completely open space freely. All the brick on the side will be cleaned and repointed. Bricks that have fallen out will either be reused in the reconstruction of the sattal or in the new addition. The wooden columns in the sattal and the wooden rafters in the roof will be restored and reused. The new addition will be a two storey structure. The floor elevations will match the sattal and the roof profile will be continuous. A first floor balcony will mark the south ends of the structure. A playground in the center of the new addition will provide children a protected yet open space to play and enjoy themselves. A water tank in the playground serves as the central reservoir for rain water across the whole site. Children can play in and around the pool. Simple biofiltration techniques enable the remediation and reuse of the rainwater and site grey water for potable purposes.
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