CONCEPTUAL DESIGN COMPETITION OF PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE

AT SHITAL NIWAS, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

1. INTRODUCTION
The location
The proposed site is located behind Shital Niwas at Maharajgung , current presidential
building. Located in the heart of the city, the site is accessible from Narayan gopal sadak.
Adjacent to the Shitwal Niwas is Police Training Center and Thai Embassy. Teaching
Hospital, a reputed hospital of Nepal, Nirmal Niwas( residence of former king of Nepal) and
American Embassy is also in close proximity.
Site

The proposed site is behind the existing Presidential Building. The shape of the site almost
square with cut off at two corners. Total site area is 10,364.35 sq. m. Total Ground coverage
shouldn’t exceed 15% of the total site area. The width varies from 83.23m to 103.50m and
the length is 108.27m.
2. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The Guiding Factors:
The architectural concept stems from the recognition of following basic requirements.
1. Meet all the functional requirements/facilities as a residence for President.
2. Built in response to the context of the site.
 Retaining the existing floras as much as possible.
3. Courtyard Planning.
 Two main blocks (Formal and informal-private) arranged around the Central court.
 Main two blocks separate yet connected. Thus, the introduction of bridge.
4. Partial Green Roofs.
 Roof terraces with garden.
5. Design elements
 Reflection of Nepalese Arts, Culture and Architecture.
 A touch of our traditional architecture – Interpreted to suite contemporary style.
Integration of traditional with modern architecture.
 Merging of Past and Future. What was, what’s happening and what’s going to happen.
 3. CONCEPT
a. Concept of master plan
The development of master plan started with the calculation of areas required for different
functions based on the information given in the TOR. After estimation of area requirement
for different functions, recognizing the two kinds of functional (public and private) spaces,
zoning of the two main functional blocks was carried out.
The two main blocks, public block as considered FRONT BLOCK and residential block
assumed as RESIDENCE BLOCK, had to be detached but yet connected. These two blocks
are arranged around a central court.
Courtyard planning is very inward, concentrating inside but instead the building should be
open to all sides and bring in the nature inside. So, the formality of the courtyard had to be
broken.
Thus breaking the rigidity is the hierarchy of smaller courts of different functions connected
to the central court. The court of arrival at the South East corner is the point of arrival to
especially for the residence block. The games court at the North West corner which opens out
to the back garden and kitchen garden completes the diagonal connection of all there
hierarchy of courts.
Basic features of Master Plan are;

 Main access to the site is from the eastern side of the plot. As Parking facilities for the
visitors are already provided and separate garage is already allocated for President’s
transportations, space for drop off is only required. 5m wide drop off with 1m wide
pavement is provided which is long enough for short term parking if required.
The drop off has direct access to the arrival porch of FRONT BLOCK and to the
ARRIVAL COURT.
 Service access (for security and kitchen) to the site is from road adjoining the south
side of the proposed plot.
 Overhead water tank (50,000 litres) and underwater tank (1, 50,000 + 50,000 litre for
fire hydrant) at the south west side.
 Root zone treatment and collection pond is provided which treats the grey water and
can be further used for watering the plants.
 Septic tank and soak pit are provided in the north east side.

Taking into consideration of the separate walkways, staircase and lifts required for President
and VIP guests, such has been met in the design.
President’s Private Area being within the same building of the residence block is connected
but yet detached from other areas.
 b. Concept of Landscape
The existing thicket of trees in the proposed site for Presidential Residence is very natural
and beautiful. It offers a respite from the crowded city with greenery and freshness. There is
wide variety of trees. Responding to this vital environment, the greenery of the site is kept
intact as much as possible. The building and its court spaces has been designed to let the
nature within.
The Central court is the main gathering and spill over space, a central space that holds and
bounds all. It is surrounded strategically with organic form evolving from circle (as a
Chautari). Some remain in their pure form while some intersect with each other. These circles
are placed strategically such that the trees growing from it will act as screen (in front of the
health club and the entry to court from the front block).

The Serenity Pond located in the south side of the Residence block directly accessible from
the living, dining and music and entertainment room is a spill over for that area. The light
filled space is directly in tune with natural gardens around it. It leads to the Garden of Faith,
consisting of paths and various nodes. Garden of Faith springs from the concept that we are
Nodes of Individuals. Our religion, culture and caste may be different but ultimately we all
are Nepalese, connected and bound. The nodes are also a point of contemplation, with
seating, some with rustic hut, and some without shelter.
 4. DESIGN FEATURES

a. Brief Structural System

 The building will be basically a RCC frame structure.
 The floor of meeting halls shall be designed as ribbed slab.
 The roof will be either flat or inclined RCC slabs or tile supported on steel truss.
 Shear wall in the Special Basement area and the vertical access in the residence
block that leads to the Special Basement to make them Bomb proof.
 Reinforced concrete has been considered as the primary construction material for
all the structural components.
 The external and internal walls will be constructed from bricks.
 Doors and windows will be of aluminium frame with glasses or wooden or metal
panels as appropriate.
 Expansion joint provided at the Residence block and the gaps are sealed with
sealant.
 In the security area, the beam is upturned to allow for the clearstory light which
gives the terrace an appearance of floating above the walls.

b. Earthquake Resistance Design

As specified in TOR, the building as a whole is designed as Earthquake Resistance Residence
Building. All structural elements are designed as earthquake resistance to seismic value up to
8.0 Richter scale. For Seismic loads, all frames have been designed as Special Moment
Resistance Frames (SMRF) to minimize the sizes of columns & no. of shear walls and to
form lateral load resisting elements. The following considerations are made in the design to
make it Earthquake Resistance Design.
c. Disaster Management
Fire safety/safety against lightening:
The building has provisioned the escapes routes in case of fires, it has provided adequate fire
exits, open spaces and provided with sufficient number of fire hydrants, wet risers with hose
reels or fire extinguishers as appropriate. The building has provisioned the earthing of
electrical installations, and lightening arresters. The building is fitted with fire alarm system
and smoke detectors in fire susceptible areas.
Safety and security measures in the event of terrorist attract:
The building has an in built safety and security system with alarms and signals. All the public
spaces inside the building, exteriors (all four sides) are fitted with high resolution video
cameras, which are capable of recording video in darkness also. All the video monitoring will
be controlled by the security room provisioned inside the building at Security area. Cameras
are also provisioned in all security counters at main entrance outside and building entrances
which will be controlled by the security control room. The building will have sufficient
illumination during night and it has provisioned guard rooms and quarters for security
personnel. Alarms and signals are fitted in public spaces and visible locations. All
emergency/exit routes are illuminated and marked properly. Special bomb proof Basement
area is provided in case of attacks for the security of President and his family.
 d. Other design features
Energy efficient and climatic responsive design:
The building is designed with green design concept. It has planned to minimize the use of the
energy, optimize the use of space, minimize the waste, rain water harvesting etc.
Roof heat insulation:
It is proposed to develop a roof garden on the top of the roof. The garden will serve as heat
insulation media and also will create a pleasant green environment on the terrace.
Use of green energy (Solar Energy):
In order to utilize the solar energy as a subsidiary system to city electrical supply PV Panels
are installed at the roof in an inclination of 30 degree so as to get maximum efficiency. A
subsidiary electrical wiring system will be designed to integrate solar energy into the city
supply. Solar energy will be used for illuminating the public areas such as stairs, passages
which will be uninterrupted in case of load shedding also. In the winter season, a great
portion of energy is consumed for heating the water. So the solar water heater in the roof is
installed to reduce the electrical consumption. The heating system is designed to use solar
energy to some extent. Water to the boiler will be supplied through solar water heating
panels, thereby reducing energy consumption for boiling water. Lighting system will be
designed by using energy efficient light fixtures to minimize energy consumption.
Use of environment friendly material and technology:
The project uses finishing materials such as paints and carpets, with almost zero Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to the occupants. The sealants and adhesives
used for application and fabrication will be checked to see that they met the limits for
emissions. Composite wood products should not contain urea-formaldehyde, a polluting
material.
Water supply system:
Based on the designed capacity of the building, the total daily water demand has been
calculated and the waters supply system has been provisioned accordingly. The source of
ground water is located on the south west corner of the plot. The ground water will be stored
in underground water tank. There will be an overhead tank with adequate capacity to meet the
daily need of water above the underground water tank. The part of ground water will be
pumped directly to overhead tank and supplied to toilets or for general use. The another
portion of water will be first pumped to water treatment plant and then again pumped to a
separated compartment of overhead tank and supplied to the building with gravity. There will
pump house for fire fighting on the same corner of the site from where the water can be
pumped in case of fire.
Waste Management:
Planning of Sewerage System will be based on NBC 208:2003 and appropriate size of septic
tank is provisioned as per designed based on the maximum occupancy and use of
bathrooms/toilet. The option for sewerage treatment plant needs to be studied in detailed in
terms of its viability otherwise the septic tank will be cleaned in every 2 years. The other
organic & un-organic solid waste, generated and collected separately will be collected &
disposed-off appropriately.
Noise and Acoustics:
Inside the halls and meeting rooms the acoustic false ceilings are provisioned wherever
deemed to be required. The walls are also lined with sound proof materials.

e. Material
The proposed building is considered as professionally engineered building of class A and the
basic materials used in the constructions are: RCC, Bricks, Cement Mortar, Glass,
Aluminum, UPVC, Mild Steel (Tubular and other sections), Marbles, Clay/ceramic tiles,
woods, Brass fittings, polymer/synthetic paints, etc.). Available National Standard
Specifications for constructions materials are used for all the materials. In case of special
materials such as special glasses, ceramics, fittings, UPVC sheets and other materials used for
insulation or paintings, Indian/British or American Standard Specifications will be used based
on the origin of that particular material type. Some of the materials that will be used in the
construction are:
 Natural stones: from quarry site from nearby valley and as approved locations
 First class bricks: Machine made first class brick from local market will be used in
various building elements as required by the design. Local (second-class) bricks will
also be used for partition walls/ non-structural elements as required or permitted in
design.
 Cement: Ordinary Portland cement, PPC, High strength cement or other special
cement will be used as required.
 Sand: The standard sand from nearby valley or from approved locations will be used.
 Wood: Seasoned Sal wood will be used in the construction. Other local woods and
ply woods, boards will be used for temporary construction, formworks and other non-
structural elements as appropriate
 Steel: As long as the specification permits, the locally available high strength steel
bars will be used in the construction. For special purpose, imported steel will be used.
 Aggregate: Standard aggregates from the crushers nearby valley and as approved
locations, which meets the specification requirements will be used in the construction.
 Other construction materials: Plasters, paints, additives, fixtures, glasses,
aluminium doors/windows, accessories for electrification, water supply and sanitation
fittings will be used from the local markets as long as it meets the standard
specification. In special cases, some items will be imported.